Max Tejada
About Max Tejada
Max Tejada serves as the Vice President and Head of Analytical Development at Sana Biotechnology, Inc., bringing extensive expertise in developing assays for various therapeutic modalities. He has held senior positions at notable companies such as Kite Pharma, AstraZeneca, and Genentech, and has a strong academic background in biochemistry and business.
Work at Sana Biotechnology
Max Tejada currently serves as Vice President and Head of Analytical Development at Sana Biotechnology, Inc. He has held this position since 2023, contributing to the company's initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His role involves overseeing analytical development processes and ensuring the effective implementation of assays for various therapeutic modalities.
Previous Experience at Kite Pharma
Before joining Sana Biotechnology, Max Tejada worked at Kite Pharma as Executive Director and Head of Analytical Development from 2021 to 2023. In this role, he was responsible for leading analytical development efforts in Santa Monica, California. Prior to this, he served as Senior Director and Head of Analytical Development at Kite Pharma starting in 2020.
Education and Expertise
Max Tejada has a strong academic background in biochemistry. He earned his PhD from Queen's University, where he studied from 1994 to 2000. Additionally, he holds an MBA from Notre Dame de Namur University and an MSc from the University of Windsor. His educational foundation supports his extensive experience in developing physicochemical, biological, and impurity assays across various therapeutic modalities.
Career Background in Biopharmaceuticals
Max Tejada has held several significant roles in the biopharmaceutical industry. He worked at AstraZeneca as Senior Director, Head of Bioassay, Impurities & Quality Testing from 2018 to 2020. He also served as Senior Scientist at Genentech from 2010 to 2015 and held various positions at Genentech, including Post Doctoral Scientist and Scientist. His career spans multiple companies, including Gilead Sciences, where he was a Senior Research Scientist II from 2015 to 2018.
Mentorship and Leadership
In addition to his technical expertise, Max Tejada actively mentors and leads the next generation of development scientists. He focuses on fostering growth and innovation within the field, sharing his knowledge and experience to support emerging professionals in analytical development.