As Chief Health Sciences Growth & Innovation Officer, Sally plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and the broader Virginia Tech Health Sciences enterprise. Sally is responsible for leading business development initiatives, identifying and fostering opportunities with industry, government, and non-profit entities. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, supporting the development of spinouts from FBRI and ensuring the success of a diverse portfolio of early-stage companies.
Sally brings over 20 years of international experience in the life science and healthcare industries, in developing and implementing business plans, constructing external innovation strategies, and building therapeutic area pipelines through strategic partnerships. She has a wealth of experience in leading cross-functional teams as well as managing alliances, global collaborations, and investor relations.
Sally joined Virginia Tech after 15 years at Johnson & Johnson, where she held various leadership roles across the enterprise. Most recently, as Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS @ Washington, DC, where she managed the healthcare incubator launch, business development, and site operations, and prior, as Senior Director, Strategy & Operations on the Global External Innovation team.
Sally received her MBA from the University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and both a Master of Science Degree in Microbiology / Immunology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Virginia Tech.