Angel Cobo, PhD

Scientist and strategic operator in drug development.

Portrait of Angel Cobo

About Angel

Angel is a scientist and strategic operator working at the intersection of drug development, biotechnology, and investment.

In his current role, he leads early-stage drug development programs from target validation through IND-enabling studies and NewCo formation. Angel works with investigators, founders, clinicians, and KOLs to pressure-test therapeutic hypotheses, identify critical risks, and design development strategies that generate clear, decision-enabling data.

His background in chemistry, pharmacology, and venture investing allows him to evaluate programs from both a scientific and a commercial perspective. He assesses mechanisms, competitive landscapes, translational strategies, development risks, and capital requirements with a focus on improving probability of technical success and establishing meaningful clinical differentiation.

What draws Angel most is elegant chemistry, novel mechanisms of action, and emerging biotechnology platforms with the potential to address difficult unmet medical needs. His mission is to work with teams that push scientific boundaries, translate rigorous research into medicines, and build companies that create real value for patients and the biotechnology ecosystem.

Education
  • Ph.D., Chemistry (Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology), University of California, Davis, 2022
  • B.S., Biochemistry (Minor, Chemistry), Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015
Professional Experience
  • 2022–Present · Scientific Program Manager · Stanford University, Innovative Medicines Accelerator
  • 2020–2021 · Venture Capital Investment Associate · Radicle Growth
  • 2015–2016 · ORISE Fellow · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NCEH/ATSDR)
Awards & Professional Activities
  • IIFH Fellow ($70K award), UC Davis
  • Business Development Fellow, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
  • InnovationAccess Intern, UC Davis Office of Research
  • CERSI Drug Development Program, UCSF–Stanford
  • Regional i-Corps Immersive Course, National Science Foundation
  • Breaking into the Venture Industry, Stanford Continuing Studies
  • Introduction to Mergers & Acquisitions, Stanford Continuing Studies
  • Protecting Innovation: Life Sciences IP Seminar Series, Morrison Foerster
Select Publications
  • Patterson, L.; Coppage, D.; Cobo, A.; Segal, D.; Franz, A.K.; et al. Engineered Silyl Lipids to Modulate Liposome and Lipid Nanoparticle Properties for mRNA Delivery. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2025, 8 (8), 7216–7227.DOI ↗
  • Ball-Jones, N.; Cobo, A.; Franz, A.K.; et al. Ligand-Accelerated Catalysis in Scandium(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Spiroannulation Reactions. ACS Catal. 2022, 12 (6), 3524–3533.DOI ↗
  • Wang, Y.; Cobo, A.; Franz, A.K. Recent Advances in Organocatalytic Asymmetric Multicomponent Cascade Reactions for Enantioselective Synthesis of Spirooxindoles. Org. Chem. Front. 2021, 8, 4315–4348.DOI ↗
  • Xia, B.; Blount, B.C.; Guillot, T.; Brosius, C.; Li, Y.; Van Bemmel, D.M.; et al. Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (NNAL, NNN, NAT, and NAB) Exposures in the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 (2013–2014). Nicotine Tob. Res. 2021, 23 (3), 573–583.DOI ↗
  • Cobo, A.; Armstrong, B.; Fettinger, J.; Franz, A.K. Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclopentene-Spirooxindoles Bearing Vinylsilanes Capable of Further Transformations. Org. Lett. 2019, 21 (20), 8196–8200.DOI ↗