Dr. Daniela Castanotto, PhD is a strategic innovation leader and scientist with over two decades of experience advancing translational medicine, RNA therapeutics, and research commercialization. She serves on the faculty at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she previously held the role of Director of Strategy for Commercial R&D until August 2025. In that role, she advised senior leadership on enterprise strategy, partnerships, and innovation initiatives designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of new therapies.

Dr. Castanotto’s career spans scientific discovery, institutional strategy, and cross-sector collaboration across academia, biotech, and nonprofit innovation ecosystems. She has led initiatives ranging from startup accelerators and translational research programs to emerging technology projects involving AI and digital health aimed at improving patient outcomes and research efficiency.

A pioneer in RNA-based therapeutics, Dr. Castanotto was a principal investigator on one of the first NIH-funded RNA-based gene therapy clinical trials for HIV. Her research has contributed to advances in oligonucleotide therapies for cancer and infectious diseases, and she holds multiple patents in RNA therapeutics and delivery systems. She has authored more than 60 scientific publications and serves as Associate Editor of Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids.

Dr. Castanotto has been an invited speaker at numerous international scientific symposia. She continues to mentor emerging scientists and contribute to strategic initiatives that bridge discovery, innovation, and patient impact.