Syros Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Srinivas Akkaraju, M.D., Ph.D., to the company’s board of directors. Dr. Akkaraju has nearly 20 years of investment and operational experience in the life sciences sector. He is a Founder and Managing General Partner at Samsara BioCapital. Prior to founding Samsara BioCapital, he served as a General Partner of Sofinnova Ventures from April 2013 to June 2016, Managing Director of New Leaf Venture Partners from January 2009 to April 2013, and Managing Director of Panorama Capital, from September 2006 to December 2008. Dr. Akkaraju currently serves as chairman of the board of Versartis and as a director of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Seattle Genetics and aTyr Pharma. Stéphane Bancel did not stand for reelection to the company’s board of directors at the annual stockholders meeting held on June 8, 2017. Dr. Akkaraju was also appointed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.