About Us
The team at Franklin Biolabs has been instrumental in creating the field of Genetic Medicines over the last few decades in an academic setting and is recognized as the global leader in AAV-based genetic medicines science and innovation. The team of dedicated experts supported the global Genetic Medicines industry and academic research through its key service centers with a proven track record of accelerating discoveries to the clinic.
The timeline below depicts key milestones in the history of gene therapy.
These academic service centers spun out from Dr. Wilson’s academic laboratory into a new advanced therapies-focused solutions provider called Franklin Biolabs in October 2024. The original Vector Production, Analytical Testing, Immunology, Next Generation Sequencing, Program for Comparative Medicine, and Pathology units are the foundation for Franklin Biolabs. The Wilson lab has played a key role in the discovery of novel AAV capsids in the early 2000s, which have since proven to be best-in-class vectors supporting numerous gene therapy programs in the clinic. Franklin Biolabs will leverage its bench-to-bedside expertise in Genetic Medicines to expand the platform of services with the goal of being the leading provider of comprehensive cell and gene therapy solutions.
Board of Directors
James M. Wilson
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Having started his work in gene therapy nearly 40 years ago, Dr. Wilson was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and created the first and largest academic-based program in gene therapy. His laboratory discovered a family of viruses from primates called adeno-associated viruses (AAV) that could be engineered to be very effective gene transfer vehicles. These "vectors" have become the technology platform of choice and have set the stage for the recent resurgence of the field of gene therapy.
Dr. Wilson has also been active in facilitating the commercial development of these new gene therapy platforms through the establishment of eight biotechnology companies. His research has been focused on rare inherited diseases, ranging from cystic fibrosis to dyslipidemias to a variety of neurologic disorders and liver metabolic diseases, and on addressing these unmet needs for patients in marginalized populations. To date, his team’s accomplishments include 3 FDA-approved AAV-based gene therapies, 40+ active programs in development, 95 patents on gene therapy-related technologies, and first-in-patient studies in 15 different diseases.
Mehul Bhatt
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Mehul Bhatt is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in board directorships, strategic leadership, and sustainable development. He currently serves as the Head of Strategy for Savanne Life Sciences. Among other boards, he serves on the board of Business Mauritius, an independent association that represents over 1,200 Mauritian businesses.
Prior to his current role, Mehul held several key positions within the Rogers Group, including Chief Strategy and Sustainability Executive, where he was instrumental in shaping the company's strategic direction and sustainability initiatives. He also served as Managing Director for East Africa at Velogic, a subsidiary of Rogers specializing in logistics and supply chain solutions.
Mehul's career includes significant international experience with renowned organizations such as A.P. Moller-Maersk and Chevron, where he held various strategic, financial, and operational roles across the United States, Denmark, East Africa, the United Kingdom, and India.
Mehul holds a Bachelor of Science from the BITS, Pilani, India, and a Master of Business Administration from the London Business School.
Throughout his career, Mehul has demonstrated a strong commitment to strategic growth, sustainability, and operational excellence, making significant contributions to the organizations he has been part of.
Mehul lives in Mauritius with his wife and two daughters.
Jacob Griffiths
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Fresh out of his Bachelors Laws and International Relations from the University of New South Wales [Australia], Jacob founded a conservation focused NGO in Colombia to protect one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems from illegal fishing. After his graduation, Jacob was informally involved with Bioculture Group, advising the board on legal and business strategy. In 2019, he joined the company in his actual capacity.
Howard D. Palefsky
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Howard Palefsky is an accomplished executive member in the life sciences, healthcare and medical technology industries. He has led life science and med tech organizations to significant growth, creating value exceeding $4 billion. He has also served on the boards of more than 30 organizations and has played a pivotal role in establishing more than 20 businesses, spearheading numerous capital raises, Initial Public Offerings and acquisitions.
Moreover, he has overseen more than 40 new product launches across the US, Europe, LATAM and Asia Pacific, gaining invaluable strategic insight into regulatory affairs and reimbursement mechanics in multiple geographies.
Howard is currently chair and president of the private investment firm Victoria Capital Management, which counts several notable companies in its investment portfolio. Among them: Mana Health (sold to Comcast), Laserscope (sold to AMS), Resound Corp (sold to GN Danavox), Novacept (sold to Hologic), Oclassen Pharmaceuticals (sold to Allergan), Calgene (sold to Monsanto), Innovasive Devices (sold to Johnson & Johnson), Interventional Technologies (sold to Boston Scientific) and Ekso Bionics (EKSO: NASDAQ).
Howard also joined Montreux Equity Partners, as Managing Director and one of the two senior partners. He was an integral part of the team that secured in excess of $500 million in Limited Partner Interests. He played key roles in the firm’s investments and exits in 20 companies.
Howard witnessed the biomedical revolution through his long-standing tenure with Collagen Corp, a pioneering company operating in the field of clinically validated products for facial aesthetics. Collagen was a pre-revenue, venture-funded start-up organization when Howard joined as CEO. He spent the next 19 years growing Collagen through numerous product launches in the U.S., Europe and Japan, generating substantial profitability.
He also directed Collagen’s very profitable investment in Pharming N.V. (NASDAQ: PHAR). Tp address unmet or underserved market requirements, he established a joint venture with Eli Lilly called Target Therapeutics, which developed disposable medical devices for use in minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of vascular conditions of the brain.
Besides his impact in the life sciences industry, Howard has played a vital role on boards of arts & culture organizations. Howard chaired the finance committee and the board during the considerable financial turnaround of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, rendering it one of the few cash flow positive Orchestra’s in the world.
In addition, during Howard’s time as chair of the development committee of the Atlanta Opera, the Opera raised $45 million to help fund operations. Arts and Culture organizations with whom the Palefskys have worked to secure funds have raised more than $200 million in philanthropic contributions as a result of their efforts.
Eckart W. Schwarz
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Dr. Eckart Schwarz is a seasoned senior pharmaceutical executive with an impressive 30+ year track record of leading global strategic initiatives and building/managing large teams & budgets transnationally. Dr. Schwarz is currently the President of Quantocks Consulting, a bespoke Life Science and Drug Development consultancy. A long-term Senior Vice President in various pivotal roles in GSK, he has been recognized for his transformational leadership in designing and building global strategic and operational solutions and teams, in most of the disciplines involved in drug development, such as Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Quality and Compliance, Organizational Development and Global Resource strategies / offshoring. Trained as a physician / anesthesiologist in the UK, Eckart has an impeccable academic pedigree which includes an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians (London, England). His stance is resolutely global, having worked and lived in Germany, Belgium, the UK, Singapore, India and the US, where he is now based (Philadelphia area). He is a dynamic leader with exceptional analytical capabilities, deep and broad experience and expertise, strategic visionary outlook, high personal energy and compelling communication skills.
Dr. Schwarz earned his Preclinical degree from Bonn University, Germany, his MD from Bristol University, UK, and his MPhil in the History of Medicine from Cambridge University, UK.
Annalisa Jenkins
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Annalisa Jenkins, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P. is a biopharma thought leader with over 25 years of industry experience. Dr. Jenkins has extensive recent experience in building and financing biotech companies pursuing cures for the most challenging rare diseases to address important medical issues globally. She has consistently built and led teams advancing programs from scientific research through clinical development, regulatory approval, and into healthcare systems globally. In addition, she is an advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly for women in science.
Dr. Jenkins served as president and CEO of Dimension Therapeutics, a leading gene therapy company that she took public on the NASDAQ and subsequently sold to Ultragenyx. Prior leadership roles have included the head of global research and development and executive vice president global development and medical at Merck Serono, and several senior positions at Bristol Myers-Squibb over 15 years – including serving as senior vice president and head of global medical affairs. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jenkins was a medical officer in the British Royal Navy during the Gulf Conflict, achieving the rank of surgeon lieutenant commander.
Dr. Jenkins is a board member of several growing companies, including Oncimmune, AVROBIO, COMPASS Pathways, AOBiome, AgeX, ADOR Diagnostics, MedCity, DMNoMore, Conduit Connect, Affimed, Genomics England, Blue Advent, Cocoon Biotech Inc. (Non-Executive Chair), and Kuur Therapeutics (Non-Executive Chair). She also is a committee member of the Science Board to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which advises FDA leadership on complex scientific and technical issues, board member at Faster Cures a center of The Milken Institute and Chair of The Court The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
