Elizabeth Gichana

Elizabeth Gichana, PhD, is the Illinois Economic Development Corporation’s Vice President of Life Sciences. Bringing extensive experience in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, she plays a critical role in expanding Illinois’ leadership in life sciences by working with industry stakeholders, investors, and academic institutions to drive new opportunities and strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem.

A trained biophysicist with a strong background in molecular simulations, Gichana previously served as a project leader and consultant at Boston Consulting Group collaborating with C-suite clients from multi-billion-dollar companies, leading cross-functional to meet client deliverables, and conducting in-depth market and organizational assessments in key sectors including biotech and medical technology.

Gichana earned her PhD in Biological Physics from the University of Michigan, and Bachelor of Science in Physics from Radford University.