Team Categories: Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Sherman brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience to our advisory board, specializing in regulatory and clinical strategy, and therapeutic development for rare diseases. He received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and completed an internal medicine internship, residency, and chief medical residency at Northwestern University. Dr. Sherman’s fellowship training was at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was also a research associate at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is a board member of a number of professional societies, university programs, and biopharma companies.

Dr. Sherman was Vice President of Clinical Science at Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., and was also Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Executive Vice President at NeoPharm, Inc. At IDM Pharma, Dr. Sherman was the Senior Vice President of Research and Development and CMO. He served as CMO at Horizon Therapeutics, a global biotechnology company focused on medicines for rare, autoimmune, and severe inflammatory diseases which is now part of Amgen, from 2009 to 2023.

Dr. Susan Chang, MD, is a highly respected neuro-oncologist and professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). As Director of the UCSF Division of Neuro-Oncology, Dr. Chang is internationally recognized for her expertise in treating brain tumors, with a focus on gliomas and other primary central nervous system tumors. Her work is at the forefront of advancing personalized therapies for brain cancer patients, integrating cutting-edge clinical research with compassionate patient care. Dr. Chang’s research centers on developing innovative treatment strategies that improve survival and quality of life for brain tumor patients. She leads several clinical trials aimed at understanding the molecular and genetic underpinnings of brain tumors, helping to develop targeted therapies and immunotherapies that provide more effective and less invasive treatment options. She has published extensively in leading medical journals and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences on neuro-oncology.

After earning her medical degree from McGill University in Canada, Dr. Chang completed her residency in internal medicine at Toronto General Hospital and a fellowship in neuro-oncology at UCSF. She is a key leader in numerous professional organizations, including the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), where she has served in various leadership roles, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she contributes to shaping future research in neuro-oncology. In addition to her clinical and research achievements, Dr. Chang is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of neuro-oncologists and researchers. Her dedication to improving patient outcomes, coupled with her leadership in advancing the field of brain cancer treatment, has earned her widespread recognition as a leader in neuro-oncology and a champion for innovation in cancer care.

Dr. Mitchel Berger, MD, is a world-renowned neurosurgeon and scientist specializing in the treatment of brain tumors, with a focus on gliomas. As a leader in neuro-oncology, Dr. Berger is known for his pioneering work in brain mapping and intraoperative techniques that have significantly advanced the precision and safety of brain tumor surgeries. His innovations have helped improve patient outcomes by preserving critical neurological functions during surgery.

Dr. Berger is the Founder and Director of the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he has served as Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery. His distinguished career spans over three decades, during which he has authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and contributed extensively to the advancement of neurosurgical techniques and brain tumor research.

A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Berger completed his residency at UCSF, followed by a fellowship in neuro-oncology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His contributions to the field include the development of advanced brain-mapping technologies and the promotion of multidisciplinary approaches to neuro-oncology, combining surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to provide comprehensive care for brain tumor patients. Dr. Berger’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including leadership roles in national and international neurosurgical organizations, such as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO). He is appointed to the President’s Cancer panel as part of the Cancer Moonshot Program.

Dr. Raj K. Puri, MD, PhD, is a renowned expert in advanced therapies and regulatory affairs with over three decades of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. His distinguished career includes 33 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he served as the Director of the Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) for more than 19 years. In this role, Dr. Puri was instrumental in shaping the regulatory landscape for cell and gene therapies, cancer vaccines, and cellular immunotherapies.

As a Senior Investigator at CBER, Dr. Puri led pioneering research in cancer therapies. His work resulted in the discovery of several receptor-targeted agents for cancer treatment, including IL13-PE38, many of which have advanced to clinical trials. Dr. Puri’s innovative research has led to numerous patents in cancer targeting, with several licensed to biotechnology companies.

In 2022, Dr. Puri joined Iovance Biotherapeutics as Executive Vice President of Regulatory Strategy and Translational Medicine, where he applies his extensive regulatory and research expertise to the development of novel T cell-based cancer immunotherapies. With over 300 published research articles and multiple patents to his name, Dr. Puri brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our advisory board. His unique blend of regulatory insight, scientific acumen, and industry experience makes him an invaluable asset in guiding our company’s strategic direction and advancing our mission.