Maria Fardis
InvestorVenture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences · Venture Partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners · Executive at Airnexis Therapeutics Inc · CEO at Lassen Therapeutics · Board director at Quanta Therapeutics
Palo Alto
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583 people in our graph share verified history with Maria — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Deep NisharunlockedMaria: together at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1990–1992)
×2Maria: together at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
×6Maria: together at University of California, Berkeley
×3Maria: together at Golden Gate University
About
Maria Fardis joined Frazier Life Sciences as a Venture Partner in 2021 and has more than 20 years of scientific and management experience across public and private companies. She currently serves as CEO of Lassen Therapeutics and previously held leadership roles including President and CEO of Iovance Biotherapeutics, COO of Acerta Pharma, and senior positions at Pharmacyclics and Gilead Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from UC Berkeley, a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University.
Invests in
Biotech
Executive at Airnexis Therapeutics Inc
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In turn, Maria can intro founders to Airnexis Therapeutics Inc's investors below.
Airnexis Therapeutics Inc's investors · 1
CEO at Lassen Therapeutics
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In turn, Maria can intro founders to Lassen Therapeutics's investors below.
Lassen Therapeutics's investors · 9
Alta PartnersJackson · $1M – $12M checks · since 2024Biotechnology Value FundSan Francisco · since 2024Catalio Capital ManagementNew York · since 2024Catalio Capital Management, LPNew YorkDC Investment PartnersMcLean · $10M checksFrazier Healthcare PartnersSeattle · $50M – $400M checks · since 2020Frazier Life SciencesPalo Alto · since 2024Longitude CapitalMenlo Park · $10M – $30M checks · since 2024Longwood FundBoston · since 2024
Co-founders at Lassen Therapeutics
DK
David KingCo-Founder & CSO
Board director at Quanta Therapeutics
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In turn, Maria can intro founders to Quanta Therapeutics's investors below.
Experience
- AirNexis Therapeutics Inc.Chief Executive Officercurrent2026 — present
- CRISPR TherapeuticsMember Board Of Directorscurrent2022 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Obsidian TherapeuticsChair Of The Board Of Directorscurrent2021 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Frazier Healthcare PartnersVenture Partnercurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Quanta TherapeuticsMember Board of Directorscurrent2021 — presentSouth San Francisco, California, United States
- Lassen TherapeuticsChief Executive Officer2023 — 2026San Diego, CA
- Kartos TherapeuticsMember Board Of Directors2018 — 2021Redwood Shores
- Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.President & Chief Executive Officer2016 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
- Acerta Pharma B.V.Chief Operating Officer2015 — 2016San Carlos, CA
- PharmacyclicsChief of Oncology Operations and Alliances2013 — 2014Sunnyvale, CA
- PharmacyclicsEVP of Operations and Alliances2012 — 2013
- PharmacyclicsVP, Alliances and Global Project Management2011 — 2012Sunnyvale, CA
- PharmacyclicsSenior Director, Global Project Management2011Sunnyvale, CA
- Gilead SciencesAssociate Director, Project and Portfolio Management2010 — 2011
- Gilead SciencesSenior Manager, Project and Portfolio Management2006 — 2010
- Gilead SciencesSenior Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry2005 — 2006
- Gilead SciencesScientist II, Medicinal Chemistry2004 — 2005
- Gilead SciencesScientist, Medicinal Chemistry2001 — 2004
- Intrabiotics PharmaceuticalsScientist, Medicinal Chemistry2001
- Kosan Biosciences acquired by Brisol-Myers SquibbScientist, Medicinal Chemistry1998 — 2000
- UC BerkeleyGraduate Student1993 — 1998
Skills & more
BiotechnologyIND45Clinical DevelopmentClinical Trials86Clinical Research46Project Management37Pharmaceutical Industry90OncologyLifesciences18GMP19Cancer30Drug Discovery23
+8 more
Medicinal ChemistryGCPRegulatory AffairsCTMSDrug DevelopmentCross-functional Team LeadershipCROBiopharmaceuticalsFrom Maria's professional profile.
Deals · 1
Quanta TherapeuticsBoard seat
via Frazier Life Sciences · filed Jun 2026 · $89.1M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Frazier Life Sciences
Adam Simpson
Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences
Aditya Kohli
Partner at Frazier Life Sciences
Alan Frazier
Chairman Emeritus at Frazier Life Sciences
Albert Cha
Managing Partner at Frazier Life Sciences
Ali Jackson
Vice President and Counsel, Public Funds at Frazier Life Sciences
Amanda Wilson
Senior Tax Manager at Frazier Life Sciences
Angel Martin
Senior Associate at Frazier Life Sciences
Angie You
Senior Advisor at Frazier Life Sciences
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Maria Fardis?
- Maria Fardis joined Frazier Life Sciences as a Venture Partner in 2021 and has more than 20 years of scientific and management experience across public and private companies. She currently serves as CEO of Lassen Therapeutics and previously held leadership roles including President and CEO of Iovance Biotherapeutics, COO of Acerta Pharma, and senior positions at Pharmacyclics and Gilead Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from UC Berkeley, a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University.
- Where does Maria Fardis work?
- Maria Fardis is Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences and Executive at Airnexis Therapeutics Inc and CEO at Lassen Therapeutics and Board director at Quanta Therapeutics.
- What does Maria Fardis invest in?
- Maria Fardis invests in Biotech.
- What boards does Maria Fardis sit on?
- Maria Fardis holds tracked board seats at Quanta Therapeutics.
- Where did Maria Fardis go to school?
- Maria Fardis studied at Golden Gate University (MBA, Management); University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D., Organic Chemistry); University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (B.S., Organic Chemistry, summa cum laude).
Founder mafias
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Golden Gate University mafia11
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Frazier Healthcare Partners mafia8
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Brian FarmerEntrepreneur in ResidenceFounded InipharmGordon McMurrayEntrepreneur In ResidenceFounded Outpost MedicineChris PeetzEntrepreneur-in-ResidenceFounded Mirum PharmaceuticalsAngie YouSenior AdvisorFounded Architect TherapeuticsMark GilreathOperating PartnerFounded United DigestiveMilton BoyerExecutive in ResidenceFounded SCA Pharma
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Same school
Also attended Golden Gate University66
David PhuController at Felicis VenturesChristine SamsAssistant Controller at Crosslink CapitalSamantha ChoPartner, Accounting at Lux CapitalLaura TseVP of Finance at ParadigmKandi CraddockInvestor at Notable CapitalJackCFO at Renegade Partners
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Also attended University of California, Berkeley2,000
Steve WozniakCo-founder of AppleAravind SrinivasCo-founder & CEO of Perplexity AIAli GhodsiCo-founder & CEO of DatabricksAbraham BachrachCo-founder & CTO of SkydioTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General CatalystScott DavisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
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Shared employers
Also worked at Obsidian Therapeutics6
David NeafusExecutive Officer at Arrakis TherapeuticsEdward DulacExecutive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at Intellia TherapeuticsGreg HoffmanChief Scientific Officer at Deep GenomicsTariq KassumExecutive Officer, Director at Celsius TherapeuticsMadan JagasiaChief Executive Officer at ObsidiantxJennifer PetersonChief People Officer at Obsidiantx
