Dr. Markwin Velders, current CEO and co-founder of Myogene Therapeutics BV, obtained his PhD in molecular immunology at the Leiden University and worked as scientist and assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago, authoring over 40 peer reviewed papers. 

He served as CSO at AM-Pharma, a biopharma company developing treatment for acute kidney injury. Markwin subsequently joined TNO, where he held positions as Operations Manager and Business Unit Manager. In 2013, he was involved in NKI spin-off T-Cell Factory. There he played a crucial role in its acquisition by Kite Pharma. He was also CEO of SomantiX, a biotech company developing on angiogenesis inhibitors. 

From 2015 until 2020, Markwin Velders worked as Vice President Operations and Managing Director at Kite Pharma. In this period he established the company’s EU headquarters and built the organization from 3 until 300+ employees. After the company’s acquisition by Gilead, in 2017, Markwin headed the establishment of its CAR-T commercial manufacturing site, in Hoofddorp. He played a key role in the advancement and commercial launch of Kite’s CAR-T therapy in Europe. 

From 2017 until 2021 he served as Chairman of the Board of HollandBIO, the association of Dutch biotech companies. He has Supervisory Board Member positions at Dutch biotech companies. In addition he is advisor to several other biotech companies and VCs in EU, UK and USA. Markwin Velders brings over 25 years of experience at leading positions in various biotech companies. He combines scientific, managerial and commercial experience, specifically in the field of cell and gene therapy.