Chris Francis
About Chris Francis
Chris Francis serves as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Head of Emerging Areas at Wave Life Sciences, where he has worked since 2016. He has extensive experience in business development and scientific licensing, having held key positions at GSK and Wave Life Sciences, and has a strong academic background in biochemistry and biophysics.
Current Role at Wave Life Sciences
Chris Francis serves as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Head of Emerging Areas at Wave Life Sciences. He has held this position since 2016, contributing to the company's strategic direction and growth in the Greater Boston Area. In his current role, he manages investments in enabling technologies and leads the formation of strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda, GSK, and Pfizer. His involvement in partnership steering committees reflects his integral role within the executive team.
Previous Experience at Wave Life Sciences
Prior to his current position, Chris Francis worked at Wave Life Sciences as Vice President of Business Development from 2014 to 2016. During his tenure, he focused on developing business strategies and fostering partnerships that aligned with the company’s objectives. His experience in this role laid the groundwork for his subsequent leadership in corporate development.
Career at GSK
Chris Francis held multiple roles at GSK from 2009 to 2014. He served as Director of Academic Licensing and Strategic Alliances for ten months before transitioning to Director of Scientific Operations for one year. He then became Director of Scientific Licensing, a position he held for three years. His work involved overseeing scientific collaborations and licensing agreements, which contributed to GSK's strategic initiatives in the pharmaceutical sector.
Educational Background
Chris Francis earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Melbourne, completing his studies from 1998 to 2001. He further pursued advanced studies at the same institution, achieving a PhD in Biophysics from 2002 to 2007. Additionally, he was a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge from 2003 to 2005, where he focused on biophysics research.
Early Career Experience
Before his roles in corporate development and scientific licensing, Chris Francis began his career at IMS Consulting Group as an Analyst in Pricing and Reimbursement from 2005 to 2007. He also worked as an Associate at Two River from 2008 to 2009 and held a summer position as a Scientific Programmer at VPAC in 2002. These early experiences provided him with a foundation in analysis and strategic planning within the life sciences sector.