Sukumar Nagendran, M.D.

Sukumar Nagendran, M.D., has served as President and Head of Research and Development (R&D) at Taysha Gene Therapies since 2022 and as a member of the Board of Directors since 2020.

Suku is a seasoned physician executive with over 30 years of experience advancing therapeutic innovations from early development through commercialization. His expertise spans gene therapy development, clinical development strategy, medical affairs and diagnostics, and he has been instrumental in advancing the gene therapy field. Before joining Taysha, Suku served as Chief Medical Officer and President of R&D at Jaguar Gene Therapy, where he helped build the company’s early-stage AAV-based pipeline targeting severe genetic diseases. Before Jaguar Gene Therapy, Suku served as Chief Medical Officer at AveXis, where he oversaw the development of Zolgensma for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, the first U.S. FDA approved one-time gene therapy to treat a monogenic CNS disorder. Suku has also held key leadership positions at Quest Diagnostics, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Novartis and Daiichi Sankyo, contributing to the development and launch of multiple drugs and biological products.

Suku is a member of the Board of Directors of Solid Biosciences, Amlogenyx, Cove, Medocity and Project Healthy Minds.

Before his transition into the biopharmaceutical industry, Suku practiced internal medicine with a focus on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Suku earned a B.A. in biochemistry from Rutgers University and an M.D. from Rutgers Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and is a Mayo Alumni Laureate.