Biotech industry execs, not scientists, remain male-dominated

June 13, 2022

While women leaders are becoming more prominent in the biotech industry, particularly female scientists, it remains dominated at the C-suite level by men. A panel at the 2022 Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) International Convention will explore how to close the gender gap and become more inclusive.

ScienceBoard.net spoke with Nasha Fitter, co-founder and CEO of the FOXG1 Research Foundation, who will participate in the June 14 panel at BIO 2022, "Female Founders: Paving the Way for Innovation and Equity."

"When I think about the people leading biotech companies, I can only think of one woman I know that started and is running a biotech company," Fitter said. "I don't see a big gender gap in science, but I do see the gender gap -- again -- in business."

Being a mother can be a potential hindrance for the career paths and trajectories of women forcing them to make sacrifices once they have children, according to Fitter, who co-founded the FOXG1 Research Foundation shortly after her daughter was diagnosed with the syndrome.

"Women have tended to be the ones that don't take risks," Fitter observed. "To be a founder, you have to take a risk. There is a high chance you're going to fail and most women still aren't okay with that."

Watch the video below to learn more.


How to develop a sustainable portfolio for cell, gene therapy platforms
Michael Retterath, a Biotechnology Innovation Organization International Convention 2022 panelist and chief business officer at Spark Therapeutics, spoke...
The ‘voice of the patient’ needs to be heard in clinical trials: study
Patient recruitment and retention are among the biggest challenges facing clinical research, particularly in studies targeting rare diseases that have...
New era of nonviral DNA-delivered gene therapy seen emerging
Advancements in nucleic acid-encoded therapeutics over the past decade have sparked the emergence of a new era in nonviral DNA-delivered gene therapy,...
Biotech innovator recounts decades-long journey to create drug discovery technology
Dr. Stan Crooke, PhD, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of RNA therapy company Ionis Pharmaceuticals, pioneered development of the antisense...
Biotech industry to gather at BIO International Convention in San Diego
More than 11,000 attendees from around the globe will be in San Diego, June 13-16, for the 2022 Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) International...
How diversity, inclusion help one company turn sci-fi into sci-fact
Juliana Blum, PhD, co-founder and executive vice president of corporate development at Humacyte, spoke with ScienceBoard about diversity and...
Experience sharing is critical for women in science
Sharing experiences with future generations is key to moving science and biotechnology forward. As a female leader of a biotechnology company, Dr. Bridget...

Copyright © 2022 scienceboard.net

Last Updated 7/20/2022 2:31:01 PM