Malavosklish (Liz) Bikram, PhD, MBA
About Malavosklish (Liz) Bikram, PhD, MBA
Malavosklish (Liz) Bikram, PhD, MBA, serves as the Associate Director of Cell Therapy Process Development at Carisma Therapeutics in Philadelphia. With a strong background in biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical chemistry, she has held various roles in cell therapy and analytical development across multiple organizations.
Work at Carisma Therapeutics
Malavosklish (Liz) Bikram serves as the Associate Director of Cell Therapy Process Development at Carisma Therapeutics since 2022. In this role, she is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and focuses on the development and optimization of processes related to cell therapy products. Her responsibilities include leading teams in the development of in-process controls and tests that assess the potency and characterization of these products. She collaborates with various departments, including Discovery, MSAT, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Quality Control, and Analytical Development, to enhance the expertise in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) functions.
Previous Experience in Cell Therapy
Before joining Carisma Therapeutics, Bikram worked at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson as a Senior Scientist in Cell Therapy Process Development and Analytical Development from 2019 to 2022. Her role involved significant contributions to the development of cell therapy products. Additionally, she held a position as a Staff Scientist in Biomaterials R&D at DEPUY SYNTHES JOHNSON AND JOHNSON from 2016 to 2019, where she focused on research and development in the field of biomaterials.
Education and Expertise
Bikram holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Utah, where she studied Gene Therapy. She also earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, with a minor in Mathematics, from the University of Denver. Furthering her education, she completed an MBA at Penn State University, along with a Health Sector Management Certificate. Her academic background is complemented by a post-doctoral fellowship in Biomedical Engineering at Rice University.
Regulatory Contributions
Bikram has authored and supported Investigational New Drug (IND) Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) regulatory filing sections for novel CAR myeloid cell therapies. Her expertise in regulatory affairs is integral to her role in ensuring compliance and facilitating the development of innovative cell therapies.
Process Analytical Technologies Development
In her career, Bikram has developed process analytical technologies (PAT) for cell therapy products. This work is crucial for enhancing the quality and efficacy of cell therapies, as it involves creating methods to monitor and control the manufacturing processes effectively.