Damola Ogunleye

Quality Director

Damola is a seasoned Biotechnology Quality Assurance and Compliance professional with over 15 years of experience in biopharmaceutical drug development and manufacturing. He has extensive knowledge and experience in effectively leading Quality organizations supporting the development and commercialization of new products, including supply of materials for clinical trial programs, and life cycle management of existing products. His experience also includes development and implementation of Quality Management Systems governing drug development activities within a Good Manufacturing Practices environment. Damola has a broad knowledge of pharmaceutical development and the expertise to lead and collaborate for the effective commercialization of quality pharmaceutical products.

With a significant portion of Damola’s background in the niche field of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT), Damola started his career with Dendreon Corporation, where he helped the company receive the first FDA-approved therapeutic cancer vaccine, starting out in the Manufacturing Lab and then moving on to lead companywide continuous improvement, training, and site commission efforts. He has since worked at PCT Cell Therapy Services (now Minaris Regenerative Medicine), Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Lonza (a globally recognized CDMO) and most recently as the Director of R&D Quality Assurance for a Gene Therapy company based out of San Diego, all staples in the field of Cellular and Gene Therapy. Damola has also consulted for several startup Biotech companies who operate in the CGT space, as his passion is to bring more of these therapies to the market.

Damola received his B.A. in Biological Sciences from the State University of New York, in Plattsburgh, NY, and is an MBA from the C.T Bauer College of Business, where he also serves as an MBA Alumni Ambassador due to his outstanding leadership as an alumnus of the MBA program from the College.