Maria Wurm

Maria J. Wurm, formerly Maria Joao De Jesus, graduated with a degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Lisbon and obtained her PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (1995). Subsequently, she joined the Laboratory of Cellular Biotechnology as a Senior Researcher. During her tenure at the EPFL, Maria invented several innovative approaches to the suspension culture of animal cells and how to improve their performance in protein production and in gene transfer. In 2002, then as a mother of two, and quitting a permanent position, Maria joined as a first and co-founding employee the company ExcellGene SA, Monthey, Switzerland. She was responsible to build a high-quality team and to oversee all activities related to the service and manufacturing of recombinant protein and virus-vector-based pharmaceuticals made in animal cells in bioreactors. With increasing responsibilities over the years and the growth of the company, then Vice President of Process Sciences, Maria joined the Board of Directors of ExcellGene in 2006. Maria was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2009. In 2017 she accepted the position of CEO. Under her leadership, the annual sales of the company have nearly doubled with a solid probability, allowing to expand the service activity and the generation of products. Maria has published more than 40 highly quoted scientific papers and is frequently invited as a speaker on protein expression, scale up and bioreactor technology using animal suspension culture.