Akash Sookdeo is a genome engineer and computational biologist with deep expertise spanning solid tumor oncology, AI-driven protein engineering, CRISPR gene editing, and biotech venture development. He is dedicated to bridging rigorous science with real-world therapeutic and investment impact.

 

Akash received his Ph.D. in Biology from New York University, where he conducted research in the Sanjana Lab at the New York Genome Center. His doctoral work integrated massively parallel CRISPR screens, nanopore sequencing, and machine learning to investigate RNA splicing and cancer biology. He was recognized for his contributions with the Henry M. MacCracken Fellowship and the Charlotte Pann Award for outstanding research.

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Beyond his academic training, Akash has built a strong track record as a scientist-entrepreneur. As co-founder and advisor of multiple early-stage, VC-backed biotechnology companies, he has contributed to biologics discovery programs spanning oncology and rare genetic diseases. He has also served as a Genomics Applications Bioinformatician at Oxford Nanopore Technologies, where he established research partnerships with leading children's hospitals to implement long-read DNA sequencing for newborn disease screening and developed novel single-cell genomics analysis tools for antibody discovery.

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At Atoll, Akash applies his multidisciplinary background to translate cutting-edge biology into actionable insights for investors, founders, and partners across the biotech and life sciences sectors.