Rafael Escandón, DrPH, Ph.D.

VP, Clinical Operations and Research Ethics

Rafael re-joined Cytokinetics in June 2026 as Vice President of Clinical Operations and Research Ethics. He first joined the company in 2004 as Cytokinetics’ first clinical operations employee as we prepared for Omacamtiv Mecarbil’s first-in-human clinical trials. Before leaving at the end of 2010, Rafael helped build the development operations function at a time when the company was working across cardiology, oncology and neurology indications simultaneously.

He is a seasoned clinical development executive with decades of biopharmaceutical industry experience. In addition to his corporate leadership, he is a certified clinical ethicist actively involved in teaching. He also contributes to academic research ethics working groups and volunteers as a director on various rare disease patient advocacy non-profit boards.

Rafael’s most recent position was at an independent consultancy he founded focused on clinical development, operations and bioethics in rare pediatric diseases. Rafael also served as Senior Vice President of Development Operations, Patient Advocacy and Medical Affairs at BridgeBio’s Gene Therapy Division.  Prior to that was Vice President of Clinical Development Operations and Patient Advocacy at BioMarin Pharmaceutical. He has contributed to seven approved products in the US and Europe.

Rafael is both an applied cardiovascular physiologist and bioethicist by training. He holds graduate degrees in cardiovascular physiology, public health and bioethics from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and Walden University of Minnesota, respectively. He also completed clinical postdoctoral research in adult heart failure clinical trials at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a graduate certificate in pediatric medical ethics at the Children’s Mercy Bioethics Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rafael is an avid road cyclist, runner, and self-described “groomer skier.” He enjoys exploring the food scene in the Bay Area, attending live music shows, volunteering for human rights-based causes and never tires of the majesty of the Lake Tahoe area. As a former tennis player, he has also picked up a love for pickleball—a passion sparked while living on Bainbridge Island, the sport’s historic birthplace.