hC Bioscience Appoints Heather Hirsch, Ph.D. as SVP of Translational Science and Cancer Biology, Strengthening Leadership Team in Advancing tRNA-Based Therapeutics

 hC Bioscience, a pioneering biotech company dedicated to advancing tRNA-based therapeutics, has appointed Heather Hirsch, Ph.D., as the Senior Vice President of Translational Science and Cancer Biology. Hirsch, Ph.D. who will join a growing team of scientists, brings a wealth of experience and expertise, having served most recently as the Vice President of Clinical Translational Sciences at IMV Inc.

With a commitment to improving the lives of patients through precision protein editing, hC Bioscience is at the forefront of developing first-in-class tRNA-based therapeutics to target protein dysfunction. The company’s innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetically defined conditions, which account for 10-15% of all human diseases.

Hirsch’s extensive background in cancer biology and translational sciences makes her an invaluable addition to the leadership team at hC Bioscience. In her previous roles at IMV Inc., Jounce and Merck, she played a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking therapies, demonstrating her ability to drive successful clinical translation from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside.

“We welcome Heather to hC Bioscience and look forward to her contributions as we advance our therapies to the clinic,” said Leslie Williams, Founder and CEO of hC Bioscience. “Her expertise in cancer biology and translational sciences will be instrumental in advancing our tRNA-based therapeutics, particularly in the field of cancer research. Dr. Hirsch’s proven track record of driving clinical translation aligns with our goal to develop effective treatments that are able to target multiple gene mutations implicated in cancer and rare diseases.”

“I joined hC Bioscience because of the potential of tRNA-based therapies to treat cancers with an entirely new modality,” added Dr. Hirsch. “Since their founding, they’ve quickly engineered and optimized lead candidates, reported compelling in vivo proof-of-concept data, optimized indication-specific delivery options and continue to build an extensive body of data.”

As the newly appointed SVP of Translational Science and Cancer Biology, Hirsch, Ph.D. will lead the company’s efforts to bring the first tRNA therapies into the clinic. Through her deep understanding of tumor biology and translation, she will play a crucial role in advancing hC Bioscience’s lead platform, targeting tumor suppressor genes with nonsense mutations or premature termination codons (PTCs).