Dr. Gibbs, CEO and co-founder of Cirsium Biosciences, has devoted his 20+ years of expertise to developing viral vectors and gene therapies to treat genetic diseases. He holds a BS in Zoology and Genetics, as well as a PhD in Anatomy and Physiology from The University of Dundee in Scotland.

Following his postdoctoral research on gene therapies for retinal degeneration at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), Dan founded the Salk Institute Viral Vector Core Facility and later worked as an Assistant Professor in Neurosciences at UCSD. He then returned to the Salk Institute as Senior Director of Core Facilities before joining Locanabio, Inc as Senior Director of Vector Development and Engineering.

Dan co-founded Cirsium Biosciences (formerly known as Vecprobio, Inc.) in 2019, to develop transformational manufacturing techniques for viral vectors via scalable whole-plant production platforms. Away from his job, Dan enjoys climbing and hiking with his family and friends.

Mr. Connors, CTO and Cofounder of Cirsium Biosciences, is committed to advancing viral vector manufacturing and establishing plant molecular farming as the primary platform for global gene therapy and biologics production. Jake’s educational foundation includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and specialized expertise in molecular neuroscience acquired during his tenure at UCSD’s Spitzer lab.

Following his military service, Jake transitioned into the high-intensity agriculture sector, accumulating over a decade of startup leadership experience encompassing controlled environment agriculture, production, operations, and processing. Furthermore, he pursued postgraduate training at UCSD in systems neuroscience, specializing in the application of viral vectors for studying the nervous system. His multifaceted background uniquely situates him as a leader at the crossroads of biotechnology and agriculture.

In 2019, Jake co-founded Cirsium Biosciences (formerly known as Vecprobio, Inc) with the vision of enabling the production of viral vectors and genetic therapies using plant molecular farming. Beyond his professional pursuits, Jake finds enjoyment in dirt biking and spending time with his dogs.