RITU JHA
Silicon Valley-based technology and healthcare thought leader Dr Prasun Mishra has been appointed as a Senator to represent the United States at the World Business Angels Investment Forum.
The WBAF, an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnerships for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), supports startups, develops entrepreneurial ecosystems, and helps venture capital and companies connect with international companies, fintech firms and other relevant institutions.
The WBAF accomplishes its mission through various parties and channels. These include 138 high commissioners, senators and international partners from 79 countries. It has seven country offices in five continents; the WBAF Business School and its more than 50 faculty members from 32 countries; and five international working committees.
Mishra, PhD, founding president and CEO of the American Association for Precision Medicine (AAPM), and chair of AAPM coronavirus taskforce, the first Global COVID-19 Taskforce, sounded excited about his new assignment when he spoke to indica News.
“I am excited and truly honored on being unanimously elected as Senator, and the inclusion of the US in the WABF would provide a wide variety of opportunities for US-based startups, scaleups and high growth businesses, and open doors for economic development,” he said.
“It would open the door for economic growth and development and my inclusion will enhance the AAPM in accelerating the field of precision medicine’s mission of accelerating the field of precision medicine and transforming patient health globally,” Mishra said.
The WBAF being a global forum would help, he added.
“We can work together to achieve not only foster the economy but also achieve the goal of accelerating in the field of precision medicine globally,” Mishra said. “My goal is to advance and transform our health care system. We are doing this by encouraging startups, giving them the funding runway and then helping them reach their milestones to be successful.”
He said that the WBAF has its own fund and invests in startups, partnerships with 12 global institutions, and economic cooperation agreements with five governments. As Senator, he would be part of the decision making on investments.
Baybars Altuntas, chairman of the WBAF board, said in a statement: “We are confident about our contribution to the economic development of the country by facilitating connections with entrepreneurial ecosystems. We strongly believe that the USA will soon become a country that can foster the development of its economy in a more entrepreneurial atmosphere.”
Mishra’s AAPM coronavirus task force focuses on research efforts focused on preventing and curing COVID-19, cancer, and other chronic diseases. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor, co-founder/board member of a few corporations focused on accelerating drug discovery/development, data analytics, robotics, mental health, and digital health.
Mishra has keynoted, chaired, and organized numerous successful international conferences. His research work has been recognized globally by over 40 prestigious awards and honors. Mishra also served as a scientist and principal investigator at Genentech, Roche.
His passion for drug development and precision medicine has led to the identification of new drug targets, biomarkers, companion diagnostics, and several drugs/ combinations in the clinic.
