James Wilson, M.D., Ph.D. has nearly four decades of experience in gene therapy and currently serves as President and CEO of GEMMA Biotherapeutics and Executive Chair of Franklin Biolabs. As a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Wilson established the nation’s first and largest academic program in gene therapy. His laboratory discovered and characterized novel adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), which have since become the preferred vectors for gene therapy delivery. He has been instrumental in translating scientific advances into commercial platforms, founding 10 biotechnology companies to advance gene therapy. His team’s achievements include 3 FDA-approved AAV-based therapies, approximately 20 active development programs, 95 patents related to gene therapy-related technologies, and first-in-patient studies across 15 different diseases. Dr. Wilson earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in chemistry from Albion College.