The biotechnology sector is undergoing a period of unprecedented transformation. The vast need to efficiently address various diseases and to advance novel therapies to remediate unmet medical needs continues to drive innovative approaches by regulators, large pharma and entrepreneurial firms. This activity fosters an environment where large pharma firms are proactively seeking growth opportunities via partnerships and M&A, rendering assets with differentiating characteristics highly valuable.

Our investment team is led by professionals with financial expertise complemented by advanced medical and scientific backgrounds. We aim to capitalize on the opportunity set by actively managing core positions across the sector to maximize the portfolio’s return potential.

Team

Our Team

  • Behzad Aghazadeh

    Behzad Aghazadeh

    PhD | Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager

    Behzad has 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with 15 years of experience as an institutional investor. He began his career in healthcare as a research scientist, later joining Booz Allen as a management consultant, where he led major strategic and operational initiatives for companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Behzad served as the Chairman of Immunomedics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapies for the treatment of cancers and other diseases with high unmet medical need, until the company’s $21B acquisition by Gilead in 2020. Behzad currently serves on the board of Scribe Therapeutics, Inc., a private molecular engineering company developing advanced technologies for CRISPR-based genetic medicine, as well as the board of Aadi Bioscience, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on precision therapies for genetically-defined mTOR pathway genes. Behzad received his Master’s degree in Physics from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (Munich, Germany) and a PhD from Cornell University in Biochemistry & Biophysics.

    Behzad Aghazadeh

    Behzad has 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with 15 years of experience as an institutional investor. He began his career in healthcare as a research scientist, later joining Booz Allen as a management consultant, where he led major strategic and operational initiatives for companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Behzad served as the Chairman of Immunomedics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapies for the treatment of cancers and other diseases with high unmet medical need, until the company’s $21B acquisition by Gilead in 2020. Behzad currently serves on the board of Scribe Therapeutics, Inc., a private molecular engineering company developing advanced technologies for CRISPR-based genetic medicine, as well as the board of Aadi Bioscience, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on precision therapies for genetically-defined mTOR pathway genes. Behzad received his Master’s degree in Physics from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (Munich, Germany) and a PhD from Cornell University in Biochemistry & Biophysics.

  • Matthew Canver

    Matthew Canver

    MD/PhD | Director

    Matthew received a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MD/PhD from Harvard Medical School. Matthew completed one year of residency in Clinical Pathology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine. His PhD involved development of a CRISPR-based gene therapy approach to sickle cell disease. Matthew joined Avoro Capital in 2019 and is primarily involved in evaluating mid-to-late stage biotechnology investment opportunities.

    Matthew Canver

    Matthew received a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his MD/PhD from Harvard Medical School. Matthew completed one year of residency in Clinical Pathology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine. His PhD involved development of a CRISPR-based gene therapy approach to sickle cell disease. Matthew joined Avoro Capital in 2019 and is primarily involved in evaluating mid-to-late stage biotechnology investment opportunities.

  • Diane Chien

    Diane Chien

    CPA | Hedge Fund Controller

    Diane has over 15 years of Hedge Fund accounting and operations experience. Prior to joining Avoro, Diane spent nine years as Vice President, Assistant Controller of the distressed hedge fund business at Matlin Patterson Global Advisors LLC. Diane began her career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the Private Company Services Tax and the Alternatives Assurance practices. Diane holds a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from New York University Stern School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. Diane joined Avoro Capital in 2016.

    Diane Chien

    Diane has over 15 years of Hedge Fund accounting and operations experience. Prior to joining Avoro, Diane spent nine years as Vice President, Assistant Controller of the distressed hedge fund business at Matlin Patterson Global Advisors LLC. Diane began her career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the Private Company Services Tax and the Alternatives Assurance practices. Diane holds a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from New York University Stern School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. Diane joined Avoro Capital in 2016.

  • Mark Chin

    Mark Chin

    Investment Partner - Avoro Ventures

    Mark has 15 years of healthcare experience across venture capital, strategy consulting, business and corporate development. Prior to joining Avoro Ventures, Mark was a Managing Director at Arix Bioscience focused on private and public biotech investments. During his time at Arix, he sourced and led 10 private biotech investments resulting in 4 IPOs, 2 reverse mergers, and 2 acquisitions. Prior to Arix, Mark was a Principal at Longitude Capital, where he focused on investments in biotechnology and medical technology companies. Prior to Longitude, he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and worked in corporate development at Gilead Sciences and market planning at Genentech.

    Mark Chin

    Mark has 15 years of healthcare experience across venture capital, strategy consulting, business and corporate development. Prior to joining Avoro Ventures, Mark was a Managing Director at Arix Bioscience focused on private and public biotech investments. During his time at Arix, he sourced and led 10 private biotech investments resulting in 4 IPOs, 2 reverse mergers, and 2 acquisitions. Prior to Arix, Mark was a Principal at Longitude Capital, where he focused on investments in biotechnology and medical technology companies. Prior to Longitude, he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and worked in corporate development at Gilead Sciences and market planning at Genentech.

  • Uya Chuluunbaatar

    Uya Chuluunbaatar

    PhD | Investment Partner – Avoro Ventures

    Uya has 15 years of healthcare experience across a range of functions including venture capital, public equity investing, technology transfer and academic research. Prior to joining Avoro Ventures in March 2022, Uya was a Principal at Amzak Health where she led private and public biotech investments. During her time at Amzak, Uya was involved in 13 venture investments resulting in 5 IPOs and 2 acquisitions. Prior to Amzak, Uya was a sell-side biotech equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs covering large and mid-cap companies. Uya completed her Ph.D. in Microbiology at New York University School of Medicine, conducting research in virus-host interactions and viral protein synthesis. Her work was published in several scientific, peer-reviewed journals. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Cornell University.

    Uya Chuluunbaatar

    Uya has 15 years of healthcare experience across a range of functions including venture capital, public equity investing, technology transfer and academic research. Prior to joining Avoro Ventures in March 2022, Uya was a Principal at Amzak Health where she led private and public biotech investments. During her time at Amzak, Uya was involved in 13 venture investments resulting in 5 IPOs and 2 acquisitions. Prior to Amzak, Uya was a sell-side biotech equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs covering large and mid-cap companies. Uya completed her Ph.D. in Microbiology at New York University School of Medicine, conducting research in virus-host interactions and viral protein synthesis. Her work was published in several scientific, peer-reviewed journals. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Cornell University.

  • Samir Devalaraja

    Samir Devalaraja

    MD/PhD | Analyst

    Samir earned his MD and PhD in Immunology from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the recipient of the Saul Winegrad Award for outstanding dissertation. His thesis uncovered a novel immune evasion mechanism in solid tumors and was published in Cell. Concurrent with graduate school, Samir consulted for venture-backed biotech companies in the gene therapy and precision oncology spaces. He holds a BA in History & Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Samir joined Avoro Capital in 2021 and is focused on evaluating biotechnology investment opportunities.

    Samir Devalaraja

    Samir earned his MD and PhD in Immunology from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the recipient of the Saul Winegrad Award for outstanding dissertation. His thesis uncovered a novel immune evasion mechanism in solid tumors and was published in Cell. Concurrent with graduate school, Samir consulted for venture-backed biotech companies in the gene therapy and precision oncology spaces. He holds a BA in History & Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. Samir joined Avoro Capital in 2021 and is focused on evaluating biotechnology investment opportunities.

  • Scott Epstein

    Scott Epstein

    Partner, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Compliance Officer

    Scott is responsible for the operational and financial infrastructure across the Avoro Capital businesses and oversees the compliance and regulatory responsibilities for the firm. Scott joined Avoro Capital in 2014 and has now been working in the financial industry for over 25 years. Before joining Avoro Capital, he spent 11 years at HSBC where he was the Regional Head of the Americas, responsible for the management and development of the HSBC Securities Services businesses in the Americas Region focused primarily on Alternative Asset Managers. Prior to joining HSBC, Scott was a Vice President at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., an investment research and management firm, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of various investment products. He graduated with a B.A. in Business & Economics from Lafayette College.

    Scott Epstein

    Scott is responsible for the operational and financial infrastructure across the Avoro Capital businesses and oversees the compliance and regulatory responsibilities for the firm. Scott joined Avoro Capital in 2014 and has now been working in the financial industry for over 25 years. Before joining Avoro Capital, he spent 11 years at HSBC where he was the Regional Head of the Americas, responsible for the management and development of the HSBC Securities Services businesses in the Americas Region focused primarily on Alternative Asset Managers. Prior to joining HSBC, Scott was a Vice President at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., an investment research and management firm, where he was responsible for overseeing the operations of various investment products. He graduated with a B.A. in Business & Economics from Lafayette College.

  • Corie Hansen

    Corie Hansen

    Office Manager / Executive Assistant

    Corie holds a B.S. in Accounting from Southern Utah University. Prior to joining Avoro in 2023, Corie served as the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Hunter Point Capital. Before Hunter Point, she worked as the Executive Assistant to the CEO-Capital Markets at TigerRisk Partners. Corie began her career working as a Business Development Executive Assistant at PIMCO.

    Corie Hansen

    Corie holds a B.S. in Accounting from Southern Utah University. Prior to joining Avoro in 2023, Corie served as the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Hunter Point Capital. Before Hunter Point, she worked as the Executive Assistant to the CEO-Capital Markets at TigerRisk Partners. Corie began her career working as a Business Development Executive Assistant at PIMCO.

  • Deeya Kotecha

    Deeya Kotecha

    MD | Associate

    Deeya earned her MD from the University of Cambridge Medical School, where she received the Irving Fritz Prize for the top performing student in biochemistry and the Brook Prize for excellent performance in medicine. Before joining Avoro Capital, Deeya worked in venture capital as an investor at Necessary Ventures, sourcing and diligencing early-stage companies in the health technology and biotechnology sectors. Deeya began her career as a physician, practicing in London. Deeya holds a BA and MA in Pathology from the University of Cambridge. Deeya joined Avoro in 2024 to focus on biotechnology investment opportunities.

    Deeya Kotecha

    Deeya earned her MD from the University of Cambridge Medical School, where she received the Irving Fritz Prize for the top performing student in biochemistry and the Brook Prize for excellent performance in medicine. Before joining Avoro Capital, Deeya worked in venture capital as an investor at Necessary Ventures, sourcing and diligencing early-stage companies in the health technology and biotechnology sectors. Deeya began her career as a physician, practicing in London. Deeya holds a BA and MA in Pathology from the University of Cambridge. Deeya joined Avoro in 2024 to focus on biotechnology investment opportunities.

  • Max Isberg

    Max Isberg

    Senior Analyst

    Max holds a B.S. from Tufts University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016, majoring in math and economics. After graduating, he worked for Apex Capital Holdings, where he was a trader/analyst managing a long/short equity portfolio focused on biotechnology and pharmaceutical names. Max joined Avoro Capital in 2019 and will focus on quantitative analysis and portfolio analytics.

    Max Isberg

    Max holds a B.S. from Tufts University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016, majoring in math and economics. After graduating, he worked for Apex Capital Holdings, where he was a trader/analyst managing a long/short equity portfolio focused on biotechnology and pharmaceutical names. Max joined Avoro Capital in 2019 and will focus on quantitative analysis and portfolio analytics.

  • Jenna McElhinney

    Jenna McElhinney

    Associate | Investor Relations & Marketing

    Jenna holds a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Avoro in 2022, Jenna served as a Business Development Associate at Suvretta Capital Management. Before Suvretta, she worked as an Associate at Blackstone within the Hedge Fund Solutions Group. Jenna began her career working at Ernst & Young.

    Jenna McElhinney

    Jenna holds a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Avoro in 2022, Jenna served as a Business Development Associate at Suvretta Capital Management. Before Suvretta, she worked as an Associate at Blackstone within the Hedge Fund Solutions Group. Jenna began her career working at Ernst & Young.

  • Bryan Phillips

    Bryan Phillips

    JD | Deputy Chief Compliance Officer

    Bryan is responsible for administering Avoro’s Compliance Program. Prior to joining Avoro he served as the CCO for Centenus Global Management, LP. Before Centenus, he was a Compliance Officer at Citadel LLC., and Visium Asset Management; respectively. Preceding Visium, he was a Compliance Officer at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he performed trading reviews and oversaw the employee personal account trading policy. Bryan held Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses, through experiences at other reputable financial institutions and has industry knowledge across the areas of financial products, trading, client support, and wealth management. He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from New York Law School. Bryan joined Avoro Capital in 2020.

    Bryan Phillips

    Bryan is responsible for administering Avoro’s Compliance Program. Prior to joining Avoro he served as the CCO for Centenus Global Management, LP. Before Centenus, he was a Compliance Officer at Citadel LLC., and Visium Asset Management; respectively. Preceding Visium, he was a Compliance Officer at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he performed trading reviews and oversaw the employee personal account trading policy. Bryan held Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses, through experiences at other reputable financial institutions and has industry knowledge across the areas of financial products, trading, client support, and wealth management. He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from New York Law School. Bryan joined Avoro Capital in 2020.

  • Robert Raphael

    Robert Raphael

    Trader

    Robert holds a BA Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Rochester. Robert has over 10 years of trading and operations experience. Prior to joining Avoro Capital in 2019, Robert helped launch and was Head Trader at Jafra Capital Management. Before Jafra, he was a Trader at Jericho Capital Asset Management. He began his career on the Trade Operations team at TPG Axon.

    Robert Raphael

    Robert holds a BA Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Rochester. Robert has over 10 years of trading and operations experience. Prior to joining Avoro Capital in 2019, Robert helped launch and was Head Trader at Jafra Capital Management. Before Jafra, he was a Trader at Jericho Capital Asset Management. He began his career on the Trade Operations team at TPG Axon.

  • Stela Sota

    Stela Sota

    Associate | PhD

    Stela received her BSc in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Jacobs University in Germany and earned her PhD from NYU School of Medicine. Her PhD involved investigating the innate immune response to intestinal viruses using organoids and several mouse models. Stela was a Business Development fellow with NYU’s Technology and Venture office focusing on out-licensing new technology from NYU’s labs. After her PhD, she worked at RTW Investments as an intern focusing on public and private healthcare investing. Stela joined Avoro in 2024 to focus on biotechnology investment opportunities.

    Stela Sota

    Stela received her BSc in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Jacobs University in Germany and earned her PhD from NYU School of Medicine. Her PhD involved investigating the innate immune response to intestinal viruses using organoids and several mouse models. Stela was a Business Development fellow with NYU’s Technology and Venture office focusing on out-licensing new technology from NYU’s labs. After her PhD, she worked at RTW Investments as an intern focusing on public and private healthcare investing. Stela joined Avoro in 2024 to focus on biotechnology investment opportunities.

  • Andy Washkowitz

    Andy Washkowitz

    PhD | Director

    Andy holds a B.A. from Harvard University, and earned his M.A. and PhD in genetics from Columbia University. While at Columbia, Andy was a fellow at the Technology Ventures office, focusing on out-licensing discoveries from Columbia labs. After graduate school, Andy worked in sell-side equity research at Stifel focusing in the biotechnology sector. Andy joined the Avoro Capital team in 2015 and is primarily involved in evaluating platform technologies and early clinical development programs.

    Andy Washkowitz

    Andy holds a B.A. from Harvard University, and earned his M.A. and PhD in genetics from Columbia University. While at Columbia, Andy was a fellow at the Technology Ventures office, focusing on out-licensing discoveries from Columbia labs. After graduate school, Andy worked in sell-side equity research at Stifel focusing in the biotechnology sector. Andy joined the Avoro Capital team in 2015 and is primarily involved in evaluating platform technologies and early clinical development programs.