SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Doriano Fabbro
Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of PIQUR Therapeutics AG
Dr. Fabbro started his career as Group Leader in the Molecular Tumor Biology Unit of the University of Basel (1979-1991) working mainly on the mechanisms of activation of PKC as well as on prognostic markers for breast cancer. In 1991, he joined the Pharmaceuticals Research of Ciba-Geigy Basel, first as a Group Leader in the department of Oncology, which then led to the successful discovery of Midostaurin (PKC412) and Glivec (STI571). In 1994, as Indication Area Head Oncology, he directed research on inhibitors of various kinases, SH2, p53/hdm2, and antisense projects in collaboration with ISIS Pharmaceuticals. Following the merger of Ciba-Geigy with Sandoz to form Novartis in 1996, he actively contributed as member of the integration team Oncology to forge the Novartis and later the NIBR Onocology Research (as it is today), where he was responsible for the preclinical world-wide drug discovery efforts focusing on ATP-dependent enzymes (protein kinases and ATPases), as well as MT stabilizing agents like EPO906 (Patupilone, Phase III) and from 2004 to 2005 he served as Head of Signaling Pathways in the Oncology Research of NIBR. In 2006, Dr Fabbro, implement the kinase platform at NIBR, where he served as head of the Kinase Biology Unit of the EPK until 2012. During his pharmaceutical drug discovery career he has contributed amongst significantly to the discovery and development of various protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, including various preclinical and clinical candidates, including the PI3K inhibitors (BEZ235, BKM120 and BYL719 in Phase I-III clinical trials) PTK787 (Vatalinib, Phase-III clinical trial), PKC412 (Midostaurin, Phase III clinical trial), and was involved in the the launch of compounds like RAD001 (Everolimus), STI571 (Imatinib, Glivec) and AMN107 (Nilotinib, Tasigna). In 2013, D. Fabbro joined PIQUR Therapeutics AG, Basel, as Chief Scientific Officer.
Dr. Gordon B. Mills
Ph.D., Chair of Systems Biology, Professor of Medicine and Immunology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Gordon B. Mills earned his M.D. and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and completed his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alberta. Dr. Mills is currently chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Co-Director of the Kleberg Center for Molecular Markers and holds the Olga Keith Wiess Distinguished University Chair for Cancer Research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Mills’ research interests include using genomics and molecular markers to track the initiation, progression and management of cancer, lysolipid growth factors in cancer and endocytic recycling, bioenergetics and autophagy. Dr. Mills has more than 500 publications in high impact journals including Nature, Cell, Oncogene, Nature Genetics, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Cancer Reviews, Cancer Research, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Clinical Cancer Research. As a testament to the quality of his research, Dr. Mills’ work in ovarian cancer, breast cancer and tumor immunology has been continuously funded by major peer-reviewed grants for over 25 years. Dr. Mills is also the holder of more than 20 patents related to novel technologies and molecular markers. He was a co-founder of an early diagnostics company. Dr. Mills currently sits on the scientific advisory boards of multiple companies and venture capital groups. Based on his expertise in technology development, he was the founding chair of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Technology Review Committee.
Dr. Karen Gelmon
MD, Professor of Medicine, UBC and Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency
Dr. Karen Gelmon is Co-Chair of the Breast Site Committee for the NCIC Clinical Trials Group and a member of the NCI Breast Steering Committee and of the BIG (Breast International Group) Advisory Group. She sits on the NCIC-CTG IND executive and is a past chair of this committee. Dr. Gelmon is a clinical leader of Advanced Therapeutics department at the BC Cancer Agency. She sits on the international advisory board of The Lancet, The Lancet Oncology, The Oncologist and Clinical Breast Cancer. Dr. Gelmon is a reviewer for journals and grant review panels and recently has become a member of the scientific advisory council for the Susan Komen Foundation. She has been track chair for breast cancer at ASCO and currently sits on the education committee. Dr. Gelmon is an active teacher interested in education of health care professionals and the public and has published extensively. She has been a member of the board of the BC Cancer Foundation, on the medical advisory board of the BC/Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. She also sits on the board of Rethink Breast Cancer. Dr. Gelmon was the recipient of a YWCA Woman of Distinction award in 2003.
Dr. Marc Lang
Ph.D., Head of Medicinal Chemistry at PIQUR Therapeutics AG
Dr. Lang has more than 30 years of experience in medicinal chemistry of which he has spent 20 years in the field of Oncology and Immunology. Dr. Lang has contributed to three multi-billion Novartis drugs on the market (Femara®, Reyataz® and Tasigna®), and five promising drug candidates in clinical trials. Until October 2012, he was Head of Medicinal Chemistry for Oncology research programs at Novartis Pharma AG.
Dr. Shoukat Dedhar
Ph.D., Distinguished Scientist, Genetics Unit, Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre
Dr. Dedhar is a world expert in cancer biology and cell adhesion mechanisms and signal transduction with expertise in in vivo models of invasion and metastasis. With more than 30 years of experience in cancer research, Dr Dedhar has authored more than 170 publications in the cancer field and holds a number of patents. His projects have received significant funding from CIHR, CBRCA, and CCSRI. Dr Dedhar is the discoverer of Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), a major target for cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. He is also the discoverer of the enzyme target, CAIX, used in SLC’s hypoxia anticancer drug development program. He currently holds the position of Distinguished Scientist – Genetics Unit, Integrative Oncology at the BC Cancer Research Centre.
Dr. Claudiu Supuran, Ph.D
Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence
Dr. Supuran is a world renowned medicinal chemist and has 22 years of research experience with projects financed by the EU and many private drug companies. He is a world expert on the chemistry of the hypoxia CAIX anticancer drug program inhibitors and activators. Dr. Supuran is co-author on more than 670 scientific publications and patents. He currently holds the position of Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence.