Rachel Weichao Zhai

Senior Manager, LIVE Ventures at Duke-NUS Medical School

Speaker

Dr. Rachel Weichao Zhai, Ph.D. is a life sciences innovation and investment professional at Duke-NUS Medical School, focused on translating scientific discoveries into investable ventures and commercial opportunities. Her work spans startup incubation, innovation, venture investment, technology commercialization, and strategic partnerships.
Prior to Duke-NUS, Rachel was a Senior Associate at Vertex Ventures and held research and strategy roles at A*STAR spanning biomedical research, precision medicine, and digital health. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, studied at Stanford University, and was awarded an A*STAR Overseas Scholarship for her doctoral training.
Rachel's expertise includes life sciences investment, technology evaluation, commercialization strategy, strategic partnerships and healthcare innovation, with a particular interest in connecting researchers, investors, entrepreneurs and industry to move promising technologies from research toward clinical and commercial impact.