Dr. Salz brings with her 6 years of FDA regulatory experience in reviewing the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) information supporting development of cell and gene therapies (CBER/OTAT). She has also an additional 7+ years of experience in cellular & molecular biology, genomics, epigenetic, immunology, and virology.
Dr. Salz came to Dark Horse after 6 years working for the FDA, during which she honed her regulatory experience in reviewing the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) information supporting development of cell and gene therapies (CBER/OTAT). Before that, she spent 7+ years working in cellular & molecular biology, genomics, epigenetic, immunology, and virology.
Tal’s doctoral (University of Florida) and post-doctoral (Johns Hopkins) research was interdisciplinary, with a focus on genomic and epigenetics using wide variety of cellular and molecular techniques, bioinformatics, animal models, viral vectors, and various gene editing tools. Upon completing her post-doctoral training, Tal joined the FDA. Tal began her FDA regulatory career as a Commissioner’s Fellow in CBER, where she spent 2 years as a cell therapy product reviewer in the Cell Therapy Branch and led a regulatory project which focused on product comparability. Dr. Salz then joined the Gene Therapy Branch where she spent an additional 4 years as a gene therapy product reviewer.
During her time at the FDA, Tal reviewed a variety of cell and gene therapy products at all stages of the product lifecycle. She has significant experience with allogeneic and autologous genetically modified cell products such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR Natural Killer (NK) cells, T cell receptor (TCR)-modified T cells, genetically modified Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and CD34 cells, and genome editing products.
She also has experience with reviewing and advising on various regulatory submissions including INTERACTs, pre-INDs, INDs, BLAs, supplements, and designation requests. In addition to reviewing product information, Tal has also been engaged in FDA policy, including FDA guidance writing and international regulatory forums. Tal is a subject matter expert on management of manufacturing changes and product comparability. She advises on approaches to comparability study design and comprehensive submissions of comparability data to the regulatory agency.
FDA
Gene Therapy Reviewer (CMC)
Commissioner’s Fellow and a Cell Therapy CMC Reviewer
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Center for Epigenetics
Postdoctoral Fellow
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Florida
Research Assistant
Public Health Research Institute of NJ
Conducted research in microbiology
While in the Israeli Defense Forces for her mandatory military service, Tal was awarded the “Exceptional Athlete” award, allowing athletes to continue professional sport activities. At the completion of her service, she then spent eight years on the Israeli Women’s National Basketball Team as a division 1 professional basketball player.
University of Florida
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
Bar-Ilan University
Bachelor’s Degree, Biotechnology
