ProQR Therapeutics has appointed Chris Hart Chief Data and AI Officer. Hart most recently served as Vice President of Data Science and AI/ML in the Genetic Medicines team at Eli Lilly and Company.

Hart brings more than two decades of experience in computational biology, genomics, AI, and oligonucleotide drug development, including more than 15 years focused on AI/ML-driven optimization of oligonucleotide therapeutics. He previously served as founding CEO of Creyon Bio, where he applied AI and machine learning to oligonucleotide drug discovery.

Before Creyon, Hart spent seven years at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, where he built and led the company’s functional genomics group. He holds a PhD from the California Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral training at Yale University.

As Chief Data and AI Officer, Hart will lead ProQR’s AI strategy and its execution across drug discovery and development. He will connect ProQR’s proprietary data, computational models, and experimental capabilities to accelerate EON design and optimization, strengthen candidate selection, and inform and optimize clinical development.

In a LinkedIn post, Hart shared, “This is a group that has already made great progress, with a platform exceptionally positioned to further accelerate the whole arc, from discovery through molecular design and into clinical science. And, critically, with a steadfast focus on patients and the medicines they need.”