Board Leadership

Jeff founded and built Spark Therapeutics into the world’s first fully integrated, commercial gene therapy company, serving as co-founder and CEO from 2013 to 2022. Under Jeff’s leadership, Spark developed and launched LUXTURNA® for a rare blinding disorder, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a genetic disease in the United States, spearheading the creation of novel reimbursement models to ensure patient access to genetic medicines. As CEO, Jeff shepherded multiple gene therapies into the clinic for patients with conditions ranging from inherited retinal diseases to rare bleeding and neuromuscular disorders.

While at Spark, Jeff raised $1 billion and established major partnerships with Pfizer and Novartis. Jeff’s successful orchestration of Spark’s $4.8 billion sale to Roche in 2019 marked a 100-fold increase in the company’s market value over six years and delivered financial returns of $750 million to Spark’s non-traditional founding investor, CHOP. At the time of his departure, Spark had grown to 850 employees and was named #5 in Science magazine’s rankings of top employers across the biopharmaceutical industry.

Jeff currently serves on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations, including Life Science Cares Philadelphia and The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement. In 2022, Jeff and his wife founded the Marrazzo Family Foundation to support arts-integrated education within Philadelphia.

Jeff holds two bachelor’s degrees in systems science and engineering and in economics from the University of Pennsylvania as well as two master’s degrees in business and public administration from Wharton and Harvard University, a dual-degree program which he founded.

Vincent Milano served as Idera’s President and CEO from 2014-2022. Prior to joining Idera, Mr. Milano served as Chairman, President, and CEO of ViroPharma Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company that was acquired by Shire in 2014. Prior to being appointed CEO of ViroPharma, he served in increasing roles of responsibility in finance, administration, and operations, including as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining ViroPharma, Mr. Milano served in increasingly senior roles, most recently senior manager, at KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, from 1985 to 1996.

Mr. Milano has also served on the boards of directors of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. since 2020, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., since 2021, and VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., since 2013. Mr. Milano previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Spark Therapeutics and Vanda Pharmaceuticals from 2014 to 2019 and 2010 to 2019, respectively.

Mr. Milano is also the Chairman of the Board for Life Science Cares Philadelphia, a collective effort of the life sciences industry to reduce the impact of poverty on its neighbors, and is a former member and chair of Life Sciences Pennsylvania, the state biotechnology industry association. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Rider College.

As president & CEO of Life Sciences Pennsylvania, Christopher Molineaux serves as the chief advocate and spokesman for the life sciences industry that calls Pennsylvania home. Molineaux oversees the strategic direction for the association, assuring Life Sciences Pennsylvania continues to be the catalyst that makes Pennsylvania the top location for life sciences companies.

Molineaux brings to Life Sciences Pennsylvania more than 25 years of experience in the bio-pharmaceutical and health care industries, with front-line experience in developing and executing strategies to navigate a shifting economic and political environment.

Prior to joining Life Sciences Pennsylvania in September 2009, Molineaux served as worldwide vice president of pharmaceutical communications and public affairs for Johnson & Johnson. He began his Johnson & Johnson career as vice president of corporate communications at Centocor in Malvern, PA, and was later promoted to vice president for communications of Johnson & Johnson’s global Biotechnology, Immunology & Oncology (B.I.O.) business unit.

Molineaux previously served as vice president of public affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Prior to his role at PhRMA, he was vice president, communications and marketing at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, developing public awareness and education strategies related to commercial and government payer systems. Molineaux also worked as a public affairs executive for the federal Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture, and as a press officer on the White House staff of President George H. W. Bush.

In addition to leading Life Sciences Pennsylvania, Chris Molineaux serves as a non-executive Director of Aclaris Therapeutics, a non-executive Director of NexEos Diagnostics, on the Chester County Economic Development Council and the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. He also serves on the Advisory Boards of BioAgilytix of Durham, NC and St. John Vianney Church of Gladwyne, PA.

In March 2021, Gary retired as the Chief Financial Officer of Nabriva plc, (NBRV) a publicly traded biotechnology company. Gary joined Nabriva in 2016. Prior to Nabriva, Mr. Sender was the Chief Financial Officer of Synergy Pharmaceuticals (SGYP.) Gary now sits on the Boards of Directors of Schrodinger Inc. (SDGR), Harmony BioSciences (HRMY), iBio (IBIO), Elucida Oncology and Gennao Bio. He is the Chair of all 5 Audit Committees and 2 Compensation Committees. Gary also engages in select consulting assignments. From 2009 until 2015, Gary was the Senior Vice President of Finance for Shire plc, supporting its global commercial businesses and all functions of its Specialty Pharmaceuticals Business. Prior to joining Shire, Gary was the Chief Financial Officer of Tengion, Inc., a biotechnology company in the field of regenerative medicine. He joined Tengion as its second employee in 2004 and managed the corporate finance /accounting, human resources, public affairs and information systems functions. Prior to Tengion, Gary served in leadership roles with Aramark and Merck & Co., Inc where he served as its Vice President and Controller for the U.S. pharmaceuticals business in his last role after a 15-years with the company. Gary has been quoted in dozens of newspapers, magazines and journals, including the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Reuters and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He also the author of an article in the Harvard Business Review titled “Option Analysis at Merck.” Mr. Sender earned his bachelor's degree in Finance and Management Information Systems from Boston University in 1983. He received his master's degree in Industrial Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1987. Gary and his family reside in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.

"My passion is in addressing challenges in new ways, bringing strategy, planning and strong execution to problems and organizations. I’m born and bred Philly girl, met my husband Mark at Penn State, have two adult children who join me in focus on community impact."