Akshay Vaishnaw, M.D., Ph.D., serves as President of Research & Development at Scholar Rock Holding Corporation, where he leads the company's innovative pipeline focused on precision medicines for serious diseases, including neuromuscular disorders like spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. With over two decades of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, Dr. Vaishnaw brings deep expertise in advancing novel therapeutics from discovery through clinical development and regulatory approval. He holds an M.D. from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the same institution, complemented by postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University. Prior to joining Scholar Rock in 2022, Dr. Vaishnaw held senior leadership roles at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, where he was Head of R&D from 2019 to 2022 and Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer before that. At Alnylam, he spearheaded the development of groundbreaking RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, overseeing the FDA approvals of multiple first-in-class drugs, including patisiran (ONPATTRO®) for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis, givosiran (GIVLAARI®) for acute hepatic porphyria, and lumasiran (OXLUMO®) for primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development for RNAi Therapeutics at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and held positions at Merck Research Laboratories, building a proven track record in immunology, infectious diseases, and genetic medicines. At Scholar Rock, Dr. Vaishnaw drives the strategic vision for the company's proprietary platform targeting latent protein growth factors, notably advancing apitegromab, a myostatin inhibitor in late-stage clinical development for spinal muscular atrophy. His leadership has positioned Scholar Rock at the forefront of muscle biology and precision oncology, fostering collaborations and accelerating clinical milestones. Recognized for his contributions to transformative therapies, Dr. Vaishnaw continues to champion innovative approaches to unmet medical needs.