Una Ryan, Managing Director Golden Seeds

Dr. Una Ryan is Managing Director Golden Seeds (Silicon Valley), an angel investing group focused on women-led companies. She is also a member of Astia Angel, investing in women-led ventures while targeting above-market investment returns.

She recently joined The Angels’ Forum, a group of 25 high net worth individuals, all of whom have been CEOs, founders of successful entrepreneurial ventures and who are now dedicated to investing in, mentoring and advising Silicon Valley Start ups. She was previously President and CEO of Diagnostics For All (DFA), a non-profit organization developing inexpensive diagnostics for global health and agriculture.

She was also formerly President and CEO of AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc, (NASDAQ) a company developing vaccines and immunotherapeutics for cancer, travelers, food safety, and global health.  Dr. Ryan is also Research Professor of Medicine at BU School of Medicine. Her board positions include AMRI (NASDAQ), RenovoRx, a company developing a device to enhance treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients and BioArray Therapeutics.

She serves on the Board of BayBio and was Chair of MassBio, served on its Board (1996-2008), as well as the Biotechnology Industry Organization, New England Healthcare Institute, Board of Associates of the Whitehead Institute, Strategy & Policy Council of the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation. Dr. Ryan holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Cambridge University and BS degrees in Zoology, Microbiology and Chemistry from Bristol University.

She received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Bristol University in 2009. In 2007, Dr. Ryan received the Albert Einstein Award for outstanding achievement in the life sciences.She received the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award in 2009. In 2002 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded Dr. Ryan the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to biotechnology.