Karthik Musunuri is a founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Avstera Therapeutics, a clinical stage oncology biopharmaceutical company. Karthik’s most recent experience as an entrepreneur included launching and successfully operating several high complexity CLIA commercial labs, as well obtaining FDA EUA for a serology-based assay. Prior in big pharma, he held a commercial role within vaccines at GSK, recognized by senior leadership as a top performer who contributed to the Shingrix® manufacturing and supply strategy. He also held a commercial role of increasing responsibility at Merck within chronic care, managing a top 5 revenue-generating territory for the multi-billion-dollar chronic care franchise and leading the northeast in sales performance targets. In addition, Karthik worked within R&D clinical development at GSK. Karthik also serves on the board of The Ark Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia focused on pandemic preparedness.