Team
James M. Wilson, MD, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Founder, GEMMABio and Franklin Biolabs
Having started his work in gene therapy nearly 40 years ago, Jim 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 ten 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.
Dr. Juliette Hordeaux, DVM, PhD, DECVP
Chief Scientific Officer
Juliette Hordeaux is a trailblazing leader in the field of gene therapy, with 15+ years developing treatments for rare diseases.
She sets the company’s scientific direction and oversees all translational research and discovery efforts that turn early scientific discoveries into therapies ready for clinical trials.
Dr. Hordeaux is a co-inventor on 12 patents related to gene therapy and contributed to the development of clinical candidates for 15 rare disease therapeutic programs. In her previous role at the University of Pennsylvania’s Gene Therapy Program, she led or co-led seven programs through successful IND applications. Her dual background as a gene therapy scientist and veterinary pathologist has led her to focus on toxicology and safety during drug development, making her a globally recognized expert in AAV-associated safety.
Lori Kellam, PhD
Chief Operating Officer
Lori Kellam is results-driven biotech operations leader with a proven track record in operational excellence. With foundations in project management and broad knowledge of early drug discovery and pre-clinical development, she is adept in streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and managing complex workflows to deliver positive outcomes for preclinical translational research programs.
Dr. Kellam is responsible for scaling operational infrastructure, ensuring compliance and efficiency, and supporting the successful execution of Research & Discovery and clinical development goals. She oversees several departments, including Finance, Portfolio Management, Information Technology (IT), Facilities and Space Planning, Quality Assurance (QA), and CMC Process Sciences.
Dr. Kellam was previously Executive Director, Portfolio Management at the Gene Therapy Program. In her early career, she was a reproductive biologist with a specific interest in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Monique Molloy
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
Monique Molloy is a veteran in the gene therapy industry, having worked in managerial and executive roles for more than 30 years.
Ms. Molloy manages GEMMABio’s administrative, communications, community engagement, and human resources functions as well as supporting high priority projects and initiatives, such as fundraising, patient advocacy, relationship building with domestic and international stakeholders, and strategic planning.
Ms. Molloy started working in the field shortly after she graduated from university, as Dr. Wilson initiated the University of Pennsylvania’s major gene therapy research effort as a dedicated institute. With her deep expertise and dedication to rare disease research over the years, she assumed top leadership positions as the Executive Director of the Orphan Disease Center and Chief Administrative Officer of the Gene Therapy Program.
May Orfali, MD, MBA
Chief Medical Officer
May Orfali is an experienced medical executive with nearly 30 years of experience in clinical development and medical affairs across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, infectious diseases, and rare and orphan diseases.
Having started her career in international health affairs before transitioning into pharmaceuticals and life sciences, she brings a well-rounded approach to overseeing GEMMABio’s clinical strategy and operations.
Dr. Orfali earned her Medical Degree from the University of Baghdad and a Pharmaceutical Master of Business Administration from Cambridge University.
Ramon Salsas Escat, PhD, MBA
Chief Business Officer
In his current role, Ramon Salsas leads business development and alliance management, and oversees legal and intellectual property functions.
Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at G2Bio. Before that, he held progressively senior roles in Business Development at the Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania, beginning in 2016. Earlier in his career, he was Head of R&D Business Strategy at Esteve Pharmaceuticals.
Throughout his career, Dr. Salsas has led or co-led over 20 transactions, including strategic collaborations, technology out-licenses, spinouts, research partnerships, and co-development agreements. These span a broad range of therapeutic areas, with a focus on AAV gene therapies for rare diseases, CNS disorders, oncology, and manufacturing platforms, as well as small molecule assets in pain management. The cumulative deal value exceeds $4 billion in potential milestones and upfront payments, including over $600 million in committed research funding and $230 million in secured capital. He has also played a pivotal role in founding multiple new companies, most notably GEMMABio, and in negotiating major licensing deals with global pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
Dr. Salsas holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemistry from Institut Químic de Sarrià, a PhD in Computational Systems Biology from MIT, and an MBA from IESE Business School.