Rachel Galimidi, Ph.D. is a distinguished scientist and biotechnology leader with extensive expertise in immunology, virology, and early-stage drug development.

She earned her Ph.D. in Biology and Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under the mentorship of renowned researchers Dr David Baltimore and Dr Pamela Bjorkman.

Her doctoral research focused on the development of novel anti-HIV therapeutics and the mechanisms by which HIV evades humoral immunity, culminating in a significant 2015 publication in Cell. Throughout her graduate and postdoctoral training, Dr Galimidi specialised in antibody engineering, structural immunology, and the use of transgenic models to study viral dynamics.

Dr Galimidi transitioned to the biotechnology sector, where she served as a founding scientist at several pioneering startups focused on advancing proteomics and genomics.

At Nautilus Biotechnology, she played a central role in the development of the company’s single-molecule proteomics platform.

Her contributions were instrumental in securing $350 million in funding, leading to the company’s public offering on NASDAQ. Similarly, as a founding scientist at Palamedrix, Dr Galimidi was integral to the development of its DNA nanotechnology platform, ultimately facilitating Palamedrix’s acquisition by SomaLogic for $50 million in 2022.

Her expertise in assay development and instrument workflows was key to advancing the next generation of SomaLogic’s SomaScan® Assay.

During her time at Singular Genomics, Dr Galimidi contributed to the development of cutting-edge next-generation sequencing technologies. Her work was pivotal in driving the company’s growth and securing a successful IPO, raising $258 million in an upsized offering.

Previously, Dr Galimidi held the position of Director of Biologics at the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicine, part of The Scripps Research Institute. In this role, she oversaw the development of biologics from discovery through clinical trials, with a focus on oncology and metabolic disorders.

Her work encompassed a range of therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, multivalent therapeutics, and multispecific antibodies. Additionally, Dr Galimidi led efforts to integrate advanced delivery technologies, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNP) and mRNA-based platforms, to enhance therapeutic efficacy.

Dr Galimidi has collaborated extensively with leading pharmaceutical companies, including Abbvie, Merck, Pfizer, and SomaLogic, to drive innovation in drug development. Across her career, she has been instrumental in securing over $400 million in funding through high-profile campaigns, and her contributions to the biotech industry have been transformative.

Dr Galimidi remains committed to translating groundbreaking scientific discoveries into impactful clinical therapies.