Amir Nashat, PhD

Amir Nashat, PhD, General Partner, Polaris Boston, focuses on investments in the life sciences. Prior to joining Polaris in 2002, Dr. Nashat completed his PhD as a Hertz Fellow in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a minor in Biology under the guidance of Dr. Robert Langer. During his time at MIT, Dr. Nashat completed an internship in the London office of Goldman, Sachs & Company. He currently represents Polaris as a Director of aTyr Pharmaceuticals, Avila Therapeutics, BIND Biosciences, Fate  Therapeutics, Living Proof, Pervasis Therapeutics, Promedior Pharmaceuticals and Selecta Biosciences.Dr. Nashat played an instrumental role in the inception of Living Proof, Pervasisand Sun Catalytix Corporation, serving as the founding President of all three companies. Additionally, he has served as a Director of  Adnexus Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb), Athenix Corporation (acquired by Bayer), and Hydra Biosciences, and as an Observer of GI Dynamics and Advion. Dr. Nashat currently serves on the Board of the New England Venture Capital Association, on the Venture Advisory Committee of the IAVI  Innovation Fund, on the Advisory Board of the Simmons School of Management Entrepreneurship Initiative, and is a Catalyst of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT.