Kabláaw
That is, greetings!
I’m Oliver Cacananta. This space is a window into my gangandat — the work I’m building, supporting, and imagining across science, community, and public purpose. Academic, creative, civic.
Everything rooted in connection.
From regulatory strategy to creative leadership, from academic collaboration to local governance, these are the projects and paths that shape how I show up in the world.
Agyamanak
A view from the Waipi’o Valley lookout (photo courtesy of O.V. Cacananta).
Pasamak
Field notes and dispatches —
Malagipmo kadi? A journal.
Dalan
The roads I am traveling…
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UCSF Investigational Cellular Therapy
My full-time work. Leading regulatory strategy for UCSF and its partners’ cell and gene therapies — from early concepts to first-in-human trials. It’s science, policy, and patient care aligned.
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OVC Insights LLC
My consulting work. One that I started when I was laid off. I advise and execute on regulatory strategy for medical devices, helping innovators navigate complex pathways with clarity and confidence.
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Alameda County Public Health Commission
At-Large Commissioner. Serving on the Strategic Initiatives Committee and Community Engagement working group — helping shape equitable, community-informed health policy.
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GAPA Fund
As a long-time executive board member, I help steward GAPA and GAPA Fund’s legacy of uplifting queer and trans AAPI communities through grantmaking, arts, and grassroots leadership.
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Language, Memory & Voice
I sing. I write. I tell stories rooted in ancestry, imagination, and place — from spearheading Ilokano Wikipedia to performance and family history projects.