Management Team



Jyoti Chauhan, M.S., RAC (US)
Executive Director, Global Clinical Operations & Regulatory Compliance
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About Us
Landos Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of first-in-class, oral therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases. Leveraging our AI-based integrated computational platform, LANCE, we have identified seven novel therapeutic candidates to date across thirteen indications in areas of unmet medical need. Our lead product candidate, BT-11, is a small molecule targeting Lanthionine Synthetase C-Like 2 (LANCL2), a pathway designed to limit its impact to the gastrointestinal tract. The Company is evaluating BT-11 in a Phase 2 trial for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) study in the U.S. Europe, and Russia and expects to initiate a Phase 2 trial of BT-11 for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) in the first half of 2021.
The Company’s mission is to create safer and more effective treatments that address the therapeutic gap in the current treatment paradigm for autoimmune disease.
Josep Bassaganya-Riera, Ph.D. has served as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since our founding in January 2017. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera has served as the Director of the NIMML Institute since July 2002 and the Chairman of the board of directors of Biotherapeutics Inc. since October 2008. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at Biotherapeutics and Professor of Inflammation & Immunology Virginia Tech. He is a captain of industry, innovator, thought leader, and serial entrepreneur, with more than 20 years in the industry. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books on the acceleration of biopharmaceutical development and computational immunology, and he has contributed 40 patents in immunology and autoimmune disease treatment. He has founded 3 award-winning Companies, raising over $200 million in non-dilutive and equity financing rounds. His distinctions include recognition as Innovator of the Year and recipient of the Research Excellence Award at Virginia Tech. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera has applied agile and lean management systems in combination with an efficient use of capital to catalyze value accrual and capture. Through its entrepreneurial corporate culture, encapsulated in four fundamental pillars: be bold and decisive, never give up, be solution-oriented and do the impossible, Landos empowers employees to think outside the box to achieve creative and innovative solutions that promote technological innovation. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Immunology from Iowa State University.
Raquel Hontecillas, Ph.D., has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since our founding in January 2017. She brings 20 years of translational immunology research experience in the biotech industry, with a focus on infectious, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases. She leads efforts aimed at identifying and validating the role of the Lanthionine Synthetase C-Like 2 (LANCL2), NLRX1, PLXDC2 and other immunometabolic pathways as a key therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other autoimmune diseases. Dr. Hontecillas is the Co-Director of the NIMML Institute, a position she has held since July 2002, and the Chief Scientific Officer of Biotherapeutics, Inc., a position she has held since October 2008. She previously served as a Research Professor of Immunology at Virginia Tech. She co-directed NIH and DOD-funded $68M translational research program in computational and mucosal immunology centered on studying the gastrointestinal immune system. Raquel has published over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has contributed to 30 patents. Dr. Hontecillas holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Universidad Complutense University de Madrid, Spain and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Iowa State University.
Jyoti Chauhan has served as our Executive Director of Global Clinical Operations and Regulatory Affairs since August 2019. She has extensive experience with strategic regulatory liaison, regulatory filings, clinical trials management, product development lifecycle, regulatory intelligence and policy analysis across various therapeutic areas and products. She previously served as our Clinical Project Manager from February 2018 to July 2018 and our Program Director, Clinical Operations and Regulatory Affairs from July 2018 to August 2019. Ms. Chauhan previously served as the Manager of Regulatory Affairs at NexImmune, Inc. from March 2018 to August 2018, the Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist at the International Partnership for Microbicides from September 2017 to March 2018 and the Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Technical Resources International, Inc. At Landos, she oversees clinical and regulatory operations to efficiently execute multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while creating agile business and technical operating processes for advancement of lead asset and pipeline products to next stages. She is also involved in organizational development and advancement. Jyoti holds a B.S. in biotechnology and a M.S. in applied pharmaceutical sciences. Ms. Chauhan holds a B.S. in Biotechnology with Chemistry, Botany and Zoology from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University and a M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.
Andrew Leber, Ph.D. contributes deep knowledge of immunology, advanced computational modeling, data analytics, AI, and drug development to Landos Biopharma. As the Senior Scientific Director, he is responsible for assessing the therapeutic potential of lead immunoregulatory targets in autoimmune diseases. Dr. Leber’s expertise in immunometabolism helped Landos advance its first-in-class asset for IBD, BT-11, into clinical development. Dr. Leber obtained his B.S. in bioengineering and biomedical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. in genetics, bioinformatics, and computational biology from Virginia Tech.
Jenny has 15 years of experience in accounting and financial systems for both large corporations and small businesses. In her role as Financial Director at Landos Biopharma, she manages business controller services as well as provides council on how to improve operational efficiencies. Jenny holds a Master’s degree in Accounting with a focus in taxation.
Simon Lichtiger, M.D. holds 40 years of experience as a gastroenterologist with a focus in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. He is a doctor of gastroenterology by trade and was a professor of Gastroenterology and Director of the IBD Division at Columbia University and Clinical Gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He has published more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed journals and recently edited a textbook in IBD. Dr. Lichtiger received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine.
Josep Bassaganya-Riera, Ph.D. has served as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since our founding in January 2017. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera has served as the Director of the NIMML Institute since July 2002 and the Chairman of the board of directors of Biotherapeutics Inc. since October 2008. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at Biotherapeutics and Professor of Inflammation & Immunology Virginia Tech. He is a captain of industry, innovator, thought leader, and serial entrepreneur, with more than 20 years in the industry. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books on the acceleration of biopharmaceutical development and computational immunology, and he has contributed 40 patents in immunology and autoimmune disease treatment. He has founded 3 award-winning Companies, raising over $200 million in non-dilutive and equity financing rounds. His distinctions include recognition as Innovator of the Year and recipient of the Research Excellence Award at Virginia Tech. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera has applied agile and lean management systems in combination with an efficient use of capital to catalyze value accrual and capture. Through its entrepreneurial corporate culture, encapsulated in four fundamental pillars: be bold and decisive, never give up, be solution-oriented and do the impossible, Landos empowers employees to think outside the box to achieve creative and innovative solutions that promote technological innovation. Dr. Bassaganya-Riera holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Immunology from Iowa State University.
Chris Garabedian is founder and CEO of Xontogeny, a biotech aggregator that supports life science technologies from early development through clinical proof of concept. He also established the firm’s venture fund strategy in a partnership with Perceptive Advisors. Prior to joining Xontogeny, he served as the President and CEO of Sarepta Therapeutics, overseeing the development of the company’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy program. His previous positions also include VP of Corporate Strategy at Celgene and various global leadership roles at Gilead. Currently, Garabedian serves on the Board of Directors of MassBio, the Keck Graduate Institute, and is a Senior Advisor for the Boston Consulting Group.
Konstantin Poukalov is a Managing Director in Strategy at Perceptive Advisors and serves as Executive Chairman at LianBio. Previously, Mr. Poukalov worked at Kadmon Holdings, a biopharmaceutical company focused on therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. During his tenure, he served as Chief Financial Officer following his role as Vice President of Strategic Operations. Prior to joining Kadmon, Mr. Poukalov worked in the Jefferies healthcare investment banking group. Mr. Poukalov began his career at UBS in investment banking.
Roderick Wong, M.D. is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of RTW, where he manages the firm’s investments focused on innovative drug development. Prior to founding RTW, Dr. Wong was a Managing Director and sole Portfolio Manager for the Davidson Kempner Healthcare Funds. Over the years, he has held various healthcare investment and research roles at Sigma Capital Partners and Cowen & Company. He also holds an affiliation at the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Dr. Wong simultaneously received an MD from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in Economics from Duke University.
Maria Abreu, M.D., brings over 15 years of experience conducting preclinical models and clinical studies of IBD, with a research focus in intestinal inflammation and colon cancer. Currently, Dr. Abreu is Chief of Gastroenterology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami. Her additional roles include Chair of the Immunology, Microbiology and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Section of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Council and member of the AGA Public Affairs and Advisory Committee, among others. Dr. Abreu has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, books, chapters, and reviews.
Jean-Fredric Colombel, M.D., holds over 20 years of experience researching ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Dr. Colombel is the Director at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mount Sinai Hospital as well as the Helmsley IBD Center. Additionally, he serves as Chair of the International Organization of IBD, whose mission is to promote the health of IBD patients across the world. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed papers and 30 book chapters in IBD.
Fabio Cominelli, M.D., Ph.D., has more than 20 years of experience conducting clinical research for inflammatory bowel disease therapeutics and gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Cominelli is the chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease and Director of the Digestive Health Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians.
Asher Kornbluth, M.D., is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York. He received his medical degree from Downstate Medical Center in New York and completed his postgraduate training in internal medicine as both resident and Chief Resident at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Dr. Kornbluth has authored more than 100 articles, abstracts, and book chapters. He is the principal author of all three editions of the Ulcerative Colitis Practice Guidelines in Adults, published by the American College of Gastroenterology. He has also twice been the principal author on the chapter on Crohn’s disease in Sleisenger and Fordtran’s Textbook of Gastroenterology. He has served as an associate editor for the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Dr Kornbluth is an investigator on a number of clinical trials examining new therapeutic agents in inflammatory bowel disease, and most recently has been analyzing the role of biosimilar drugs in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
William Sandborn, M.D., brings over 25 years of expertise in the management of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Currently, he serves as the Director of IBD Center at UC San Diego Health, supervising a multi-investigator team of physicians, research fellows, nurses, and study coordinators. In addition, he is chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, vice chair of clinical operations for the Department of Medicine, and a member of the Clinical Practice Oversight Board for UC San Diego Health. One of Dr. Sandborn’s notable achievements includes managing a Phase 3 clinical study for the Pfizer IBD therapeutic candidates. He has published nearly 600 articles in journals such as The Lancet, JAMA, and Gastroenterology.
Francisco Sylvester, M.D., has more than 30 years of expertise as a translational scientist. His lab focuses on the effects of chronic intestinal inflammation on growth, bone, and muscle in children with inflammatory bowel diseases. Dr. Sylvester also serves as chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, a collaborative gastrointestinal research center at UNC Chapel Hill, for which he actively recruits, supports, and retains other pediatric gastroenterologists. Additionally, Dr. Sylvester serves as the Director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America PRO-KIIDS organization, a network critical to supporting pediatric research studies in IBD.