Dr Tara Karnezis

In 2020, Dr. Tara Karnezis was appointed CEO and Managing Director of Gertrude Biomedical Pty. Ltd in 2020-a young biotechnology company invested in developing novel small molecule inhibitors against a transcription factor called Sox18, implicated in various aspects of cancer growth and spread. Dr. Karnezis was one of three co-founders who founded the company in 2019, raising over $14 million of capital. Dr Karnezis has more than 15 years’ experience in research leadership positions, heading scientific programs with significant commercial and clinical application at Stanford University and Peter Mac. She is an expert in vascular biology with an internationally significant track record in oncology. In addition to experience with target identification and validation, she has been involved in identifying druggable targets related to the interaction of vascular biology and oncology. Dr. Karnezis holds a PhD in Biochemistry from La Trobe University having conducted her doctoral studies at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Peter Mac.