Seng-Lai "Thomas" Tan, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Developing novel biologics to target and eliminate key drivers of cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Overseeing & managing the peer-review process of submitted manuscriptsContributing to the strategic direction of the section by helping to expand the editorial reviewer board & co-editing and nominating a high-profile Research Topic around an influential scientific theme

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Led the scientific strategy of Bicara’s platform & pipeline products to support clinical development & identify new product opportunitiesManaged an R&D team of 65 scientists & overseeing scientific operations to ensure the organization meets its scientific & product development objectives Represented Bicara alongside the CEO & other members of the Executive Team at meetings with investors, equity analysts & potential industry partnersDeveloped budget & staff projections to support Bicara’s expanding pipeline & multidisciplinary team goalsRecruited and created the Scientific Advisory Board and co-chaired SAB meetings

Advising clients on translational studies to support IND & clinical studiesAnswering diligence questions to support newco formation & reverse mergers

Waltham, Massachusetts, Us

Led all aspects of the immuno-oncology therapeutics discovery & early development process by leveraging the Immunitas single-cell genomics, computational biology & antibody discovery platformProvided support & guidance for IND-enabling activities for IMT-009, lead asset targeting CD161 for cancer immunotherapyBuilt out expertise in antibody discovery & computational biology functions, & implemented in-house translational & biomarker research team Expanded pipeline with three new first-in-class programs via de novo discovery effortsPresented to the company’s Board of Directors & Scientific Advisory Board as well as to external stakeholders & the investment community

Framingham, Massachusetts, Us

Advised client on the early development of MCT1/4 dual inhibitor in immunology & immuno-oncology, leading to successful series ALiaised with CROs in implementation & execution of such projects

Devised and implemented effective strategies to build a portfolio of differentiated and high value projects in immuno-oncologyDefined staffing, equipment and external collaboration needs to build state-of-the art in vitro/in vivo pharmacological and translational science capabilities; currently managing a team of 15 scientistsProvided scientific leadership to enable optimal design of biological, pharmacological, PK/PD and toxicological experiments Supported the analysis of data underpinning progression of discovery programs to first-in-human clinical studiesInterfaced with Protein Engineering, In Vivo Pharmacology and Early Development teams to develop an end-to-end strategy as well as personalized health care/biomarker approach to drug developmentDeveloped and maintained strong working relations with external academic labs and CROs to support R&D effortsRepresented Elstar at board, SAB, VC/business meetings, and scientific conferences

Watertown, Massachusetts, Us

Responsible for formulating and executing discovery and translational biology strategy for FORMA projects in immuno-oncology and inflammatory / autoimmune disease, while expanding capabilities in interrogating rationale immuno-oncology combinationsAccountable for delivery of the pre-clinical pipeline, support of the clinical pipeline and direct input into the Immunology business plansProvided scientific hypotheses, technologies and experimental data needed for translation of disease-relevant biomarkers monitored in vitro to in vivo disease models Delivered novel targets and oversaw programs which delivered lead molecules for portfolio target entry as part of collaboration with Celgene, including a clinical candidate for non-alcoholic steatosis hepatitis (NASH) in less than a yearManaged external collaborations with academic labs at Moffitt Cancer Center, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and CROs to support discovery effortsPresented and presented on behalf of FORMA at board, SAB, joint-steering committee (Celgene, Moffitt and CRUK) and scientific meetingsEvaluation and due diligence of external licensing opportunities Commended by senior management for shoeing exceptional performance and received “All In” Team Award

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Developed cellular assays using primary human cells derived from healthy donors and patient cohorts to support the discovery of NCE and NBE as well as their non-clinical evaluationAdvanced mechanistic understanding and thus proof of confidence of novel therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseaseLed a cross-departmental ‘task force’ aimed to promote synergistic discovery efforts targeting immune tolerance checkpoints using multi-specific antibody approachesExpanded EMD Serono’s cutting edge expertise in multi-parametric immunoprofiling at the single cell level and in humanized mouse modelsIdentified and established external collaborations with key experts/technologies to support the discovery and development of NCE and NBESupervised a team of 15 scientists supporting two large-molecule as well as three small-molecule therapeutic projectsFunction representative on Atacicept Global Project Team; recipient of Merck Serono VALUES Award recognition for contribution Function representative on Biosimilar Working Group, helping to define Merck Serono’s biosimilar policies and internal and external advocacy effortsFunction representative to the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy consortiumFunction representative to eTIP Global Health and Ambassador to Malaria Innovation Platform initiativeIdentified and evaluated in-licensing opportunities

Switzerland 🇨🇭 , Ch

Following the Nutley site closure, I was recruited to provide scientific and strategic consulting to Roche Actemra (anti-IL-6R antibody) Global Medical Affairs. I advised clients in the biopharma industry on early research and development projects. My task is to coordinate with CROs in implementation and execution of several projects. I was involved in preparation and presentation of scientific data to KOLs and SABs.

Switzerland 🇨🇭 , Ch

Performed planning for the drug discovery group, including reviewing and selecting portfolio projects, identifying in-licensing opportunities, and providing input on department budget and lab safety issues Involved in preparing Investigator’s Brochure and other related documents for IND submission and presentations to Scientific Advisory Board as well as internal governance and strategic committeesDeveloped internal proprietary as well as stapled peptide therapeutics (via collaboration with Aileron) targeting IRF5 dimerization for macrophage reprogramingLed the coordination with Baylor Institute of Immunology Research to successfully design dendritic cell-based vaccines for induction of antigen-specific immune toleranceRecognized for working as function representative on anti-IL17A antibody clinical team (psoriasis, Th17-driven asthma and lupus nephritis).Identified and validated drug targets for autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis and inflammatory bowel diseaseEstablished effective networks with internal and external stakeholders, and between different functional and/or therapeutic areasIdentified and helped prioritize licensing opportunities

Thousand Oaks, Ca, Us

Managed several projects simultaneously, including small-molecules targeting tumor cell inflammation and apoptosis as well as antibody drug conjugate (ADC) programs, through collaborations with several functional groups, including Lead Discovery, Bioinformatics, Protein Sciences and Structural BiologyData mining analysis of genetic profiling data of diseased samples using bioinformatics tool for identification of novel targets and patient stratificationLab members experimentally assessed the biological role of new targets, implement cell-based and enzyme assays, determine MOA of compounds, identify pharmacodynamics markers of target engagements and in vivo modelsContributed to the evaluation of portfolio projects and in-licensing opportunities

Indianapolis, Indiana, Us

Led discovery efforts to the program sanction of pre-clinical candidates for cancer therapyProposed and served a project leader of the PKC-theta inhibitor program for immune tolerance therapy (multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis); demonstrated a critical role for PKC-theta in regulation of IL-17A productionProvided scientific expertise to inter-departmental multidisciplinary project teams in the virology, cancer, and inflammation research programsLed an innovative drug discovery program focusing on pathway-driven cell-based screensIdentified and validated new drug targets for portfolio entryEstablished and managed critical collaborations with academic researchersMember of Lilly Phenotypic Drug Discovery Initiative and Lilly Lead Generation & Optimization Biology

Indianapolis, In, Us

Liaison to Lilly Biology Academics Contacts CommitteeIdentified critical collaborations/interactions with academic researchersMember of PhD Advisory CommitteesGuest lecturer

Ph.D., Microbiology (Immunology)

Mini-Mba, Biopharmaceutical Innovation