Veerendra Koppolu
About Veerendra Koppolu
Veerendra Koppolu serves as the Process Team Lead and Analytical Development Lead at Kite Pharma, bringing over a decade of experience in vaccine and biologics development. He holds a PhD from the University of Kansas and has a strong background in analytical method development, GMP qualification, and regulatory documentation.
Current Role at Kite Pharma
Veerendra Koppolu currently serves as the Process Team Lead and Analytical Development Lead at Kite Pharma, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he manages a team of scientists focused on T-cell process and analytical development. His responsibilities include leading analytical development activities for various vector and T-cell product release programs, ensuring product quality, safety, potency, and dose. He also prepares and manages dashboards for analytical and process development teams, facilitating effective project tracking and communication.
Education and Expertise
Veerendra Koppolu has an extensive educational background in the life sciences. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Kansas, where he studied from 2008 to 2013. Prior to that, he obtained a Master of Science from the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, India, from 2005 to 2007. He also holds a Bachelor of Science from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, completed between 2001 and 2005. His expertise includes GMP qualification/validation, technology transfer, potency assay development, and protein characterization.
Professional Background
Before joining Kite Pharma, Veerendra Koppolu worked at AstraZeneca as a Scientist I in Analytical Development and Bioassays from 2015 to 2019. He also served as a Scientist I at Metaclipse Therapeutics Corporation from 2013 to 2015. His early career included a role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas, where he contributed to educational activities while pursuing his doctoral studies. His professional experience spans over five years in the development and characterization of vaccines and biologics.
Achievements and Contributions
Veerendra Koppolu has received several awards recognizing his contributions to the field of science. He has authored, reviewed, and approved analytical sections of regulatory documents and standard operating procedures. His work includes participation in process and method failure investigations during clinical manufacturing. He has also represented the analytical group in cross-functional communications, enhancing collaboration across teams. His publications focus on cancer and infectious disease research, showcasing his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.
Technical Leadership and Responsibilities
In his current and previous roles, Veerendra Koppolu has demonstrated strong technical leadership. He has served as a product team lead to support CMC development activities for clinical CAR and TCR programs. His responsibilities have included drafting guidance for analytical method comparisons, method validations, and critical reagent strategies. He has performed risk assessments and gap assessments of analytical methods to improve compliance and robustness, contributing to the overall success of product development initiatives.