Sitta Sittampalam

Dr. G. Sitta Sittampalam is a biomedical scientist, strategist, and translational innovation leader whose work spans industry, government, academia, and nonprofit innovation. He currently serves as an Expert-in-Residence at Digitalis Commons, advising on quantum medicine and quantum sensor applications.

Previously, at NCATS/NIH, Sitta served as Project Manager for Therapeutics for Rare & Neglected Diseases (TRND), where he helped advance two repurposed candidates into clinical trials, and later as Senior Advisor to the Director on Science & Technology, launching initiatives in 3D tissue printing, automated medicinal chemistry, and broader R&D best practices. While at NCATS/NIH, Sitta also established the Assay Guidance Manual, now an internationally used resource for biomedical scientists, and co-founded NewFound, a global open source health research and development hub to advance drug repurposing efforts.

Earlier in his career, Sitta held leadership roles at Eli Lilly, contributing to the development of therapies including Humulin, Humalog, and Humatrope, and later served in faculty and innovation leadership roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Indiana University School of Medicine. He is an NIH Post-doctoral Fellow and received a B.S. at the University of Ceylon, an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry at Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Arizona.

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