About Shoshana Shendelman

Shoshana Shendelman is a scientist and entrepreneur, founder of several biotech companies, and a pioneer in developing drugs for rare and underserved diseases.

She currently holds leadership roles in several private biotech companies, including Cyana Therapeutics, and is an advisor to pharmaceutical companies.

Previously, Shoshana founded and led a public pharmaceutical company through IPO and multiple rounds of financing. During her tenure the company advanced drugs through phase 3 development for rare disease indications and heart failure.

Shoshana received a PhD from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular and Biophysical Studies, where she also completed her Master’s Degrees (both an MA and MSc). Her neurobiological research at Columbia focused on molecular mechanisms driving neurodegenerative diseases, and her doctoral thesis centered around molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s Disease. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at Brandeis University, with a BA in biochemistry.

Shoshana holds numerous patents, and her research has been published in respected peer-reviewed publications, such as Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Frontiers in Aging, JCI Insight, The Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes (JPRO), and PLoS Biology.

On a personal level, Shoshana is the mother of two adult daughters, both pursuing careers in science and medicine. Shoshana is of Persian Jewish descent (Shendelman is her married last name) and is a long-time member of the Iranian American Women’s Foundation, where she also volunteers as a mentor.