Christal Worthen
Senior Director of Research and Development @Curi Bio
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Senior Director of Research and Development @Curi Bio
Lead Curi Bio’s translational strategy across both scientific services and internal R&D, directing multidisciplinary teams developing advanced human in vitro platforms for cardiac and skeletal muscle disease modeling.In this role, I shape the technical and commercial roadmap for our platform portfolio, aligning scientific development with market demand, client needs, and long-term strategic growth.• Oversee integrated services and R&D organizations, driving scientific rigor, operational execution, and cross-functional alignment• Define translational positioning of 3D human muscle systems to support IND-enabling studies and preclinical decision-making• Lead strategic expansion of platform capabilities, balancing innovation with commercial viability• Guide scope design and scientific strategy for complex client programs, ensuring studies meet both biological validity and regulatory-grade expectations• Partner with executive leadership to align R&D investment with revenue growth and long-term infrastructure development• Advance adoption of automation-forward workflows and data-integrated QC frameworks to improve reproducibility, scalability, and decision confidenceMy focus is on translating sophisticated human biology into reliable, decision-grade systems that accelerate therapeutic development while maintaining exacting scientific standards.
EDUCATION
Oregon Health & Science University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Cell and Developmental Biology
University of Washington Seattle
Bachelor of Science (BS), Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
SKILLS
ABOUT CHRISTAL WORTHEN
I lead and scale human in vitro disease modeling platforms that help biotech and pharmaceutical partners make confident translational decisions.As Senior Director of Research & Development at Curi Bio, I oversee both our scientific services and internal R&D organizations, working with multidisciplinary teams developing advanced 3D cardiac and skeletal muscle systems. Under my leadership, the services division has doubled revenue year over year while expanding technical scope, operational rigor, and strategic partnerships.My focus is simple: build systems that work.That means designing human-relevant models that are biologically rigorous, reproducible, and decision-grade. It also means architecting workflows that are scalable — integrating automation-forward processes, data integrity standards, and disciplined study design so that every program delivered under my leadership meets exacting scientific and operational standards.I work at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution. Beyond technical development, I shape platform roadmaps, align R&D investments with commercial demand, scope complex client programs, and ensure that financial performance and scientific excellence grow together. I am deeply interested in translating emerging technologies — including automation and AI-enabled workflows — into practical infrastructure that strengthens both discovery and business outcomes.What motivates me most is building durable systems: teams, platforms, and organizations that outlast any single study. I believe human biology deserves human models, and I am driven by the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to therapies that improve and extend lives.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.