Christy Shaffer is a venture partner and managing director of Hatteras Discovery, a seasoned entrepreneur and biotech executive and has more than 20 years of experience in the life science industry. Following her career as a clinical scientist, international project leader and associate director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Burroughs Wellcome Co., Dr. Shaffer joined Inspire Pharmaceuticals as the first, full-time employee. She was responsible for raising over $300m for the company, including taking the company public in 2000.

As president and CEO, Dr. Shaffer grew the company from 20 scientists to nearly 250 employees with current revenues of over $100 million. Under her leadership, Inspire was named as “Best Place to Work for Scientists” by The Scientist Magazine and “Best Place to Work in North Carolina.” She retired from Inspire in March 2010 and has recently played an integral role in the Chancellor’s Innovation Circle to enhance entrepreneurship and innovation across the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus. She has served on numerous boards including the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, the NC Biotechnology Center, NC BIO, the Biotechnology Institute, BIO and PhRMA. She currently serves on the board of trustees for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is a corporate board member for EvoApp and Clinipace, two rapidly-growing companies in Research Triangle Park.

Dr. Shaffer is also the chair of the Foundation Board for the NC School of Science and Mathematics. She was a recent recipient of the Hamner Lifetime Leadership Award at the NC BIOTECH meeting. Dr. Shaffer is a receptor pharmacologist by training, earning her bachelor’s and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Tennessee.