The top 5 candidates for BOSCA 2025 announced

Chris Fox
Global Product Owner
Gyros Protein Technologies (Uppsala, Sweden)

A fascination with the natural world and an appetite for knowledge since childhood saw her as a founding member of a Scientific Journal Club at senior school, firmly setting her feet upon the road to a career in science. After graduating from the University of Exeter (UK) with a BSc (Hons) in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry, that road led her to Oxford and into industry, where she excelled in bioanalytical method development, specializing in ligand binding assays. From Oxford, on to Cambridge, and now Uppsala, Sweden; after 15 years as a bench scientist, they transitioned into a new role within Gyros Protein Technologies as Global Product Manager for Gyrolab® Consumables. Chris combines a wealth of experience as a hands-on researcher with her infectious passion for scientific advancement; now as a communicator and leader, driving innovation and new possibilities within LBAs for the future.

“I would like to nominate Chris Fox for the BOSCA in recognition of her exceptional leadership, innovation and lasting impact in the field of bioanalytical science. As Global Product Manager at Gyros Protein Technologies, Chris has demonstrated technical expertise and strategic foresight, driving key application expansion of automated immunoassay platforms that support PK, immunogenicity (ADA) and biomarker analysis.”

Pinaki Sengupta
Faculty Member & Bioanalytical Investigator
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research – Ahmedabad (NIPER-A; India)

Dr Pinaki Sengupta, a bioanalytical researcher and academic, has been a faculty member at NIPER-A for 8 years. He is currently leading the bioanalytical research team at NIPER-A for DMPK profiling and preclinical studies of new chemical entities. Pinaki has about 20 years of industrial and academic research experience in bioanalysis, pharmacokinetics and BA/BE studies. His current research area includes biomarker profiling, intracellular preclinical pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics, proteomic studies, metabolic profiling and establishment of sophisticated bioanalytical methods. Pinaki has published over 150 articles in high-impact, international journals of repute (h-index: 26, i-10 index: 71, citations: 3,800) and has filed five patents. In addition to an industrial grant, he received multiple extramural research grants, majorly from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (Putrajaya, Malaysia), Indian Council of Medical Research (New Delhi, India), and The Royal Society (London, UK). In his prestigious Royal Society-funded bioanalytical research project, he is actively engaged in an on-site, collaborative exchange research program with De Montfort University (Leicester, UK) to develop unique HRMS-based bioanalytical methods for disease biomarkers employing DBS and VAMS techniques. Many international bodies have fund his research team for knowledge-sharing on bioanalysis in multiple renowned academic institutes, namely the German Sport University (Cologne, Germany), the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), De Montfort University (UK), etc.

“…The current research interest of Pinaki includes proteomic studies, intracellular preclinical pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics, metabolic profiling of chemical entities in discovery and formulation development phase; analytical and bioanalytical method development & validation using HPLC, UHPLC, and LC–MS/MS… An outstanding research area of Dr Pinaki includes development of macroporous polymeric devices for long-term storage and subsequent extraction of analytes aiming an advancement of preclinical/clinical investigations of drugs before their bioanalysis. The technology is expected to be translated into commercial diagnostic kits as field-deployable biocollection tools to offer significant impact in global health research... His excellent scientific publications and outstanding contributions in bioanalysis could be rightly recognized through the BOSCA 2025.”

Sujata Bhavekar
Study Director
SGS North America Inc. (MA, USA)

Sujata Bhavekar is a licensed pharmacist, accomplished scientist, Principal Investigator, and Study Director with deep expertise in both small and large molecule bioanalysis, including biomarker assays, ligand-binding assays, multiplex and hybrid platforms, PFAS analysis and 510(k) assay development. A recognized expert in the field, her technical proficiency spans LC–MS, HPLC, UPLC, MSD and SpectraMax systems. She has led the procurement, training and cross-functional integration of advanced laboratory systems — LabVantage LIMS, Analyst, Chromeleon, and more — into optimized workflows. Known for her operational precision, regulatory fluency and calm execution under pressure, Sujata bridges scientific rigor with strategic leadership across complex drug development pipelines.

Sujata has supported over 30 scientific programs, serving as the primary architect of study designs, assigning responsibilities and ensuring flawless execution from concept to completion. She has authored, reviewed and approved more than 200 protocols and over 300 sample analysis plans. Sujata has successfully led multi-site studies, including cross-border collaborations with Australia, Canada, China and other countries, while managing outsourcing strategies to ensure scientific excellence and regulatory alignment. As a Principal Investigator and Bioanalytical Director, she has led bioanalytical studies end-to-end, from project planning and execution to method development, validation, sample analysis, data integrity review and regulatory submission support. Known for maintaining strong client relationships, she ensures that pharmaceutical partners achieve both scientific and regulatory goals while meeting stringent timelines and quality standards. At SGS, a global life sciences leader, Sujata led the successful state licensure of a key bioanalytical laboratory. Her leadership in regulatory alignment, SOP execution and audit strategy enhanced the lab’s ability to support complex clinical and non-clinical programs across North America. She has driven multisite regulatory strategy, operational readiness and quality systems, while mentoring cross-functional teams and junior scientists to strengthen internal capabilities. Sujata is a recognized industry voice, featured in BioPharm International, Clinical Leader and American Pharmaceutical Review, and regularly contributes to SGS webinars, podcasts and scientific magazines. She has presented her work and participated in multiple scientific conferences, including most recently at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

Rooted in public health leadership — including sanitation reform and blood donation initiatives — Sujata has also pioneered cost-effective workflow improvements and diagnostic models that have been recognized at national scientific forums. She continues to shape the future of bioanalysis through her passion for science, unwavering commitment to excellence and ability to transform complex challenges into meaningful breakthroughs.

“…Sujata has personally mentored more than 40 women throughout her career, many of whom now hold leadership roles in clinical and regulatory science. Mentorship is not a side effort for her— it’s embedded in how she leads. She started her career as an analytical chemist and, through consistent performance, was promoted faster than expected at every stage. That journey — from the bench to becoming a Study Director — is proof that when science, leadership and purpose align, real progress happens… It is an honor to nominate Sujata for the BOSCA, in recognition of not just her scientific work, but her commitment to community, mentorship and sustainable growth in the field.”

Vibha Jawa, PhD, FAAPS
Chief Scientific Officer
EpiVax Inc. (RI, USA)

Dr Vibha Jawa is the Chief Scientific Officer of EpiVax, where she leads scientific strategy, guiding research efforts and shaping the company’s approach to new therapies and technologies. Previously, she was Executive Director in the Translational Medicine Organization at Bristol Myers Squibb (NJ, USA), where she led the biotherapeutic and cell/gene therapy bioanalytical function, providing oversight for PK and immunogenicity assays and strategy in preclinical and clinical development. Vibha also led the Predictive and Clinical Immunogenicity Group at Merck (NJ, USA) where she implemented in silico and novel in vitro immune functional assays to support predictive immunogenicity strategy to support an informed bioanalytical strategy. She spent 14 years at Amgen (CA, USA) supporting bioanalysis from discovery to development for biotherapeutics and novel biologics. Her main contributions to the field of bioanalysis include work related to the use of signal-to-noise as an alternative to titers for immune response magnitude, development and validation of a Universal immunogenicity assay to streamline bioanalytical support for preclinical toxicology studies and reduce sampling for animals, development of depletion criterion for specificity testing and the use of bioanalytical data to model the impact of ADA on PK/PD. Her bioanalytical expertise also spans from discovery to process development, with the formation of innovative whole blood-derived cellular assays to assess the safety and toxicology of immune modulatory biologics and cell and gene therapy products.

With over 20 years of experience in biologics, vaccines and gene therapy, she has contributed to 20+ IND, BLA and MAA filings. A recognized leader in bioanalysis and immunogenicity, Vibha has 100+ peer-reviewed publications and serves as a Reviewer and Editor for The AAPS Journal and J. Pharm Sci. She has led multiple focused working groups related to developing best practices and White Papers for cell and gene therapies in multiple scientific societies, including IQ Consortium, WRIB, SC space Consortium, and the European Immunogenicity Platform, and holds leadership roles within AAPS, including Track Chair of the Land O’ Lakes Bioanalysis Meeting and current co-chair of the Cell and Gene Therapy Bioanalysis and Biomarker Working Group. She was named an AAPS Fellow in 2022.

“Dr Vibha Jawa is an accomplished scientist with a keen mind and outstanding leadership skills. She has achieved remarkable success in the field of biotechnology—an area where few scientists reach such high status—while also remaining deeply committed to mentoring students and colleagues. Vibha manages to lead multi-disciplinary teams and make meaningful contributions to the scientific literature, particularly in biologics, gene therapies, vaccines, and immunogenicity strategy… Vibha’s positive outlook and warm, approachable nature make her a trusted and valued colleague. She is always willing to offer thoughtful advice, share her experiences, and help others navigate their professional journeys. Colleagues often turn to her not only for her scientific expertise but also for her genuine interest in building connections and fostering collaboration. Whether mentoring a student or collaborating with peers, Vibha creates an inclusive and encouraging environment where others feel supported and inspired to grow.”

Weifeng Xu
Senior Scientific Director
Merck (NJ, USA) 

Weifeng began his industrial career at BMS (NY, USA), specializing in the field of neutralizing antibody (NAb) assays for biologics. He then transitioned to Merck, where he established the Cell Assay Group, which focuses on NAb assays for both biologics and vaccines. Throughout his career, he has published multiple influential papers, including the first successful case of a NAb waiver, the first cell-binding NAb assay for antibody-drug conjugates, and the groundbreaking use of LC/MS to optimize immunogenicity assays.

Weifeng also invented and patented two new methods for NAb assays. His most recent method, the PABAD method, has become Merck’s standard NAb assay format due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness, achieved by significantly reducing the need for biotinylated reagents and eliminating the use of expensive magnetic beads. In addition, he co-edited the 2022 book “Bioanalytic Aspects in Biological Therapeutics.”

As an active member of multiple scientific societies, Weifeng contributes to the IQ Consortium and the European and China Bioanalytical Forum. He holds leadership positions as an executive member of the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association-GP and co-chairs the AAPS NAb working group.

At Merck, Weifeng expanded his focus to include cell therapy and vaccines. He co-led the IQ Consortium Cell Therapy Immunogenicity group, which resulted in a published White Paper. He also played a key role in supporting the COVID-19 vaccine and the approval of the 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive. Currently, he leads the Scientific Strategy and Liaison team at Merck’s Regulated Bioanalytics Group, contributing to all scientific discussions within the department, particularly concerning the bioanalytical strategy for antibody drug conjugates.

“It is with utmost pleasure to nominate Dr Weifeng Xu for the 2025 BOSCA. Dr Xu has authored 18 high-impact publications in bioanalytics, accumulating over 300 citations, a testament to his significant contributions to the field. His groundbreaking research includes the first successful utilization of PK, PD and ADA data to waive the need for a standalone NAb assay. This work provided a clear example of interpreting the 2019 FDA Immunogenicity Guidance and stimulated inspirations for a holistic view of bioanalytic data. Weifeng also pioneered the first cell-based binding NAb assay for ADCs, challenged the prevailing view that ‘cell-based assays always provide more relevant in vivo MOA’, and highlighted the limits of cell-based killing assays for ADCs. Moreover, Weifeng developed two novel methods to mitigate drug interference in immunogenicity testing, with his recent innovation, PABAD, eliminating the need for expensive magnetic beads. This method is now Merck’s default assay format and has been recognized by leading pharmaceutical companies and CROs for its reliability and reduced cost. These achievements demonstrate Weifeng’s ability to push the boundaries of bioanalytical science… Weifeng’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of bioanalytical scientists is particularly noteworthy. For the past 5 years, he has been an instructor for a highly regarded short course on overcoming drug tolerance in NAb assays at the Immunogenicity and Bioassay Summit. His active engagement with young scientists at conferences reflects his dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages growth and innovation… Weifeng’s exceptional scientific caliber, active leadership and steadfast commitment to mentorship make him an outstanding candidate for BOSCA.”