Peter Barrett is a partner in the life sciences group and focuses on investments in therapeutics and medical technologies that significantly change the medical management of patients.

At Atlas, Peter has been involved in the creation of several novel therapeutic and drug discovery platform companies.  He is chairman of Zafgen having previously served as acting CEO during its incubation. In addition, Peter incubated Stromedix in Atlas’ offices and was actively involved in building both Alnylam and Momenta Pharmaceuticals, for which he also served on the board. Peter leverages his background in corporate business development to provide strategic and negotiating guidance to his portfolio; he was instrumental in the sales of Stromedix to Biogen and Novamed to SciClone Pharmaceuticals.  He currently serves on the board of SciClone as well as InfaCare, JenaValve, and Vitae Pharmaceuticals, and was previously on the boards of past Atlas companies Sirion Therapeutics (acquired by Alcon and Bausch & Lomb) and Archemix (acquired by Baxter).

Prior to joining Atlas in 2002, Peter was co-founder, executive vice president, and chief business officer of Celera Genomics.  Within two years of its founding, Celera announced the first successful sequencing of the human genome.  Peter helped launch Celera as a publicly traded entity in 1999.  He led Celera’s strategic alliances and acquisitions, and participated in raising nearly $1 billion in capital for the company.

Prior to Celera, Peter held senior management positions at PerkinElmer, most recently serving as vice president, corporate planning and business development.  During his tenure, he expanded the life science business units through a series of licensing agreements, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Peter is currently vice chairman of the advisory council of the Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis at Northeastern University, as well as adjunct professor at the Barnett Institute.  He also serves as president of the Autism Consortium, a non-profit institution, is a member of the research council at Boston Children’s Hospital, and serves on the board of PerkinElmer.

Peter received a BS in chemistry from Lowell Technological Institute (now known as the University of Massachusetts, Lowell), and a PhD in analytical chemistry from Northeastern University.  He also completed Harvard Business School’s Management Development Program.

Outside the office, Peter is a competitive sailor and skier, theater lover, and frustrated actor.