ME

Michael Ehlers

General Partner at ATP

Boston, Massachusetts

Overview 

Michael Ehlers is currently the Chief Scientific Officer and General Partner at Apple Tree Partners in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With a background in molecular biology and medicine, he has held executive roles at companies like Biogen and Pfizer, while also founding and leading successful biotech startups like Ascidian Therapeutics and Intergalactic Therapeutics. Ehlers' career highlights include serving as the Chief Scientific Officer at Apple Tree Partners and founding multiple successful biotech companies, showcasing his expertise in drug development and clinical trials within the pharmaceutical industry.

Work Experience 

  • Entrepreneur Partner

    2024 - Current

    Advance the science-driven investment strategy at a leading life sciences fund by identifying and evaluating new breakthrough science around the world and turning it into business plans, management teams, and drug discovery and development programs.

MPM BioImpact is a biotechnology investment firm specializing in managing early-stage venture and private/public impact.

  • Board Member

    2025

    Scientific and corporate leadership of pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel RNA therapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, and hematologic disease.

Orna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in fully engineered circular RNA therapeutics to treat various diseases.

Raised $321,000,000.00 from MPM Capital, BioImpact and Merck.

  • Board Member

    2025

    Scientific and corporate leadership of clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel psychedelic therapies for the treatment of psychiatric disease.

  • Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer

    2023

    Lead all activities at a research stage biotechnology company focused on designer synthetic RNA therapeutics and RNA exon editing. Deploying innovative technology platforms to create breakthrough therapies for debilitating ophthalmological, neurological, neuromuscular, and rare diseases.

  • Founder and Board Chair

    2022 - 2023

    Scientific and corporate leadership of research stage biotechnology company developing designer synthetic RNA therapeutics and RNA exon editing therapies for ophthalmological, neurological, neuromuscular, and rare diseases.

  • Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer

    2020 - 2022

    Lead all activities at a research stage biotechnology company focused on designer synthetic RNA therapeutics and RNA exon editing. Deploying innovative technology platforms to create breakthrough therapies for debilitating ophthalmological, neurological, neuromuscular, and rare diseases.

Ascidian Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that focuses on medical and clinical gene therapy.

Raised $90,000,000.00 from Apple Tree Partners and Apple Tree Partners.

  • Co-Founder and Board Member

    2021

    Scientific and corporate leadership of research stage biotechnology company developing novel self-replicating RNA therapies for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases.

Replicate Bioscience creates novel oncology treatments to prevent and reverse drug resistance through a self-replicating RNA platform.

Raised $46,000,000.00 from Apple Tree Partners.

  • Co-Founder and Board Member

    2020

    Scientific and corporate leadership of research stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of diverse cancers.

Aulos Bioscience is dedicated to revolutionizing patient care in cancer with highly differentiated immuno-oncology therapeutics.

Raised $60,000,000.00 from Apple Tree Partners and Apple Tree Partners.

  • Chief Scientific Officer, General Partner

    2024 - 2024

  • Chief Scientific Officer, Venture Partner

    2019 - 2024

    Apple Tree Partner's (ATP’s) unique model follows the science, brings together the best teams, and deploys significant capital to create and build the next generation of innovative biotechnology companies.

Apple Tree Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medtech, and healthcare services.

Raised $5,000,000.00.

  • Founder and Board Chair

    2023 - 2023

    Scientific and corporate leadership of research stage biotechnology company developing non-viral gene therapies for ophthalmological diseases.

  • Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer

    2020 - 2023

    Led all activities at a cutting-edge start-up biotechnology company focused on non-viral gene therapy. Deploying molecular biology and bioengineering platforms to create breakthrough therapies in ophthalmology.

Intergalactic Therapeutics is an ATP company, is revolutionizing gene therapies with a novel non-viral platform.

Raised $75,000,000.00 from Apple Tree Partners.

  • Chief Executive Officer

    2019 - 2020

    Led a cutting-edge start-up biotech company focused on gene therapy and genetic medicines for patients with severe inherited diseases.

  • Executive Vice President

    2016 - 2019

    led global R&D for a cutting edge, industry-leading biotechnology company

Biogen is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of innovative therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

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