Venture Investment and Partnership (VIP) Forum with Johnson & Johnson

Eka Kortkhonjia, Ph.D., M.S., is a Senior Director of Transactions at Johnson & Johnson, where she leads strategic partnering efforts aimed at advancing transformative innovation across the company’s priority therapeutic areas. In her role, she is responsible for evaluating external scientific opportunities and structuring strategic transactions that support the company’s long-term R&D and portfolio objectives.

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Eka spent more than 13 years at Genentech/Roche in roles of increasing responsibility across Pharma Partnering, Biomarker Development, and Investor Relations. Her experience spans end-to-end partnering strategy, biomarker and translational program leadership, and communication of scientific and business priorities to investors and external stakeholders. Throughout her career, Eka has built a strong track record of integrating science, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration to support innovation from discovery to development.

Before transitioning into industry leadership roles, Eka completed postdoctoral training at both the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Genentech. During this time, she conducted research at the intersection of biophysics, structural biology, and translational science, contributing to a deeper understanding of complex biological systems.

Eka holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology and an M.S. in Biophysics.

Yeva Shan, Ph.D. is Director of External Innovation in R&D Data, Data Science & AI at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. She leads efforts to identify and advance emerging AI- and data-driven innovations across biotech, academia, and the broader technology ecosystem. Her work focuses on predictive biology, generative AI–enabled science, and strategic partnerships that translate cutting-edge research into impactful applications for drug discovery and development.

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Shan advised life sciences organizations on AI strategy and partnerships. She began her career as a molecular biologist, bringing a strong scientific foundation to her work at the intersection of data, technology, and innovation.