Bio

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2023

Shawn Davis Ph.D. is the CEO of Liberate Bio, where he aims to achieve the extraordinary—delivering genetic medicines that transcend liver-based limitations, liberating patients from disease.  Genetic medicines are poised to change the course of medicine, but their full potential can only be realized when delivered by vehicles that target these complex modalities to the appropriate cells.  Dr. Davis and the Liberate Bio team will deliver on this promise using generative artificial intelligence and machine learning trained on high-quality, in vivo data to accelerate every aspect of creating novel, extrahepatic vehicles. 

Dr. Davis has an extensive background in drug delivery, diagnostics, and biopharmaceutical development across startups and Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies.  He joined Liberate Bio from AstraZeneca, where he was the Head of Drug Delivery for R&D Biopharmaceutical Development.  At AstraZeneca, he led the research and development of intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, controlled release of antibodies for less frequent dosing, and novel routes of administration for therapeutic benefit.  Before AstraZeneca, he held multiple roles of increasing responsibility at Amgen, focusing on combination product development, technology strategy, and innovation.  More broadly, he has provided thought leadership across the industry as a frequent speaker, chair of multiple conferences, and Subcutaneous Drug Development & Delivery Consortium board member.

How did Florida Tech help prepare you for your career? 

Florida Tech was critical in developing my learning process and providing motivation to push beyond any expectations others had for me. As a first-generation college student, my family didn’t fully appreciate or know how to support my desire to continue my education beyond high school. Florida Tech provided the environment and financial assistance required to make that possible. Under the mentorship of the Chemical Engineering department, specifically Dr. Manolis Tomodakis, I saw what was possible when I applied myself to the task at hand and realized I could create the future I wanted.

What advice or words of wisdom do you have for students and recent graduates?  

It’s normal not to know what you want to do with your life, particularly when entering or finishing college.  Life is generally about learning new things about the world and yourself.  Give yourself the freedom to explore and discover topics that motivate you to learn more.  If you’re excited about a topic, you’ll perform at your best and have the motivation to continue a life-long learning journey.

What was your most memorable experience at Florida Tech? 

Although I learned a lot in my classes, my participation in the student chapter of AIChE was most memorable.  When I saw senior students leading the organization, it was hard to picture myself being on their level. Within a year or two, I realized that I could be a leader if I just stepped forward and put the effort in. The trips we took together as a chapter taught me a lot about my friends, myself, and the future careers of Chemical Engineers.

Who was your favorite faculty member (or other mentors or role models?)

I’ve already mentioned Dr. Manolis Tomodakis as a key figure in my time at Florida Tech.  Dr. Tomodakis was a new faculty member the same year I was a Freshman.  So we were both new to the school and finding our way.  He provided mentorship, friendship, and an inspirational education.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?  

I’ve already accomplished far more in my career than I thought possible.  As the CEO of a small biotech, I’m excited about the many challenges I’ll take on each day.  The idea that I can have this much fun while also finding a path to deliver new medicines to patients and ease their illness is more than I could have hoped for.

What was the most difficult challenge or failure that you had to overcome in your career? 

If you frame your life as a series of experiments and discoveries, it’s much harder to call an experience a failure.  There are so many ways not to succeed that have nothing to do with factors I can control.  If I’ve focused on delivering everything in my power and the result isn’t what I wanted, I chalk it up to an educational experience.  Examples include a host of schools I didn’t get into, fellowships I didn’t receive, jobs I didn’t get, and ideas I thought were valuable but couldn’t get the support I needed to deliver on.  So I suppose if someone counts those as “failures,” then I wouldn’t be able to count them all!  On the other hand, If I didn’t put in the necessary effort and the results weren’t what I wanted, it was a failure in my mind.  I’m not sure I can remember one of those.

If you were contacted by a student or recent graduate—what could you offer them?  

I mentor many students at Florida Tech and other universities and early-career scientists.  I generally offer to listen.  Once I’ve heard them out and we talk about challenges they face or elements of uncertainty, I try to provide them with ways to think about the situation and to understand how they can take the next step forward.  Sometimes, life is as simple as deciding what you want and figuring out the next tiny step you can take to move yourself in that direction.  Nobody knows the correct answers, but I can help them understand how to think about it and discover the answers for themselves.

If you could make one book recommendation that changed your life, what is it?

“Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman taught me so much about how I and others make poor decisions.  When I wanted to shift from a purely rational technical expert to a strategic leader, this book helped me see the path and informed many of my actions.

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