Dr. Joana Goncalves is a distinguished physician-scientist with over 20 years of experience in clinical development and translational medicine, specializing in dermatological and immunological therapies. She earned her MD from the University of Lisbon Medical School and completed her residency in Dermatology at Johns Hopkins University, followed by a fellowship in Clinical Immunology at Harvard Medical School. Early in her career, Dr. Goncalves led groundbreaking research on autoimmune skin disorders at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and co-developed novel biomarkers for psoriasis progression, earning the NIH Director's Award for Outstanding Mentorship in 2015. Throughout her tenure at leading biotech firms, including roles as Vice President of Clinical Development at Dermira Inc. and Global Head of Medical Affairs at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Goncalves spearheaded multiple Phase II and III trials that resulted in FDA approvals for three biologic therapies targeting inflammatory skin conditions. Her strategic oversight accelerated timelines by 30% on average, while her commitment to patient-centric design improved trial retention rates significantly. Recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, she has also served on advisory boards for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and mentored over 100 clinicians in evidence-based dermatology. As Chief Medical Officer at Oruka Therapeutics Inc., Dr. Goncalves drives the company's pipeline of innovative gene-editing therapies for rare dermatological diseases. She oversees all clinical operations, from IND filings to global Phase III strategies, with a focus on ORU-101, their lead candidate for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Under her leadership, Oruka has advanced two programs into clinical trials, forging key partnerships with CRISPR pioneers and securing $150 million in Series B funding, positioning the company at the forefront of curative dermatologic treatments.