Patricia Olson, Ph.D., serves as the Vice President, Discovery & Translation, at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) responsible for the development, implementation and outcomes of CIRM’s Discovery and Translation funding programs. Previously, she served in a variety of positions at CIRM including Executive Director, Scientific Affairs, responsible for the development, review, implementation and management of CIRM’s research funding program. Prior to joining CIRM, Dr. Olson served in a variety of positions at Chiron Corporation (now Novartis) including Vice President, Protein Therapeutics Research and Vice President, Portfolio Management and Strategic Planning, R&D. While at Chiron, she participated in the research and development of several products including two marketed products. She is an inventor on 22 issued U.S. patents and an author of 31 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Olson received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of California at Berkeley and her B.S. in Cellular Biology (magna cum laude) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.