Daria Mochly-Rosen

Dr. Mochly-Rosen is a protein chemist by training, leading a multi-disciplinary research lab with interest in elucidating the molecular mechanism that improves human health, and a particular interest in mitochondrial health. She published ~275 papers and several dozen patents. She was the Chair of her department (2001-2004) and the Senior Associate Dean for Research (2006-2013) at Stanford University, School of Medicine. Much of her research focuses on improving health, as it relates to heart disease, and most recently, improving mitochondrial functions in cardiac and neurodegenerative diseases. Many laboratories have used the research tools that her lab has generated. Importantly, these tools led to the foundation of three pharmaceutical companies [KAI Pharmaceuticals (2004; acquired by Amgen in 2011 and KAI’s drug, Parsabiv, has been approved in the US, Europe, and Japan), ALDEA Pharmaceuticals (licensed to ForSee; completed safety studies in 2018) and Mitoconix (founded in 2016)]. Dr. Mochly-Rosen’s experience in translating basic research to drug development efforts led her to found SPARK, a translational research program at Stanford University. Now in its 13th year, SPARK has a >50% success rate each year, as measured by projects that were licensed and/or entered clinical studies and continues with efforts to address local and global health care needs, as they arise. The SPARK model has been adopted in ~60 institutes on all continent and MochlyRosen serves as Founder President of the SPARK GLOBAL organization.