David R. Kaufman

 
Background and Education
 

David Kaufman is an accomplished professional with a rich background in medicine, research, and venture capital. His educational journey began at Swarthmore College, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and minored in Sociology and Anthropology between 1990 and 1994. Following this, David pursued advanced studies at Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, obtaining his Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 2003. Concurrently, he was engaged in research at The Rockefeller University, where he earned his PhD in Molecular Virology/Immunology in 2002.

 
Professional Career
 

David's professional career kicked off with a residency in Internal Medicine at UCSF from 2003 to 2005, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital until 2008. He then transitioned to an academic role at the Harvard Medical School - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, serving as an Instructor in Medicine until 2011.

 
Move into Pharmaceutical Industry
 

In 2011, David moved into the pharmaceutical industry, beginning with Merck. Over the next six years, he took on increasingly senior roles, including Associate Director of the Merck Drug Development and Leadership Program, and eventually, Head of Translational Oncology. His work at Merck sharpened his focus on oncology and clinical research, setting the stage for his subsequent leadership roles.

 
Leadership Roles
 

In January 2018, David became the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Translational Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Here, he led efforts to advance medical therapies, particularly focusing on infectious diseases and translational development until September 2020.

 
Role in Venture Capital
 

David then joined Third Rock Ventures as a Venture Partner in September 2020, and by January 2022, he advanced to the role of Partner. In this role, he leverages his extensive medical and research background to build and support innovative healthcare ventures.

 
Additional Roles and Contributions
 

Additionally, David has served on the boards of several companies, including HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. since April 2019 and Abata Therapeutics since March 2023. He also held a part-time role as Acting Head of Clinical and Translational Development at Asher Biotherapeutics.

 
Skill Set and Contributions
 

Throughout his career, David has developed a broad skill set encompassing immunology, vaccines, molecular biology, virology, clinical research, and oncology. His contributions to the fields of medicine and venture capital reflect a profound commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and improving patient care.