article

Q&A with Veronica DeFelice, Director of Biologic Products

Experience

Early in her career, Veronica participated in groundbreaking research at the Archipelagos Institute of Biology in Greece that resulted in isolating three novel peptides. She also was involved in foundational research in biologics — lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and cell and gene therapy — establishing expertise in bioactive compound analysis and therapeutic potential assessment.

During her career, Veronica has participated in pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) work at AICure, transforming biologic product workflows to deliver innovative solutions in drug development automation. At Nurix Therapeutics, she helped successfully implement AI-driven approaches that propelled antibody candidates through preclinical phases. And at Sartorius, she was involved in transforming biologics platforms through advanced methods and cell and gene therapy processes for antibody drug development. In work with other organizations, she has collaborated with R&D teams to translate biological needs into informatics solutions and spearheaded strategic initiatives to expand product offerings in antibody discovery and optimization.

Education and Certifications

Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Biochemistry
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Bachelor of Science in Biology and Cognitive Science
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Began study of Human and Developmental Biology at Università di Firenze in Florence, Italy before transferring to the University of Connecticut

Certificate in Precision Genetics and Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Certificate in Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Certificate in Bioproduction and Data Engineering
Saint Petersburg University, Russia

Publication, Presentation, and Advisory Role

Measuring Dimensionality of Cell-Scaffold Contacts of Primary Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Cultured on Electrospun Fiber Scaffolds, Journal of Biomedical Research, October 24, 2022

Bioprocessing for Therapeutics in Biotechnology and Bioanalytics for Scaling-Up, NYC Innovation Showcase at Alexandria

Advisor/Mentor, Center for Biotechnology, Long Island BioMentor Initiative

Q&A with Veronica

Q: What initially drew you to life sciences?

A: It started when I was a child watching my mother cook. I loved watching her put things together as part of a recipe. I began helping her by weighing ingredients on a scale. As I grew older, she recognized that I liked to experiment with recipes. This led her to buy me a kid’s science kit — with a flask, test tubes, and instructions — which I found fascinating and engrossing. This sparked my lifelong passion to do something in science.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working in life sciences, and what drew you to Sapio Sciences?

A: I really enjoy developing new evidence and insights. In the lab, I learned how to test constructs and build conclusions. When I moved to product strategy and development, I was able to leverage my knowledge and experience in all phases of drug discovery and development to advise on specifications and use advanced technologies, such as AI, to build new prototypes. Given my expertise in biologics and my passion for seamless science, I felt Sapio was the right place for me.

Q: Have you benefited from experiences other than scientific ones?

A: Yes. I served an apprenticeship at Anaford Law Firm, in Valencia, Spain, where I assisted in biotechnology patent applications and portfolio management through prior art research and documentation. At BTIG Investment Bank, I served as a consultant conducting market analysis and financial modeling for specialty biologics companies and providing detailed investment recommendations to institutional clients. At Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), I led cross-functional teams in developing bioengineered products while managing relationships between research departments and industry partners. And I’ve helped prepare international patent applications including:

Method for enriching cardiac myocytes, IL290657A

Arrangement and continuous process of a bioreactor for the production and capture of a biopolymer, ES2864721T3

Collectively, I think these experiences have greatly contributed to my understanding of international legal, financial, investment, and cross-functional partnerships as they relate to the business of biological science. I expect this will be very beneficial in my role at Sapio.

Q: What activities do you enjoy outside of work, and do you support any special causes?

A: I am originally from Italy, I’ve traveled and worked in many countries, and I live in New York City. Therefore, I love to explore diverse culinary traditions, experiment with new recipes, and make wine, which is delicious with Italian food, with my partner, Lucas, who is from France. My physical wellness, in the form of morning yoga, regular exercise, and weekend hikes, is essential to maintaining a work-life balance, and I enjoy the meditative process of painting. I am passionate about childhood literacy. Having worked closely with child and family services over the course of 15 years, I’ve seen the light in children’s eyes when they feel someone cares for them. It makes me happy.