Philip Ashton-Rickardt is the Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer at BE Therapeutics in Boston, where he focuses on developing engineered cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

He earned his PhD in Molecular Immunology at the University of Edinburgh under Sir Kenneth Murray FRS and completed postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He went on to build a distinguished academic career in immunology, holding professorships at the University of Chicago and Imperial College London.

In 2017, he transitioned to industry, founding Smith Therapeutics to develop CAR-engineered T cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and ALS. He later advanced and facilitated the acquisition of its technology by a clinical-stage Treg company. In 2021, he joined Sigilon Therapeutics as Chief Scientific Officer, leading R&D efforts on shielded, living cell therapies derived from iPSCs for rare, immunological, and neurodegenerative diseases. Following Sigilon’s acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2023, he served as a Senior Scientific Advisor at Flagship Pioneering, supporting early-stage biologics and iPSC-based ventures.

In 2024, he co-founded Halyard Therapeutics as Chief Scientific Officer, focusing on CAR-macrophage therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. In 2025, he joined BE Therapeutics as Managing Director and CSO.

He is driven by curiosity, resilience, and the challenge of building innovative solutions that create meaningful impact. He values continuous learning and steady progress.

Outside of work, he enjoys reading, writing, running, and following Liverpool Football Club.