Akhila Raya
About Akhila Raya
Akhila Raya serves as the Head of CMC Strategy at Instil Bio, bringing over 12 years of experience in biopharma and expertise in biologics, including cell and gene therapies. Previously, Raya held various roles at companies such as Shire, Kite Pharma, and Genomatica, contributing to process and drug development.
Current Role at Instil Bio
Akhila Raya serves as the Head of CMC Strategy at Instil Bio, a position held since 2022. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) strategies. Her responsibilities include ensuring that the company's processes align with regulatory requirements and support the development of biopharmaceutical products.
Previous Experience at Instil Bio
Prior to her current role, Akhila Raya worked at Instil Bio as the Director of CMC Strategy from 2020 to 2022. During her tenure, she contributed to the strategic planning and execution of CMC initiatives, enhancing the company's capabilities in drug development and manufacturing processes.
Experience at Kite Pharma
Akhila Raya held multiple positions at Kite Pharma. She worked as a Senior Engineer in Raw Materials and Risk Management for six months in 2018. Subsequently, she served as Associate Director of CMC Technical Writing Strategy from 2018 to 2020. In these roles, she focused on managing risk and ensuring the quality of raw materials used in biopharmaceutical production.
Educational Background
Akhila Raya earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with Honors from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, from 2003 to 2007. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron, where she studied from 2007 to 2009. This educational foundation supports her extensive expertise in the biopharma sector.
Expertise in Biopharma
With over 12 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Akhila Raya specializes in process and drug development. Her expertise includes biologics, particularly in cell and gene therapies. She is committed to ongoing professional development to enhance her knowledge and technical competencies in this rapidly evolving field.