Zura Bio Limited announced the appointment of Michael D. Howell, Ph.D., to the role of Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Translational Science. Dr. Howell brings more than two decades of experience leading discovery, translational research, and early clinical programs and will lead the scientific strategy and translational science efforts at Zura Bio. Dr. Howell initially joined Zura Bio in 2022 as a scientific advisor during the company's formation and acquisition of its first two clinical programs. Dr. Howell is a founding member of Galileo Biosystems Inc, a scientific advisor at Ornovi Inc., and founder of Mountaineer Biosciences Inc. He formerly served as the Chief Scientific Officer of DermTech Inc. Previously, he held scientific leadership positions at Incyte Corporation, MedImmune, LLC /Astra Zeneca, the Immune Tolerance Network, and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.

Before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Howell served as a faculty member in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at National Jewish Health. Throughout his career, Dr. Howell has led clinical and basic scientific research efforts dedicated to the discovery of novel therapies and the integration of precision and personalised medicine approaches into clinical development. His efforts are highlighted by the identification of new therapeutic targets and the advancement of more than eight novel clinical therapies.

Additionally, his research has been discussed at national and international meetings, published in more than 60 peer-reviewed journals, and referenced in patents outlining therapeutic interventions and biomarker strategies for personalised medicine. Dr. Howell received his PhD in Immunology from the West Virginia University School of Medicine with postdoctoral training at National Jewish Health, and his BS in biology from Messiah University.