Saravanan (Saran) Karumbayaram, M. Pharm., Ph.D., serves as a Biologist and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) reviewer within the Division of Cell Therapy at the FDA since 2019. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences and master’s degree in pharmaceutical biotechnology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in India in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Following this, he pursued his doctorate at the University of Bonn, Germany, completing it in 2006. In 2009, he concluded his postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Following his postdoctoral stint, he assumed the role of adjunct faculty at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA from 2010 to 2019. His dedication and expertise led to his appointment as an Adjunct Professor at the center in 2018. Throughout his tenure at the University of Bonn and UCLA, his research centered on investigating the molecular mechanisms of metachromatic leukodystrophy. He also focused on developing methods for generating pluripotent stem cells and differentiating them into ectodermal lineage cells. Notably, his research included studying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using motor neurons and age-related macular degeneration using retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.
Dr. Karumbayaram played a pivotal role in establishing the iPSC core laboratory at UCLA, where he spearheaded the development of methods for the clinical translation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cellular therapy products.