Board of Directors
Dr. Victoria Niklas is a Global Biotechnology Executive with a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in translational research and clinical medicine in academic health centers.
She earned her Doctor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a Master’s Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University, and a Master’s Certificate in Academic Medicine & Leadership from the USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. Victoria has held academic professorial appointments at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. As an experienced clinician investigator and neonatologist, she is highly skilled in aligning basic and translational science with unmet clinical needs in the path to drug discovery. Her expertise spans developmental and acquired disorders of the gut, the lung, the immune system focusing on innovative therapies for diseases with no cure.
Victoria brings a passion and broad understanding of science and medicine to biopharmaceutical drug exploration and clinical development in her role at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Her efforts create and deliver meaningful medical solutions to improve patient outcomes and health. As an industry thought leader with a broad knowledge base, Dr. Niklas has co-authored numerous scientific and clinical publications in peer-reviewed journals and participated as a speaker and chair in international conferences. She has led the development of patented products and has served as a board member for hospital and medical organizations and committees. She is board certified in Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine and holds an active California medical license. Dr. Niklas is an exceptional medical professional, scientific leader, and superb communicator for corporate biotechnology and healthcare.