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Isaac MankeDirector

Dr. Manke has more than 15 years of experience in the life science industry as an investor, research analyst, consultant and scientist. Isaac is currently a General Partner at Acorn Bioventures, where he focuses on investing in small‑cap public and private biotechnology companies. Prior to Acorn, Isaac spent 11 years at New Leaf Venture Partners (NLV). In addition to private venture investments, during his time at NLV, he also led the firm’s public investment activities initially with the public portfolio within NLV‑II, and from 2014 through 2019, had day‑to‑day management and oversight responsibility for the NLV Biopharma Opportunities Funds. Isaac has been a board member or observer for several companies, including the boards of True North Therapeutics (acquired by Bioverativ) and Karos Pharmaceuticals (acquired by an undisclosed company). Previously, Isaac was an Associate in the Global Biotechnology Equity Research group at Sanford C. Bernstein. Isaac was also an Associate in the Biotechnology Equity Research group at Deutsche Bank and was a Senior Analyst at Health Advances, a biopharmaceutical and medical device strategy consulting firm. Isaac received a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry at Minnesota State University (Moorhead), and a Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Structure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. Isaac’s discoveries led to several publications in top journals, including Science and Cell, and were selected by Science as one of the “2003: Signaling Breakthroughs of the Year”. These discoveries also resulted in four issued patents.