Darshil Patel, Ph.D., is an accomplished scientific leader with over a decade of experience driving preclinical research, drug development and data-powered discovery. As director of research and development at COUR Pharmaceuticals, he spearheads cross-functional teams advancing COUR’s antigen-specific immune tolerance programs. His work focuses on novel cell-free antigen production and purification, nanoparticle generation, platform innovation and investigational new drug (IND)–enabling developmental work to translate COUR’s technology into clinical therapies for autoimmune disease.
Since joining COUR in 2024, Patel has strengthened the pipeline by overcoming multiple proteins scalability hurdles for good manufacturing practices (GMP) readiness, leading the company’s first transition from peptide- to recombinant protein–based nanoparticles and enabling clinical material generation. He is also leading the implementation of next-generation research and novel manufacturing processes designed for scalability and reproducibility at their core, creating a plug-and-play model to accelerate future programs.
Previously, as one of the earliest scientific hires at Cabaletta Bio, Patel established and led preclinical molecular biology function, designing CAR constructs for autoimmune CAR T cell therapies. He also expanded the company’s capabilities in protein engineering, viral vector production and preclinical assay development as the company advanced from Series B funding to IPO.
Patel contributed to AI-based OneThree Biotech, validating its proprietary AI-generated oncology targets and confirming computational predictions with preclinical models, resulting in accelerating therapeutic evaluation. At Siemens Healthineers, he optimized immunoassays and supported clinical platforms, building a foundation in analytical rigor and regulated assay development.
Patel has a doctorate in cell and molecular biology from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science from UCLA.