Mission-Aligned, Industry-Informed: UPMC’s Distinctive Model for Health Innovation

At the heart of UPMC Enterprises is a bench of seasoned advisors who are aligned with UPMC’s mission to transform health care. These individuals bring a global perspective, deep biotech expertise, and a strong command of financial and strategic fundamentals that are valuable to the young companies formed by UPMC Enterprises.

More than consultants, the advisors serve as the backbone of the innovation efforts undertaken by UPMC Enterprises, which is the commercialization and venture capital arm of the UPMC health system. UPMC Enterprises’ mission is to create and support innovative solutions across UPMC by investing in technology companies, life sciences research, and other projects that lead to better patient care.

Harnessing their insight, industry experts help shape ideas, navigate complexity, and understand the accelerating pace of change in health care. UPMC Enterprises has built a diversified and strategically focused portfolio of companies that are driving innovation to address critical unmet needs for patients at UPMC and beyond. With a unique vantage point into health care challenges and opportunities, the team at UPMC Enterprises taps into the knowledge and experience of experts within UPMC’s payer-provider network, while also drawing on extensive relationships with external industry leaders. These advisors — many with decades of experience — play an active role in guiding portfolio companies and UPMC Enterprises’ internal innovation and partnering efforts.

This collaborative model has been especially impactful within the Translational Sciences focus area, where partnerships with industry leaders have strengthened the work of UPMC Enterprises and increased the likelihood of success for emerging ventures. These relationships offer a unique opportunity for advisors to engage with cutting-edge science and technologies, while contributing to a mission-driven approach to health care transformation.

From Bench to Boardroom: Advisors Driving Innovation and Strategic Growth

UPMC Enterprises has developed a strategy rooted in a single guiding principle: improving outcomes for patients. This patient-first mindset informs every investment and partnership decision. A key enabler of this strategy is a network of seasoned advisors who recognized the breadth and depth of UPMC’s integrated ecosystem — not just as a health system, but as a platform for building transformative companies.

This ecosystem is further strengthened by the University of Pittsburgh’s world-class leadership in basic science and discovery, which complements UPMC’s deep expertise in translational research and clinical application. Together, they form a powerful foundation for advancing breakthrough health care solutions.

Expert advisors at UPMC Enterprises bring decades of experience and provide more than just guidance; they mentor emerging CEOs, support strategic decision-making, and help startups navigate the complexities of scaling in health care. Their insight, combined with UPMC’s unique model and operational support, positions portfolio companies for long-term success and meaningful impact.

Many of our Translational Sciences companies, which are pursuing cell and gene therapies, small molecule therapeutics, and novel targets for cancer therapies, lean on the leadership of industry experts which provides them with a wealth of knowledge and resources.

Below are some of the experts UPMC Enterprises is proud to have as advisors and portfolio company leaders:

• Steven Altschuler, MD, managing director, healthcare ventures, Ziff Capital Partners and founder of Spark Therapeutics. Dr. Altschuler is board chair of Avista Therapeutics.
• José-Alain Sahel, MD, distinguished professor and chairman, Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and director, UPMC Vision Institute. Dr. Sahel is also an executive vice president at UPMC Enterprises, co-founder of Avista Therapeutics, and co-founder of SparingVision, also a UPMC Enterprises portfolio company.
• Sheila Gujrathi, MD, co-founder and former CEO, Gossamer Bio. Dr. Gujrathi is board chair of Generian.
• David Moore, executive vice president, corporate development, Novo Nordisk. Mr. Moore is board chair of Novasenta.
• Jonathan Peacock, chairman, Avantor and UCB. Mr. Peacock is board chair of BlueSphere Bio.

Supporting Next-Generation Gene Therapy Development

Dr. Altschuler views UPMC Enterprises’ model, which is anchored by a single, stable source of capital and a long-term investment horizon, as uniquely suited to support the extended timelines and complexity of biotech innovation. In an uncertain funding environment, where syndicates can introduce strain and exits require clinical validation, UPMC’s approach offers strategic clarity and resilience.

As chairman of the board for Avista Therapeutics, Dr. Altschuler is helping to shape the future of gene therapy. Avista represents a new frontier, with second- and third-generation gene therapies that offer greater precision, safety, and scalability. Led by Chief Scientific Officer Leah Byrne, PhD, and supported by a world-class team including Dr. Sahel and CEO Rob Lin, PhD, Avista has developed a platform capable of engineering AAV vectors with tissue and cell specificity, improving safety profiles, and integrating machine learning to design more precise and manufacturable genetic medicines.

Avista’s platform is expanding beyond ocular applications into the brain and potentially heart disease, introducing a new level of targeting and therapeutic potential across multiple organ systems. Its partnership with Roche provides early validation and economic strength, while a new collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University adds cutting-edge AI capabilities to its discovery engine.

Looking ahead, Dr. Altschuler sees 2026 and beyond as a pivotal era for biotech, with major advances expected in genetic medicine, cell therapy, and AI-driven drug development. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “When you’re investing in companies, you’re really investing in people.” That belief continues to shape his work with UPMC Enterprises and the next generation of biotech leaders.

Hear more about how Dr. Altschuler views the promise of Avista in the video below.

The Foundational Attraction of Working with UPMC Enterprises

Mr. Peacock serves as chairman of the board at BlueSphere Bio, a company pioneering TCR T-cell therapies for cancer. With decades of experience at the forefront of global biotech and pharmaceutical innovation, Mr. Peacock brings a blend of financial acumen, operational leadership, and board governance expertise to BlueSphere Bio.

He is deeply committed to executive coaching and team development, believing that resilient, well-supported leadership teams are essential to the success of early-stage companies. His experience navigating IPOs, M&A, and global capital markets makes him a strategic asset to platform-based ventures such as BlueSphere, helping them scale innovation and unlock long-term value.

“I think the most innovative companies that I’ve worked with have really taken the time to understand the patients, how diseases impact the patients, and combine it with great science and how to provide access to those medicines. UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have that combination — being close to the patients, being close to the reality of access through payers, and they have great science to build on. That’s the foundational attraction of working with UPMC Enterprises,” Mr. Peacock said.

A Two-Way Street

The success of UPMC Enterprises’ portfolio companies is rooted in a commitment to partnership. When Enterprises invests in a company, it does so with full engagement, offering strategic guidance, operational support, and access to a network of seasoned experts who help navigate the inevitable challenges of growth and innovation.

These advisors, many of whom serve as board chairs, play a critical role not only in supporting portfolio companies but also in shaping the future of health care. Their involvement goes beyond governance; they actively mentor leadership teams, contribute to scientific and strategic direction, and help build resilient organizations capable of delivering breakthrough technologies.

“Our goal is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for life sciences innovation,” said Matthias Kleinz, DVM, PhD, executive vice president of UPMC Enterprises. “A critical part of that is making sure we bring the right people to the table to help us think critically about what we have and where we need to improve to ultimately maximize the probability of success.”

This collaborative model benefits UPMC Enterprises and its advisors. Experts gain the opportunity to be part of something truly innovative — working closely with emerging companies that are developing transformative solutions in health care — as well as being part of UPMC, a leading health system advancing life-changing medicine.

Through these relationships, UPMC Enterprises continues to foster a dynamic and mission-driven innovation ecosystem. It is built on trust, expertise, and a shared vision for improving patient care.

Next Steps

• Learn more about Translational Sciences at UPMC Enterprises.  
• Download a recap report from the 2024 Top of Mind Summit: Life Sciences. 
• Learn more about Avista Therapeutics, BlueSphere Bio, Generian, Novasenta, and SparingVision.
• Contact us to share information about your company or idea.

Note: UPMC has a financial interest in Avista Therapeutics, Generian, Novasenta, SparingVision, and BlueSphere Bio.