Kathy Brendza
About Kathy Brendza
Kathy Brendza serves as the Senior Director and Head of Protein Therapeutics at Nektar Therapeutics, bringing over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on therapeutic development and Mass Spectrometry applications.
Current Role at Nektar Therapeutics
Kathy Brendza serves as the Senior Director and Head of Protein Therapeutics at Nektar Therapeutics. She has held this position since 2021, contributing her expertise in therapeutic development within the pharmaceutical industry. Based in San Francisco, California, she oversees various initiatives related to protein therapeutics, leveraging her extensive background in drug development and clinical support.
Previous Experience at Gilead Sciences
Prior to her current role, Kathy Brendza worked at Gilead Sciences in various capacities. She served as a Senior Research Scientist I from 2015 to 2018 and as a Research Scientist from 2006 to 2010. Additionally, she held the position of Research Scientist II from 2010 to 2015, and briefly as a Senior Research Scientist II in 2019. Her tenure at Gilead Sciences spanned over a decade, during which she focused on research and development in the pharmaceutical sector.
Academic Background and Research Experience
Kathy Brendza has a solid academic foundation in the sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she studied from 1989 to 1992. She then pursued a PhD in Biology at Indiana University Bloomington, completing her studies from 1992 to 1999. Additionally, she was a student researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1990 to 1991 and later served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University School of Medicine from 2000 to 2004.
Expertise in Pharmaceutical Development
With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Kathy Brendza specializes in therapeutic development. She has a proven track record in the establishment and application of Mass Spectrometry for drug development and clinical support. Her experience includes managing both in-house and outsourced studies, as well as collaborating with key opinion leaders and laboratories, demonstrating her capability in leading scientific initiatives.
Leadership in Scientific Environments
Kathy Brendza has directed core facilities and staff throughout her career, showcasing her leadership abilities in scientific environments. Her roles have involved overseeing research teams and managing projects that contribute to advancements in protein therapeutics and drug development. This leadership experience complements her extensive background in research and development within the pharmaceutical sector.