Balancing Innovation and Practicality in Immuno-Oncology Dose Selection

Dr Gideon Blumenthal is a hematologist oncologist who is currently Vice President, Global Clinical Development in the Asset Development Therapeutic Area of Oncology at Merck. In this role he is the Asset Development Section Head MK-2870 (Sac-TMT) a novel TROP2 ADC as well as MK-1084 (KRAS G12Ci) and MK-1022 (HER3-DxD ADC). Prior to this role Gideon was the Oncology Regulatory Affairs TA Head at Merck, overseeing regulatory strategy for pembrolizumab, belzutifan, olaparib and several other key pipeline assets across Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal, Head and Neck Cancer, and Hematologic Malignancies.Prior to joining Merck in 2020, Dr Blumenthal spent over a decade at the US Food and Drug Administration Oncology office, taking on increasing leadership responsibilities. He initially served as a medical reviewer, then clinical team leader, followed by Acting Deputy Director in the Office of Hematology Oncology Products, and most recently as Deputy Center Director of the Oncology Center for Excellence. Dr Blumenthal trained in internal medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, followed by a hematology oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute. He was an attending physician in the NCI thoracic oncology clinic. He received numerous awards, including the 2018 American Society for Clinical Oncology Public Service Award. He has co-authored over 100 articles in the Oncology and Drug Development peer-reviewed literature and has authored numerous book chapters.

Wim Vos, PhD, is a distinguished researcher and visionary leader in medical imaging, specializing in pneumology and oncology. With executive experience at Fluidda and Radiomics, he has driven advancements in advanced image analysis for these fields. At Fluidda, Dr Vos served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), leading innovative projects that utilized advanced imaging technologies to enhance respiratory disease diagnosis and treatment in pneumology. He later assumed the role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), successfully establishing Fluidda as a key player in pneumology through comprehensive commercial strategies. As CEO of Radiomics for the past four years, Dr Vos has revolutionized precision medicine by applying advanced image analysis techniques to oncology. Radiomics, under his leadership, has made significant strides in early treatment evaluation, treatment response prediction, and patient stratification. Dr Vos's expertise is demonstrated through his publications in reputable scientific journals and active participation in industry conferences. Widely regarded as an esteemed expert, he is sought after for his deep insights into advanced image analysis and its impact on pneumology and oncology. Wim's collaborative approach and effective communication skills have amplified his influence within the industry. Beyond his research and executive roles, Dr Vos is dedicated to fostering the growth of aspiring researchers in medical imaging. He actively engages in mentorship programs, educational initiatives, and scientific collaborations, promoting innovation and knowledge sharing in pneumology and oncology. Dr Vos's exemplary leadership, research contributions, and dedication to leveraging medical imaging for improved patient care have solidified his position as a highly respected figure. He continues to shape the future of advanced image analysis, unlocking new possibilities for precision medicine and transforming disease diagnosis and treatment in pneumology and oncology.

Greg Goldmacher, MD, PhD, MBA has been at Merck since 2015. With his team of physicians and scientists, he oversees imaging and pathology-based endpoints in ~280 clinical trials in oncology and other therapeutic areas. He also leads research in novel approaches to clinical trial imaging, including radiomics, tumor growth kinetics, and novel response criteria. In addition, he supports various business development, data standardization, and educational activities. Prior to Merck, he was a senior medical director and head of oncology imaging at a global CRO, and before that in academia. His clinical training was in diagnostic radiology, along with a PhD and postdoctoral research in neuroscience, and business training in finance.

     Dr. Ryan Sullivan is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Center for Melanoma and Skin Cancer and a member of the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapy at Mass General Cancer Center. Dr. Sullivan is an active clinical and translational investigator whose main areas of interest are the development of novel molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic combinations for malignant melanoma and other solid tumors. More recently, he has been interested in describing, predicting, and optimally treating immune related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibition.

Andrea Ferris came to LUNGevity through the merger with Protect Your Lungs, an organization she and her family started to fund lung cancer research following her mother’s death from lung cancer in 2008.Before the merger, Ms Ferris founded and built Protect Your Lungs, an organization dedicated to funding research into the early detection of lung cancer. Ms Ferriswas instrumental in building PYL’s Scientific Advisory Board and establishing its funding process, both of which followed her to the new LUNGevity organization. In her for-profit career, Ms Ferris has a wealth of management experience. Ms Ferris was the Vice President of Strategy and Growth of Decision Lens, Inc. a company she helped launch in January 2005. Prior to joining Decision Lens, Andrea held a variety of management positions at Johnson & Johnson, including Director of Investor Relations, Manager Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, and Plant Controller. She also spent several years at McNeil Consumer Products, a J&J subsidiary, in marketing and mergers & acquisitions. Prior to her time at J&J, Andrea worked for Lehman Brothers and Coopers & Lybrand in New York City in both Mergers and Acquisitions and as a CPA. Ms Ferris received her BS in Economics from Wharton with concentrations in Accounting, Decision Sciences, and Finance. She received her MBA from Wharton with concentrations in Finance and Latin American Studies. She served on Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center National Committee of Performing Arts and on the Board of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) of Metro DC. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for DC Metro Boys and Girls Club and has worked with the Ronald McDonald House and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.