Chandra Ramanathan

Bio:

Chandra Ramanathan, PhD, MBA, Executive Chair, Nucleate

Biopharmaceutical executive with deep experience translating technology and scientific
innovations into treatment options and access for patients with high medical needs.
Proven leader across pharma, biotech, technology companies, startups, and academia,
spanning early discovery through global product launches. Brings a strong track record
navigating complex organizations and delivering results across biopharma, technology
conglomerates, academic medical centers, and early-stage ventures. Broad subject-matter
expertise across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities, including small molecules, biologics,and advanced therapies such as cell and gene therapy.

Chandra currently serves as an Executive Chair of Nucleate Board of Directors (largest trainee-led biotech accelerator in the world). Most recently, Chandra served as Head of External, Innovation, Life Sciences Innovation Group at Danaher Corporation. In this role, he focused on identifying and partnering on technologies with the potential to transform drug discovery and development, improve clinical translation success, and accelerate delivery of innovative medicines to patients. Previously at Danaher, he was Global Head of Innovation Hubs, leading product-oriented innovation across genomic medicine, diagnostics, human-systems R&D, and biomanufacturing.

Prior to Danaher, Chandra spent over twelve years at Bayer in senior global leadership roles. Most recently, he was Global Head of Pharma R&D Open Innovation, where he led Open Innovation Centers across the US, Europe, Japan, China, and Singapore. These centers drove early access to breakthrough technologies, strategic alliances, and public–private partnerships. Key accomplishments include establishing a major innovation center and securing approval for a Cell and Gene Therapy Incubator in Cambridge, Massachusetts, representing an investment exceeding $200 million.

Earlier roles at Bayer included Head of the Open Innovation Center North America–East, Global Program Lead for External Innovation in Life Sciences, Global Launch Team Leader for Aliqopa, and Head of Global Oncology Pipeline Marketing. Before joining Bayer, Chandra held positions at Wyeth (Pfizer) and Bristol Myers Squibb across drug discovery, applied genomics, and business development and licensing.

Chandra holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, a PhD in Genomics and
Bioinformatics, an MS in Medicinal Chemistry, and a BS in Pharmacy.
He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Tufts School of Medicine and serves as the
Chairperson, Nucleate Board of Directors. He was with the MassBIO Board (2017-2026) until recently where he served as the Chair of the Innovation Subcommittee. He also serves on the Innovation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Advisory Board at Johns Hopkins University and the Board of Trustees of McLean Hospital. He is actively engaged in ecosystem building through mentoring entrepreneurs and advising early-stage startups.