Padma Kumar Narayanan
About Padma Kumar Narayanan
Padma Kumar Narayanan is the Vice President and Head of Preclinical Safety at Wave Life Sciences, specializing in immunotoxicology and hematotoxicity. He has extensive experience in pharmaceutical development and has held various leadership roles in prominent companies such as Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline.
Work at Wave Life Sciences
Padma Kumar Narayanan currently serves as Vice President and Head of Preclinical Safety at Wave Life Sciences. He has held this position since 2021, contributing to the company's efforts in pharmaceutical development. His role involves overseeing preclinical safety assessments and ensuring the safety profile of drug candidates. Narayanan's expertise in immunotoxicology and hematotoxicity supports the company's mission to innovate in the field of genetic medicines.
Education and Expertise
Narayanan earned his Ph.D. in Immunophysiology/Immunotoxicology from Purdue University, where he studied from 1990 to 1995. He also holds an M.S. in Small Animal Surgery from Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, completed in 1988, and a DVM in Veterinary Medicine from Kerala Agricultural University, achieved in 1986. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in immunotoxicology, hematotoxicity, and mitochondrial pathophysiology.
Professional Background
Narayanan has an extensive professional background in the pharmaceutical industry. He worked at GlaxoSmithKline in various roles, including Senior Pathologist and Assistant Director, from 1997 to 2006. He then served as Director of Discovery Toxicology at Amgen from 2006 to 2014. Following this, he held the position of Executive Director of Toxicology at Ionis Pharmaceuticals from 2015 to 2019, and Senior Director of NonClinical Safety at Janssen Pharmaceuticals from 2019 to 2021. His diverse experiences have shaped his leadership in preclinical safety.
Achievements in Drug Development
Throughout his career, Narayanan has developed novel technologies for biomarker development and high throughput predictive flow cytometry screens. These innovations aim to reduce drug attrition rates in pharmaceutical development. His contributions have been significant in advancing safety assessments and improving the overall drug development process.
Mentorship and Team Development
Narayanan is committed to mentoring and developing scientists within his team. He fosters an environment that encourages growth and innovation, helping to cultivate the next generation of professionals in the field of toxicology and preclinical safety. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and knowledge sharing.