Rho Bio Leadership Team

Jennifer Beecham

President, Co-Founder

LinkedIn
LinkedIn

Michael Ehrlich, MD, MBA

Strategic Advisor

LinkedIn
LinkedIn

Eric Song, MD, PhD

Yale | Immunobiology and Ophthalmology

×

Dr. Eric Hoyeon Song is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Ophthalmology at Yale School of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunobiology and M.D. from Yale University. Dr. Song's research focuses on understanding and manipulating immune responses in immune-privileged tissues, such as the brain and eyes, to develop novel therapies for currently incurable diseases. Dr. Song has led numerous projects leading to publications in high-impact journals, contributing to advancements in cancer immunology and neuroimmunology.

Scientific Founders

Aaron Ring, MD, PhD

Fred Hutch Cancer Center | Translational Science and Therapeutics

×

Aaron Ring MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and bioengineer renowned for his pioneering work in cancer immunotherapy. He currently serves as an Associate Professor and holds the Anderson Family Endowed Chair for Immunotherapy at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Dr. Ring's research integrates protein engineering with systems immunology to discover novel targets for cancer therapy and develop new drugs against them. His work has led to the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies, including drugs for the IL-18, IL-2, and SIRPα/CD47 pathways that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. In addition to his academic research, Dr. Ring has founded several biotechnology companies, including Simcha Therapeutics, ALX Oncology, Seranova Bio, and Stipple Bio.

Jonathan Kipnis, PhD

Washington University in St. Louis | Director, Brain Immunology and Glia Center

×

Jonathan Kipnis PhD, is the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also serves as Director of the Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG) Center. His pioneering research has redefined the understanding of neuroimmune interactions, notably through the discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels that connect the central nervous system to the peripheral immune system. Dr. Kipnis's work has significant implications for various neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and autism. He has received numerous accolades, such as the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2022.

Akiko Iwasaki, PhD

Yale | Immunobiology

×

Akiko Iwasaki, PhD is the Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale University and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of immune defense against viruses at mucosal surfaces and the development of mucosal vaccine strategies. Dr. Iwasaki has been at the forefront of COVID-19 research, co-leading the Yale COVID-19 Recovery Study to understand immune responses in long COVID patients. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was named to the TIME100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2021 for her leadership in science and public communication. In 2023, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Roche, reflecting her global impact on biomedical innovation and health policy.