Jonathan Thon Ph.D. Director Caravan Biologix
Dr. Jonathan Thon brings over 15 years of experience in biotechnology entrepreneurship, cell therapy development, and hematology research to his current roles in the biotech industry. As a Board Member of Caravan Biologix and several other innovative biotech companies, Dr. Thon leverages his expertise in company building and strategic development to advance novel therapeutic platforms.
​
Dr. Thon's entrepreneurial journey includes founding and leading multiple successful venture-backed companies. As the founder and CEO of STRM.BIO, he raised over $42 million in venture financing and grants, including support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ARPA-H, while developing the first gene delivery platform capable of targeting hematopoietic stem cells in vivo. Previously, he co-founded Stellular Bio (formerly Platelet BioGenesis), where as CEO he secured more than $100 million in venture funding and government grants, growing the company to over 40 employees while developing revolutionary platelet production technology licensed from Harvard University.
​
Throughout his career, Dr. Thon has demonstrated exceptional ability in building and scaling biotech companies from concept to clinical development. His experience includes establishing cell culture manufacturing processes, developing broad IP portfolios, and leading regulatory strategy through FDA interactions. He currently serves on multiple boards including Octagon Therapeutics, where he supports drug candidate selection and financing strategies, and provides strategic guidance to companies like AcousticaBio in their development of novel biologic delivery systems.
​
In academia, Dr. Thon held positions at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham, where he served as an Assistant Professor and later as a Lecturer, helping inventors translate cutting-edge technology through entrepreneurship. His academic research led to groundbreaking discoveries in platelet production and the development of a patented, cGMP-compliant platelet bioreactor. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts and raised more than $7.1 million in academic partnerships and grants.
​
Currently, as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Yale Ventures, Dr. Thon continues to support the next generation of biotech innovations by providing early advisory and operational support to faculty and students commercializing research discoveries. His unique combination of scientific expertise, entrepreneurial success, and strategic vision continues to drive innovation in the biotechnology sector, particularly in the areas of cell therapy, gene delivery, and hematological diseases.