Dr. Lisa Stanek is the Vice President of Translational Science at Affinia Therapeutics.
On April 11th, 2024, we taped a conversation with Lisa Stanek, the Vice President of Translational Science at Affinia Therapeutics. In this conversation Lisa describes her transformative internship studying dragonfly electrophysiology to her PhD research in neuroscience at Emory University. She traces her shift from invertebrate studies to exploring social behavior in non-human primates and mouse genetics. Beyond her scientific achievements, Lisa also shared her love for running, her family, and her integration of yoga into the workplace to foster a relaxed and productive environment.
Lisa offers a deep dive into the vital role of translational science, discussing how animal models are critical in proving the efficacy and safety of new drugs. This conversation looks at the complexities of model development, drug delivery systems, and the critical steps involved in scaling research from mice to non-human primates. She also touches on the essential process of filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, selecting the right disease indications, and the importance of collaboration with academic and industry partners.