Ellen Hukkelhoven

Ellen Hukkelhoven is a scientist-turned-investor who leads biotechnology investing at Perceptive Advisors, a New York–based healthcare investment firm. She joined Perceptive in 2013 as a Senior Analyst, was promoted to Managing Director (2018–2023), and since 2023 has served as Head of Biotechnology Investments (also described as Head of Investment Research). Across these roles she has focused on both public and private development-stage therapeutic companies, spanning Perceptive's public/crossover strategies and its early-stage Perceptive Xontogeny Venture (PXV) funds.

Dr. Hukkelhoven trained as a cancer biologist before moving into finance. She earned a B.A./B.S. in molecular biology and finance from Princeton University, graduating magna cum laude, and a Ph.D. in cancer biology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Her doctoral research included work on tyrosine phosphorylation of the p21 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and pan-cancer genetic analysis. While at MSKCC she founded and built the life-sciences division of InSITE, a graduate fellowship program that helps early-stage companies — an early signal of her orientation toward company-building.

Reflecting her deep involvement with portfolio companies, she holds or has held board and board-observer seats at a number of biotech companies, including MeiraGTx Holdings (director since October 2017), Freenome Holdings, Partner Therapeutics, AavantiBio (director since 2019), Kindbody, and Dynacure (board observer). She is also a member of the Board of Overseers/Advisors of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

• Invests across the capital structure and life cycle of therapeutics companies — from early-stage private venture (via the PXV funds) through crossover rounds and public equities.
• Concentrates on development-stage therapeutic companies with differentiated, often platform-based science (e.g., gene therapy, oncology, precision diagnostics).
• Backs companies where Perceptive can be a long-term, science-literate partner, frequently taking board seats and leading or anchoring financings rather than passive checks.
• Perceptive's venture arm (in partnership with the Xontogeny accelerator) exists specifically to seed and build early-stage biotech startups, giving her the mandate to engage at the seed/Series A stage as well as later rounds.