Alice Zhang

Overview

Alice Zhang is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Verge Genomics, a biotech company that leverages artificial intelligence and human genomic data to accelerate the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. Under her leadership, Verge Genomics has pioneered an 'all-in-human' approach, integrating patient data with machine learning to identify novel drug targets and streamline the drug discovery process. This innovative methodology aims to address the high failure rates in traditional drug development by starting with human data to predict drug efficacy more accurately. Prior to founding Verge Genomics in 2015, Alice Zhang spent seven years at the forefront of systems biology research at the National Cancer Institute, the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, and UCLA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and was a recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. In her spare time, Alice also serves as an angel investor and advisor for over 20 tech-enabled bio startups. Alice has been recognized for her contributions to the biotech industry, including being named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, MIT Technology Review's Innovator Under 35, and the San Francisco Business Times' 40 Under 40. She currently serves on the board of directors at the California Life Sciences Association. Under her guidance, Verge Genomics has secured significant partnerships, such as a three-year collaboration with Eli Lilly to develop novel treatments for ALS, and has been honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2022. These achievements underscore her commitment to transforming drug discovery through the integration of human data and advanced technologies. Alice's leadership philosophy emphasizes authenticity and vulnerability, fostering a company culture that prioritizes open communication and collaboration. This approach has been instrumental in building a resilient and innovative team at Verge Genomics, dedicated to delivering life-changing medicines more efficiently and effectively.