Ocugen announces appointments to retina scientific advisory board & executive leadership team

(Image Credit: AdobeStock/Mariakray)

Ocugen recently announced new members to its Retina Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and Executive Leadership Team.¹ These updates support Ocugen in its efforts to pursue its goal of 3 biologics license applications (BLA) in the next 3 years.

“As our novel modifier gene therapy programs continue to progress and demonstrate positive data in the clinic, it is now more important than ever to solidify and optimize Retina SAB, reflecting the absolute best guidance in this space as we move closer to commercialization,” Shankar Musunuri, PhD, MBA, chairman, CEO, and cofounder of Ocugen, said in a press release. “Additionally, it’s imperative that we ensure our leadership team includes top talent to most effectively execute our corporate strategy.”

Three new members of the Retina SAB are retina surgeons Jeffrey S. Heiner, MD, Peter K. Kaiser, MD, and Arshad N. Khanani, MA, MA, FASRS. Drs. Heiner, Kaiser, and Khanani join SAB chair Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS, and existing SAB members David S. Boyer, MD, and Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS.

One of the leading retinal clinical researchers in the US, Heiner is the Director of the Vitroretinal Service and Director of Retina Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston. Heiner’s research focuses on new treatments in exudative and non-exudative macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, venous occlusive disease, vitreoretinal surgical techniques and instrumentation, and diagnostic imaging of the retina.

Kaiser comes to the SAB with a resume of authoring seven textbooks, 30 book chapters, and more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Associate editor of International Ophthalmology Clinics, Kaiser is also the Chaney Family Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research at the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute and professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. Additionally, he is the director of the Center for Ocular Research and Evaluation (CORE) and serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina, Retina Today, and Ocular Surgery News.

Managing partner, director of clinical research, and director of fellowship at Sierra Eye Associates, and clinical professor at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Khanani has been recognized among the top 10 researchers globally on The Ophthalmologist Power List 2025. In 2021, Khanani founded the Clinical Trials at the Summit meeting and has received numerous awards, including the Macular Society’s Lawrence J. Singerman Medal in 2025 and the American Society of Retina Specialists Presidential Award.

In addition to the new SAB members, Ocugen has made new leadership appointments, including a newly created Chief Development Officer (CDO) position.

Joining Ocugen in the new CDO role, Vijay Tammara, PhD, brings more than 32 years of global regulatory leadership experience with knowledge in biotechnology, biosimilars, 505(b)(2), and complex regulatory submissions. He has made contributions toward the approval of 9 marketing authorizations (MAs), biologics license applications (BLAs) and new drug applications (NDAs); 2 biosimilar MAs in emerging markets; 3 abbreviated new drug applications; 12 orphan drug designations; 7 qualified infectious drug product designations; and filed over 62 investigational NDAs with clearance in the first review cycle with no clinical holds.¹ Tammara has held senior advisory and leadership roles at the FDA and life sciences companies, including Sanofi, Wyeth/Pfizer, and Merck, as well as led regulatory strategy and operations across the US, EU, Latin America, and Asia.

Following the retirement of Mike Shine, Abhi Gupta, MBA, has been named Executive Vice President, Commercial and Business Development, bringing more than 20 years of experience across commercial strategy, gene therapy, and corporate development in the biopharmaceutical industry. Gupta has led commercialization planning for rAAV gene therapies and played a key role in Pfizer’s $5.5B gene therapy portfolio across neuromuscular, hematologic, and cardiovascular indications. He previously served as SVP and Head of Cell and Gene Therapies and Syneos Health, as well as held leadership roles at Pfizer, Regeneron, and Johnson & Johnson.

“Ocugen is honored to partner with this distinguished group of advisors and delighted to welcome Dr. Tammara and Mr. Gupta as the company sharpens its patient-centric focus to potentially deliver paradigm-changing gene therapies,” the company said in a press release.¹

Reference:

1. Ocugen. Ocugen, Inc. Announces New Appointments to Retina Scientific Advisory Board & Executive Leadership Team. GlobeNewswire News Room. Published July 21, 2025. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/21/3118634/0/en/Ocugen-Inc-Announces-New-Appointments-to-Retina-Scientific-Advisory-Board-Executive-Leadership-Team.html