About
Dr. Carlos Paya has held leadership roles across academic medicine, large pharmaceutical companies, and biotech startups, focusing on strategic execution, pipeline growth, product lifecycle management, and fundraising. He previously served as president and CEO of Immune Design Corp. until its 2019 acquisition by Merck, and held senior roles at Elan Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly. Earlier in his career he spent nearly a decade at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester as a professor of medicine, immunology, and pathology and vice dean of its clinical investigation program.
Invests in
Biotech
Experience
- Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.Board Membercurrent2025 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- IMU BiosciencesBoard Membercurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- VaxcyteChairman of the Boardcurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Highlight Therapeutics SLChairperson of the Boardcurrent2020 — presentMadrid, Spain
- AbingworthVenture Partnercurrent2020 — present
- Fluidigm Standard BiotoolsChairman of the Board2017 — 2024San Francisco, California, United States
- MallinkrodtBoard Member2019 — 2022Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
- Immune Design CorpPresident and CEO2011 — 2019Seattle, WA
- Elan PharmaceuticalsPresident2008 — 2011San Francisco Bay Area
- Eli LillyVP2001 — 2008
- Mayo ClinicProfessor of Medicine and Immunology1991 — 2001
Education
- The University of Chicago Booth School of BusinessCEI, Executive Business Education2005 — 2006
- Institute Pasteur, Paris, FrancePostdoctoral training, Viral Immunology1989 — 1992
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineFellowship, Infectious Diseases and Immunology1986 — 1989
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine1983 — 1986
- University of NavarraLicensure, Medicine1981
- Universidad Complutense de MadridMD PhD, Medicine and Viral Immunology1975 — 1981
Skills & more
Medical Devices3Biopharmaceuticals8GCP4Infectious Diseases18Technology Transfer4Lifesciences9Biotechnology29Neuroscience3Drug Development12Immunology36Regulatory Affairs3Oncology16
+12 more
Clinical DevelopmentClinical ResearchClinical TrialsCardiologyMolecular BiologyNeurologyDrug DiscoveryDiabetesRCTMSINDPharmaceutical IndustryFrom Carlos's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business431
Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear VenturesTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankGlebFounder and Managing Partner at iTech CapitalRavi RajamonyVice President at March Capital Partners
+ 425 more
Also attended Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine4
Also attended University of Navarra21
Alba FernándezAnalyst at Inveready Technology Investment GroupCésar TraseiraInvestor at KfundFernando Díaz SolísCo-founder and Managing Partner at Kibo VenturesItziar EstevezPartner - Growth at Iris CapitalCatalina CuchyExecutive Assistant at Ysios CapitalManuel RavagoPrincipal, Portfolio Management at Wavemaker Partners
+ 15 more
Also attended Universidad Complutense de Madrid69
Kike MirallesInvestment Director at Intel CapitalRaúl GallegoGeneral Partner at Inveready Technology Investment GroupPablo GoceAnalyst at Inveready Technology Investment GroupMaria PovedaDirector at Inveready Technology Investment GroupSamantha WulfsonPrincipal at FinTech CollectiveJosé Mª AmusáteguiCo-founder & Partner at Kibo Ventures
+ 63 more
Shared employers
Also worked at IMU Biosciences3
Also worked at Vaxcyte6
Also worked at Elan Pharmaceuticals2
Also worked at Eli Lilly69
David MollerInvestor at Third Rock VenturesJesper GromadaInvestor at Third Rock VenturesMark LevinRetired Founding Partner at Third Rock VenturesRhonda PachecoPresident, U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head at Takeda VenturesKjersti FrognerInvestor at Almi InvestMilla KoistinahoPartner, Innovestor Life Science at Innovestor Ventures
+ 63 more
Investments
Board seats
Fluidigm CorporationHighlight TherapeuticsMallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Ysios Capital
Almudena Méndez
Associate at Ysios Capital
Antoni Ribas
Venture Partner at Ysios Capital
Arturo Urrios
Partner at Ysios Capital
Carlos Garcia-Echeverria
Venture Partner at Ysios Capital
Catalina Cuchy
Executive Assistant at Ysios Capital
Cristina Garmendia
General Partner at Ysios Capital
David L. Lacey
Venture Partner at Ysios Capital
Guillem Laporta
Partner at Ysios Capital









































