Kush Parmar

Kush holds an AB in molecular biology and medieval studies from Princeton University, a PhD in experimental pathology from Harvard University, and an MD from Harvard Medical School. 

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During medical school Kush was an NIH-sponsored MD/PhD Physician Scientist Trainee in the joint Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program. He completed clinical clerkships at Mass General & Brigham and Women's Hospitals. His PhD work unveiled a novel paradigm of how blood flow leads to 'healthy' changes in arteries, published in several leading journals. He also attended courses at Harvard Business School in private equity and finance and consulted for a Boston-area oncology startup. At Princeton, Kush worked with Nobel Prize winner Eric F. Wieschaus on his undergraduate thesis in developmental genetics. 

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At Princeton Kush founded a non-profit international development organization, the Cruz Blanca Initiative, which has funded and executed the construction of numerous schools and clinics in the most underserved communities of Mexico.

Kush is a Partner at 5AM Ventures, an early stage, life science-focused venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, CA and Waltham, MA. He has a particular interest in companies developing breakthrough therapeutics and diagnostics for major unmet medical needs. Kush serves as a board director or observer at Achaogen, Arvinas, Audentes, Cleave, Novira, and Pulmatrix, and was previously a board observer for Envoy (acquired by Takeda).

Kush is a member of Class 16 and served his fellowship at 5AM Ventures under the mentorship of Managing Partner, Scott Rocklage, PhD. He now mentors Mira Chaurushiya (Class 21).