Kite Pharma Names UCLA Researcher to Board

Kite Pharma has named Owen N. Witte, M.D., to its board of directors, SoCalTech reports. The founding director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA has been the chairman of the company’s Scientific Advisory Board for the past eight years.

Embark Ventures to Raise $50 Million Venture Capital Fund

Embark Ventures is raising a $50 million venture capital fund, SoCalTech reports. The L.A.-based venture capital fund focuses on preseed and seed-stage investments in internet and software companies. Led by Yipeng Zhao and Peter Lee, Embark has already raised $45 million for the fund from six limited partners.