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.