Christy Shaffer, Ph.D.

A seasoned entrepreneur and biotech executive, Christy Shaffer, Ph.D. has 30 years of experience in the life science industry ranging from clinical scientist and international project leader at Burroughs Wellcome Co. to President and CEO of Inspire Pharmaceuticals. She is currently a General Partner at Hatteras Venture Partners. Dr. Shaffer joined Inspire as its first full-time employee, growing the company from 20 scientists to 250 employees and ultimately raising over $300M for the company, including its IPO in 2000. Under her leadership, Inspire was named as “Best Place to Work for Scientists” by the Scientist magazine, and “Best Place to Work in North Carolina” before her retirement in 2011 and ultimate acquisition by Merck. In addition to serving as Artizan’s Chair, she is a board member of four other Hatteras portfolio companies: Clearside Biomedical, GrayBug Vision (Chair), Trefoil Therapeutics and Perfuse Therapeutics. Dr. Shaffer also serves on several non-profit boards including RTI International, the Chordoma Foundation and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development. She is a receptor pharmacologist by training, earning her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Shaffer received her post-doctoral training at The Chicago Medical School and UNC-Chapel Hill.