Dr. Senthil Kannan leads the U.S. vaccines, immunology, and infectious diseases team, as well as development of the GeneTraQ database at SAI MedPartners.

Dr. Kannan brings to SAI a deep understanding of biotechnology and immunology, with a focus on gene therapy cultivated over 10 years, in addition to seven years of consulting. At SAI, he has led multiple projects on gene therapy, including evaluating candidates in hemophilia and DMD, as well as identifying targets for acquisition. As part of his PhD program, he worked on projects evaluating viral vectors (AAV, adenovirus) for gene therapy in mice and primate models. He has also worked on developing novel DNA vaccine candidates for infectious diseases, including chikungunya, dengue, and HIV; published several peer-reviewed articles (ORCiD); and collaborated on cutting-edge gene therapy approaches for hemophilia during his graduate studies.

Prior to joining SAI, Dr. Kannan led and managed projects on market analysis, competitor evaluation, and market entry. At SAI, he has worked on projects across multiple therapy areas, including ophthalmology, hemophilia, vaccines, gene therapy, and aesthetics. He is also a regular attendee at key gene therapy conferences, including ASGCT, ASH, and WFH, and is a longstanding member of ASGCT.

Dr. Kannan holds a PhD in cell and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania, with a specialization in gene therapy and vaccines. He also received an MS in biotechnology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, with a focus on pharmaceutical biotechnology.