Dorna Pourang

hi, i’m Dorna pourang.

I’m a clinical trial operations and strategy specialist working at the forefront of innovative oncology and advanced next-generation therapeutics. For nearly two decades, I’ve driven multiple therapeutics from first-in-human studies through clinical development and into approval, leading early-phase strategy and results-driven execution across biotech and pharma. My work spans complex biologics, emerging modalities, and global clinical infrastructure, with a focus on building scalable, ethical, and patient-centered trial systems.

Alongside my industry work, I’m passionate about expanding access to evidence-based mental health treatments. This includes helping establish the first psychedelic-assisted therapy program for veterans with PTSD within the VA hospital system and consulting across early regulatory and health-equity frameworks in the field. Above all, I’m committed to innovative, patient-centered care models that ensure breakthrough science reaches the patients who need it most.

PUBLICATIONS

AFM24 in Combination with autologous nk cells (snk01) in patients with advanced/metastatic epidermal growth factor (EGFR) expressing solid tumors: initial results from the Phase 1 dose Escalation Study. el-khoueiry a, olson d, thomas j, pearson a, rubel j, pourang d, et al. asco breakthrough (2023).

the combination of cd16a/egfr innate cell engager, afm24, with snk01 autologous natural killer cells in patients with advanced solid tumors. el-khoueiry a, song p, rubel j, pourang d, et al. asco annual meeting (2022).

microcannula utilization for injectable facial fillers: standard of care? karimi k., griffiths c., reivitis a., davis-hunter a., zhang e., pourang d. ajcm (2018)

Preoperative Chronic or Acute Purulent Sinusitis Is Not Associated with the Development of Post Operative Meningitis in Endonasal Skull Base Surgery. Griffiths C, Barkhoudarian G, Karimi K, Carrau R, Kassam A, Yost S, Pourang D, Kelly DF. Journal of Neurological Surgery Vol 75 (2014)

The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/Angiogenesis-(1-7)/Mas Axis Confers Cardiopulmonary Protection against Lung Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension Shenoy S, Judge S, Ferreira AJ, Qi Y, Fraga-Silva RA, Diez-Freire C, Dooies A, Jun JY, Sriramula S, Mariappan N, Pourang D, Venugopal CS, Francis J, Reudelhuber T, Stantos RA, Patel JM, Raizada MK, Katovich MJ. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 192 Issue 8 (2010) 1075-1072.(2010)

Clinical Outcomes of Melanoma Brain Metastases: Surgery in the Ipilumumab Era. Barkhoudarian G., Deutch G, Yost S, Duong HT, Chaloner C, Eisenberg A, Boasberg P, Faries MB, Hamid O, Pourang D, Kelly DF. (Submission pending)

Writing

Healing Traumatic Brain Injuries with Psychedelics

The Potential of Candy Flipping

Rethinking the Road to Recovery: How the Psychedelic Renaissance May Help Us Rethink Substance Use

PRESS

Mental Health is a Mosaic and Your Treatment Should be Too
Trends with Benefits Podcast

What Psychedelic Researchers Are Learning About Mental Health
Trends with Benefits

MUD/WTR's Psychedelics Advisor: Dorna Pourang
MUD\WTR

How pro surfer Koa Smith overcame depression and trauma with psychedelic mushrooms: “I never slipped back
The Independent

Psychedelics at LA Tech Week
The Argonaut

Psychedelic Series Featuring MAPS Executives
Patch

The Wellness Revolution: Psychedelics Used as Medicine with Dorna Pourang
The Wellness Revolution Podcast

Previous orgs

Astellas Pharma
Agensys
Nuvalent Biotech
Lykos Therapeutics
NKGen Biotech
Biosplice
Journey Colab

FEATURES

“Resurfacing” Premiere Psychedelic Q&A with Koa Smith and Kyle Thiermann

Soho House Psychedelic Speaker Series with Rick Doblin, Natalie Ginsberg, Dustin Robinson, and Joseph McCowan

Soho House Psychedelic Speaker Series with Dorna Pourang, Rick Doblin, Natalie Ginsberg, Dustin Robinson, and Joseph McCowan

Psychedelics Panel at LA Tech Week 2022

“Building a Better Industry for Psychedelics” on Into the Multverse Podcast

Education

UCLA

GENERAL SCIENCES

university of florida

B.S. BIOLOGY