We help turn science into therapies & products into business.
John E. Hambor
John E. Hambor, PhD
Director, Stem Cell-based Drug Discovery
Download CV (in PDF)
John Hambor is a consultant and Director of Stem Cell-based Drug Discovery with the Cell Therapy Group.
Dr. John Hambor has over 20 years of research, management and training experience in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. A results-driven executive leader, Dr. Hambor has a proven ability to apply breakthrough science to the discovery and development of novel small molecules and biological therapies.
As a skilled hands-on scientist, executive and new business architect, Dr. Hambor has core competencies in multiple areas including:
Dr. Hambor was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of CellDesign, Inc., a global research and development company that specializes in the development of customizable stem cell tools, primary cells, and reagents for applications in drug discovery & research. Primarily partnering with pharmaceutical companies, CellDesign is a premier supplier of primary human cells, stem cell-derived functional cell types, and regenerative model systems to study developmental pathways. Prior to founding CellDesign, Dr. Hambor was the Chief Executive Officer of Cognate BioServices. Cognate is a contract manufacturer of cell-based products providing GMP-quality cells for clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.
Previously, Dr. Hambor was an Associate Research Fellow at Pfizer Global Research and Development. Dr. Hambor joined Pfizer in 1990 in Groton, Connecticut and has worked in several areas of increasing responsibilities. He spent his early years as a cellular and molecular biologist in the Inflammation and Immunology therapeutic areas. In 1998, Dr. Hambor joined the Genetic Technologies Department where he formed a stem cell research unit, eventually overseeing global efforts in stem cell technologies as part of the Genetically Modified Models Center of Emphasis.
Dr. Hambor also holds an adjunct faculty position at Connecticut College where he teaches Immunology. He is author of over 10 patents and 25 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and has been invited to lecture on his work at numerous international conferences. He is an active member of multiple scientific societies, serving as a member of the steering committee for the New York Academy of Sciences, organizing conference programs and chairing panel sessions. He is a scientific consultant for Expedition New England and a member of the Board of Directors for Vivo Biosciences. Dr. Hambor attended Miami University of Ohio where he graduated with B.A. and M.S. degrees in Microbiology. He received a Ph. D. in Pathology from Case Western Reserve University and subsequently moved on to Yale where he did post-doctoral studies in Immunology.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
John Hambor is a consultant and Director of Stem Cell-based Drug Discovery with the Cell Therapy Group.
Dr. John Hambor has over 20 years of research, management and training experience in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. A results-driven executive leader, Dr. Hambor has a proven ability to apply breakthrough science to the discovery and development of novel small molecules and biological therapies.
As a skilled hands-on scientist, executive and new business architect, Dr. Hambor has core competencies in multiple areas including:
- Basic Research (stem cell biology, drug discovery, transgenic animals, molecular biology and genetics)
- Process Development (optimization of stem cell expansion & differentiation into multiple somatic cell types, RNAi & small molecule screening, recombinant protein production)
- Clinical Manufacturing (SOPs, batch records, automated large-scale cell culture)
- Project Management (project design & implementation, process reengineering, strategic planning)
- Supervision (team building, talent development, team & organizational alignment)
- External Collaboration (corporate, academic)
Dr. Hambor was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of CellDesign, Inc., a global research and development company that specializes in the development of customizable stem cell tools, primary cells, and reagents for applications in drug discovery & research. Primarily partnering with pharmaceutical companies, CellDesign is a premier supplier of primary human cells, stem cell-derived functional cell types, and regenerative model systems to study developmental pathways. Prior to founding CellDesign, Dr. Hambor was the Chief Executive Officer of Cognate BioServices. Cognate is a contract manufacturer of cell-based products providing GMP-quality cells for clinical trials and pre-clinical studies.
Previously, Dr. Hambor was an Associate Research Fellow at Pfizer Global Research and Development. Dr. Hambor joined Pfizer in 1990 in Groton, Connecticut and has worked in several areas of increasing responsibilities. He spent his early years as a cellular and molecular biologist in the Inflammation and Immunology therapeutic areas. In 1998, Dr. Hambor joined the Genetic Technologies Department where he formed a stem cell research unit, eventually overseeing global efforts in stem cell technologies as part of the Genetically Modified Models Center of Emphasis.
Dr. Hambor also holds an adjunct faculty position at Connecticut College where he teaches Immunology. He is author of over 10 patents and 25 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and has been invited to lecture on his work at numerous international conferences. He is an active member of multiple scientific societies, serving as a member of the steering committee for the New York Academy of Sciences, organizing conference programs and chairing panel sessions. He is a scientific consultant for Expedition New England and a member of the Board of Directors for Vivo Biosciences. Dr. Hambor attended Miami University of Ohio where he graduated with B.A. and M.S. degrees in Microbiology. He received a Ph. D. in Pathology from Case Western Reserve University and subsequently moved on to Yale where he did post-doctoral studies in Immunology.
__________________________________________________________________________________________