aarohi zokarkar
Senior Product Manager at Genentech
product leader genentech
leader biopharma product management top-tier management consulting experience ph.d. molecular bioscience . hands-on experience product launch strategy , portfolio/pipeline strategy , & organizational transformation , breadth exposure across multiple biopharma , medical technology , payer consumer health company . passionate developing leading cross-functional team deliver tangible customer business impact .
Genentech
https://www.linkedin.com/company/genentech
San Francisco Bay Area
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQGeKlDnTRylQA/company-logo_100_100/0/1625146152486?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=8pAYrV4yZmEYUQfk_sbv_CVKhbUNH-wNetO6PdOlgmc
Senior Product Manager
Genentech
https://www.linkedin.com/company/genentech
San Francisco Bay Area
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQGeKlDnTRylQA/company-logo_100_100/0/1625146152486?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=8pAYrV4yZmEYUQfk_sbv_CVKhbUNH-wNetO6PdOlgmc
Senior Strategy and Analytics Manager
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/boston-consulting-group
Built and led high-performing cross-functional teams, owned overall solutions & influenced executive leaders to drive impactful business decisions; 15+ projects across various healthcare topics

Select experiences include:

Product planning, launch and commercial:
- Launch strategy and product planning for $1B+ oncology drug, including revenue forecasting, positioning and marketing tactics, launch dashboard design, partnership with marketing and Brand teams
- Competitive strategy for oncology drug, led competitive scenario simulation workshop, developed potential competitive responses and counter-responses
- Pricing strategy for specialized hospital equipment for leading medical devices company

Portfolio and pipeline strategy:
- Comprehensive strategy to mitigate est. ~$5B revenue cliff through organic and inorganic growth opportunities in multiple core disease areas and adjacencies
- Emerging market growth strategy for multi-million dollar molecular imaging BU of leading medical devices manufacturer

Business development:
- Due diligence and revenue forecasting for $1B+ oncology and inflammation targets
- Pre-due diligence market and financial assessment in moveable medical equipment space

R&D strategy and transformation:
- Rapid large-scale R&D org transformation, change management to prevent hostile takeover
- Biopharma R&D pipeline strategy, governance and stage gate criteria design (biologics and small molecules in multiple disease areas)
- Neurology companion diagnostic biomarker technical feasibility assessment

Additional contributions:
- Perspective on Beyond the Pill for Biopharma: proposal awarded BCG’s Scientist Network fellowship
- Pro bono BCG project on San Francisco Homelessness with prominent Bay Area non-profit and City of SF
- Selected facilitator for two North America-wide training programs for Ph.D.s in consulting
- Core member of BCG’s Research & Product Development Group, Scientist Network, Women’s Initiative
San Francisco
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQH6Hmb4BYfS1g/company-logo_100_100/0/1637177206703?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=foz20y5JY8sMgbz1OAWEJQOwjzegG98X8DFyC0BG4cA
Project Leader
Northwestern University
https://www.linkedin.com/company/northwestern-university
- Doctoral research on viral entry into host cells, biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology of viral surface proteins
- Advised by Dr. Robert Lamb, John Evans Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Designed engineered paramyxovirus surface glycoproteins to develop functional understanding and role in entry into host cells
- Co-discovered mechanism of viral surface glycoprotein engagement and structural changes during entry into host cells
- Experienced in complex glycoprotein purification, X-ray crystallography, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and various other biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology techniques
- Research presented at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and American Society of Virology
Greater Chicago Area
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQH-sXOOSUF3aA/company-logo_100_100/0/1519856314413?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=h0v-36oVP_Tcafu7dFGSJj-JUV7D2s736F2wkq2KzxE
Doctor of Philosophy
Ph.D.
Biological Sciences
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQH-sXOOSUF3aA/company-logo_100_100/0/1519856314413?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=h0v-36oVP_Tcafu7dFGSJj-JUV7D2s736F2wkq2KzxE
Northwestern University
https://www.linkedin.com/school/northwestern-university/
B.S.
- Transferred from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India (2003-2005)
- Graduated with honors, Dean's list in all semesters
- Undergraduate thesis on virus-induced gene silencing in plants
- Kiley Marie and Powers Scholar, Clifford A. Shillingalaw Scholar (merit-based scholarships)
Microbiology
https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E0BAQFRN0d0TDgLNA/company-logo_100_100/0/1519912824418?e=1655942400&v=beta&t=LVGUhlMwL1tpu1M57dRb5MbrtLZ8tBf1UxeWJfNKoDI
Iowa State University
https://www.linkedin.com/school/iowastateu/
Cysteines were introduced into the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the paramyxovirus F protein. A disulfide bond formed, and the mutant protein was expressed at the cell surface but was fusion inactive. Reduction of the disulfide bond restored fusion activity. The data indicate that in addition to dissociation of the three-helix bundle stalk domain of prefusion F, the MPER region also needs to separate for F to be able to refold and cause fusion.
Reversible inhibition of fusion activity of a paramyxovirus fusion protein by an engineered disulfide bond in the membrane-proximal external region
Journal of Virology
http://jvi.asm.org/content/86/22/12397.long
The Paramyxoviridae family of enveloped viruses enters cells through the concerted action of two viral glycoproteins. The receptor-binding protein, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), H, or G, binds its cellular receptor and activates the fusion protein, F, which, through an extensive refolding event, brings viral and cellular membranes together, mediating virus–cell fusion. However, the underlying mechanism of F activation on receptor engagement remains unclear. Current hypotheses propose conformational changes in HN, H, or G propagating from the receptor-binding site in the HN, H, or G globular head to the F-interacting stalk region. We provide evidence that the receptor-binding globular head domain of the paramyxovirus parainfluenza virus 5 HN protein is entirely dispensable for F activation. Considering together the crystal structures of HN from different paramyxoviruses, varying energy requirements for fusion activation, F activation involving the parainfluenza virus 5 HN stalk domain, and properties of a chimeric paramyxovirus HN protein, we propose a simple model for the activation of paramyxovirus fusion.
Fusion activation by a headless parainfluenza virus 5 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase stalk suggests a modular mechanism for triggering
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
http://www.pnas.org/content/109/39/E2625.long
Paramyxoviruses enter host cells by fusing the viral envelope with a host cell membrane. Fusion is mediated by the viral fusion (F) protein, and it undergoes large irreversible conformational changes to cause membrane merger. The C terminus of PIV5 F contains a membrane-proximal 7-residue external region (MPER), followed by the transmembrane (TM) domain and a 20-residue cytoplasmic tail. To study the sequence requirements of the F protein C terminus for fusion, we constructed chimeras containing the ectodomain of parainfluenza virus 5 F (PIV5 F) and either the MPER, the TM domain, or the cytoplasmic tail of the F proteins of the paramyxoviruses measles virus, mumps virus, Newcastle disease virus, human parainfluenza virus 3, and Nipah virus. The chimeras were expressed, and their ability to cause cell fusion was analyzed. The chimeric proteins were variably expressed at the cell surface. We found that chimeras containing the ectodomain of PIV5 F with the C terminus of other paramyxoviruses were unable to cause cell fusion. Fusion could be restored by decreasing the activation energy of refolding through introduction of a destabilizing mutation (S443P). Replacing individual regions, singly or doubly, in the chimeras with native PIV5 F sequences restored fusion to various degrees, but it did not have an additive effect in restoring activity. Thus, the F protein C terminus may be a specific structure that only functions with its cognate ectodomain. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of MPER indicates that it has a regulatory role in fusion since both hyperfusogenic and hypofusogenic mutations were found.
The paramyxovirus fusion protein C-terminal region: mutagenesis indicates an indivisible protein unit
Journal of Virology
http://jvi.asm.org/content/86/5/2600.long
Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management
Management for Scientists and Engineers
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilshoda-yergasheva-540a1580
San Francisco Bay Area
Dilshoda Yergasheva
Investment Specialist at Wellington Management
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wstork
South San Francisco, CA
William Stork
Genentech
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-lim-a22b7936
San Francisco, CA
Alex Lim
Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenaviger
Aliso Viejo, CA
Lena Viger 🇺🇦
Experienced administrative professional, brand ambassador for executives, thought partner, culture carrier and strategic partner.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-stamper-980ba09
Redwood City, CA
Heather Stamper
Senior Director, Strategic Analytics and Intelligence, Oncology at Genentech
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ross-babb8951
San Francisco, CA
Jason Ross
Director, Market Insights & Analytics at Replimune
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilanikahawala
San Carlos, CA
Dilani Kahawala
Group Product Manager, Confluence Creator Experience at Atlassian
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingcheah
San Francisco Bay Area
Ming Cheah, PhD
Principal at Pivotal bioVenture Partners
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blankenshipwriter
Austin, TX
Kyle Blankenship
Director of Visibility and External Communications at BeiGene
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegladis1
Annandale, VA
Steve Gladis, Ph.D.
Executive Coach & Team Leadership Development, Professor, and Author ~~~ Coaching teams to become high-performing and purpose-driven.
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alexlimbo
United Kingdom
Alex Lim
Managing Partner at Blossom Capital
https://www.linkedin.com/in/damirbecirovic
San Francisco, CA
Damir Becirovic
Partner at Index Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mavolpi
San Francisco, CA
Mike Volpi
Partner at Index Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-leitner-9a604b28
San Francisco, CA
Elizabeth Leitner
Oncology Marketing at Genentech
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashw1n
Oakland, CA
Ashwin Kumar
Digital Health Product Management
https://www.linkedin.com/in/racine
Greater Phoenix Area
Ralph Racine, MBA
Senior Product Manager at Cordis
https://www.linkedin.com/in/palvi-raikar-mba-mb-msc-be-66567020
Cambridge, MA
Palvi Raikar, MBA, MB, MSc, BE
Brand Launch | Commercial Strategy | HCP Marketing | Digital Marketing | US & Global
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicesfan
San Francisco, CA
Alice Fan
Director, Product Management, Digital Platform at iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-b-keefe-978339
United States
James B. Keefe
Strategic Marketing Professional | Author | Mentor | Investor on a mission to bring forward new ideas and solutions that truly make a difference