Lester Suarez, DVM, Ph.D.
About Lester Suarez, DVM, Ph.D.
Lester Suarez, DVM, Ph.D., serves as the Senior Director of Innovation at Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. He has extensive experience in synthetic virology and gene therapy, with a focus on viral vector-based vaccine development.
Work at Asklepios BioPharmaceutical
Lester Suarez currently serves as the Senior Director of Innovation at Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), a position he has held since 2023. Prior to this role, he was the Director of Innovation at the same company from 2022 to 2023. His work focuses on advancing innovative solutions in gene therapy, particularly through the development of viral vector-based approaches. His tenure at AskBio has been marked by a commitment to pioneering advancements in the field.
Education and Expertise
Lester Suarez holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular Virology. He studied at Agrarian University of Havana from 2004 to 2009 and continued his education at the University of Navarra, where he completed his Ph.D. from 2010 to 2015. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in synthetic virology and reverse engineering, particularly with RNA and DNA viruses.
Background
Lester Suarez has a diverse professional background in the field of virology and gene therapy. He began his career as a Research Assistant Graduate Student at Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología in Cuba from 2006 to 2009. He then worked as a Graduate Research Teaching Assistant at the University of Navarra from 2011 to 2015, followed by postdoctoral positions at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California, San Diego. His international experience includes a visiting PhD student role at the University of Heidelberg in 2014.
Achievements
Lester Suarez has contributed significantly to the field of virology through his research and development efforts. He has been involved in developing viral vector-based vaccine approaches for both humans and animals. His participation in discussions about innovation in rAAV gene therapy highlights his commitment to advancing the field. Additionally, he has been a member of the Scientific Evaluation Board at Fundación Síndrome de Dravet since 2020, further demonstrating his active engagement in scientific evaluation and innovation.