Kate Nudel

Kate Nudel is Director and Head of External Research at ProTgen, a biotechnology company developing progenitor T cell therapies aimed at improving survival and extending lifespan in patients undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious diseases. Based in Boston, she leads external innovation efforts and supports the company’s scientific mission from discovery through early development.

Kate brings more than seven years of experience leading cross-functional drug discovery teams in dynamic startup environments. She was the first hire at Manifold Bio, selected by founding venture capitalists to help build the company’s foundational technology, scientific team, and R&D infrastructure, with a focus on biologics development. Prior to that, she held key scientific roles at Kintai Therapeutics (a Flagship Pioneering company), where she advanced multiple small-molecule discovery programs. At both companies, she led the development of novel in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo assays that supported progression from target identification to preclinical candidate nomination. Across roles, she has consistently fostered collaborative environments that emphasize scientific rigor, creativity, and transparent communication.

Kate is a co-inventor on over 10 patents and has led research initiatives that contributed to major financing events, including a $45 million Series A at Manifold Bio. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Translational Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine, where she studied infectious diseases, and completed postdoctoral training in antibiotic resistance and therapeutic microbiota at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Florida.