Our advisory team includes leading experts in cancer drug development with deep experience across the life sciences industry. In collaboration with our academic partners, they bring a shared commitment to advancing innovative research and guiding the development of new therapies that aim to improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients.
Howard A. “Skip” Burris III, M.D., FACP, FASCO, established the first community-based phase I drug development program in Nashville in 1997, which became Sarah Cannon Research Institute where he has led the first-in-human studies for many now-approved drugs that have changed the standard of care for several types of cancers. Dr. Burris is President of Clinical Operations and Chief Medical Officer for Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare. He is an associate of Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, where he practices medical oncology. Dr. Burris completed his undergraduate education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, his medical degree at the University of South Alabama, and his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Dr. Burris has been an ASCO member for nearly 30 years and currently serves as the society’s president. His volunteer roles include member of the ASCO Board of Directors and ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation Board of Directors, chair of the Cancer Research Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Research Community Forum Council, and co-chair of the Ethics Committee. His committee memberships have included the Cancer Education, Scientific Program, Audit, and Sponsorship Committees, among others. Dr. Burris was named a Fellow of ASCO (FASCO) in 2010.
Dr. Leonard E. Post has over 30 years of experience in all stages of pharmaceutical and biotechnology company R&D from early drug discovery through clinical development and FDA approval. During his industry career, he has led numerous programs that have resulted in multiple clinical candidates across various therapeutic areas.
Dr. Post currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Vivace Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Post is an Independent Director at Cold Genesys, Inc. since October 22, 2018. He served as the Chief Scientific Officer of BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. since 2010 and served as its Vice President of Research. Dr. Post serves as a Scientific Advisor of Ambit Biosciences Corporation. He serves as Executive in Residence at Canaan Partners since 2010. He served as an Executive Advisor at Talu Ventures Pty Ltd. (also known as CM Capital Investments Pty Ltd.) since 2006 and also served as its Life Sciences Advisor. Dr. Post provides advice and expertise in drug and clinical development. He was the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at LEAD Therapeutics, Inc. He served as the Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from July 2000 to December 31, 2005 and also served as its Consultant. He served as Consultant of BioVex, Inc. Dr. Post was responsible for the co-development (50:50 with Bayer) of Nexavar from IND through FDA approval for renal cell carcinoma at Onyx. Prior to joining Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2000, he served in various management positions at the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division of Warner-Lambert Company, from 1991 to July 2000, including Vice President of Discovery Research from June 1997 to December 1999 and Vice President of Biologicals from January 2000 to July 2000. Prior to Warner-Lambert, Dr. Post spent 10 years at The Upjohn Company in various scientific and management positions including Director of Infectious Disease Research. Dr. Post served as the Chairman of Scientific Advisory Board of Pathway Therapeutics and Altiris Therapeutics, Inc. and serves as its Director and Member of Scientific Advisory Board. He serves as the Chairman and Director of the SAB for Altiris Pharmaceuticals. He serves as a Director of Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc. He serves as a member of the board of directors at Vivace Therapeutics Inc. He served as a Non-Executive Director at Viralytics Limited since November 21, 2011 until June 20, 2018. He has been Member of DDR Advisory Committee at Sierra Oncology, Inc since August 15, 2017. He serves as a Member of Scientific Advisory Board at PNP Therapeutics, Inc. He served as a Director of LEAD Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Post served as a Director of Praecis Pharmaceuticals Inc. since September 12, 2003. He served as Director of BioVex Group, Inc., and BioVex, Inc. since September 2007 and was also its consultant. Dr. Post served as a member of Drug Assessment Board of VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1993 to June 2000, he served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison after which he performed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Virology at the University of Chicago.
During his career, Dr. Brown has been involved in the discovery and development of multiple FDA-approved cancer therapies. He currently serves as a member of the National Brain Tumor Society Research Roundtable, as a consultant to DelMar Pharmaceuticals, as Chairman of Mountain View Pharmaceutical’s Board of Directors and is the President of Valent Technologies LLC, which has been involved in the discovery of Edison Oncology’s drug candidates.
He also previously served as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard University Medical School and as a Research Associate in Radiology at Stanford University Medical School. He received his B.A. in Biology and Chemistry (1971), M.S. in Cell Biology (1975) and Ph.D. in Radiation and Cancer Biology (1979), all from New York University. Dr. Brown is an inventor of more than 40 issued U.S. patents and applications, many with foreign counterparts.
Dr. Brastianos is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Central Nervous System Metastasis Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her main research objectives are to investigate molecular drivers and to find new therapeutic targets for the treatment of brain metastases and other brain tumors. Her work in meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas and brain metastases has led to several multicenter clinical trials in humans. She also directs a multidisciplinary brain metastasis clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr.Shen is co-inventor of our EO1000 and EO2000 series of product candidates. He has more than 20 years of drug discovery and project management experiences in large pharmaceutical companies such as Abbott, Amgen, Sunesis and KanionUSA and currently serves as chief executive officer of Viva Vision Biotech. He is the principle inventor of Lifitegrast (SAR1118), a potent LFA-1 inhibitor, approved by FDA to treat dry eye disease. Dr. Shen made important contributions to the development of to Venetoclax (ABT-199/GDC-0199), a selective BCL-2 inhibitor, approved by FDA in 2016 to treat certain types of leukemia. He is the co-author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications and co-inventor of over 40 patents.
Dr. Shen received his B.S. in chemistry from Fudan University and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh with Professor Dennis P. Curran and received his postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center under the direction of Prof. Samuel J. Danishefsky.
During his career, Dr. Brown has been involved in the discovery and development of multiple FDA-approved cancer therapies. He currently serves as a member of the National Brain Tumor Society Research Roundtable, as a consultant to DelMar Pharmaceuticals, as Chairman of Mountain View Pharmaceutical’s Board of Directors and is the President of Valent Technologies LLC, which has been involved in the discovery of Edison Oncology’s drug candidates.
He also previously served as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard University Medical School and as a Research Associate in Radiology at Stanford University Medical School. He received his B.A. in Biology and Chemistry (1971), M.S. in Cell Biology (1975) and Ph.D. in Radiation and Cancer Biology (1979), all from New York University. Dr. Brown is an inventor of more than 40 issued U.S. patents and applications, many with foreign counterparts.
John K. Bell serves as lead independent director and chair of the audit committee.
Mr. Bell is the founder of Shred-Tech Ltd. and Polymer Technologies, Inc., John K. Bell is a businessperson who has been the head of 15 different companies and presently is Chairman at CrossChasm Technologies, Inc., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Onbelay Investment Corp., Chairman for Stack Capital Group, Inc., lead independent director of Edison Oncology Holding Corp., and Director & Governor at Stratford Festival. He is also on the board of Stratford Shakespearean Festival of America.
Mr. Bell was a founding investor of Research in Motion (Blackberry) and previously held the position of Director at Canopy Growth Corp. and Chairman of Canopy Rivers Corp. (a subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corp.), Chairman of Waterloo Regional Police Service, Chairman of Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region, Director at RIV Capital, Inc., Chief Executive Officer & Director at ATS Corp., Chief Executive Officer & Owner at Shred-Tech Ltd., Director at BSM Technologies, Inc., Director at BSM Technologies Ltd., Chairman of HEXO Corp., President & Chief Executive Officer of Polymer Technologies, Inc., Chairman of Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Member of Institute of Corporate Directors and Secretary & Director at Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Canada.
John K. Bell received an undergraduate degree from Richard Ivey School of Business.
