Sharon Presnell's Biography

Sharon Presnell, Executive Vice President, R&D , Organovo, Inc.

Sharon Collins Presnell, PhD, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development, has more than 16 years of experience in the leadership of product-focused R&D. As an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Presnell’s research in liver and prostate biology and carcinogenesis produced cell- and tissue-based technologies that were outlicensed for industrial applications. She joined Becton Dickinson (BD) in 2001 and played a key role in the early discovery and development of cell-based tools and reagents for BD's life sciences portfolio. At BD, she grew and led a large multi-disciplinary team to build and validate screening platforms for cell growth, differentiation, and characterization and secured revenue-generating commercial partnerships with pharma partners. Sharon joined Tengion, Inc. in 2007, and as the Senior Vice President of Regenerative Medicine Research, was responsible for leading the discovery and early development of Tengion’s Neo-Kidney Augment™, a cell-based therapy now in clinical trials for patients with chronic kidney disease. As the Chief Technology Officer at Organovo, Dr. Presnell has led the growth and development of the R&D organization, including evolution of the company’s technology portfolio, and has played an instrumental role in securing funds in support of corporate growth initiatives. Sharon holds a PhD in pathology from the Medical College of Virginia.