Dr Perry Nisen has left his senior role at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to become CEO of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in California.
Dr Nisen was senior VP, science and innovation at GSK. Based in Pennsylvania he provided scientific and medical leadership, counsel, and governance to GSK at a global level.
He now heads up one of the world’s most prestigious research organisations as it commences its 10-year strategic vision to more quickly translate basic research discoveries into novel treatments that improve human health.
Dr Nisen’s experience at a pharma company will be crucial as Sanford-Burnham looks to “expand its efforts to cross the traditional boundary between academic research and commercialisation,” said Gregory Lucier, chairman of Sanford-Burnham’s board of trustees.
Sanford-Burnham is looking to capitalise on pharma’s changing research model as companies downsize and outsource early-stage discovery and take a more open innovation approach.
“Sanford-Burnham’s agile structure, no-barriers science, and partnership approach are key drivers of innovation and are extremely attractive to me,” said Dr Nisen.
The Institute has been led by Dr Kristiina Vuori on an interim basis since the departure of former CEO John Reed in early 2013. In contrast to Dr Perry Nisen, Dr Reed left Sanford-Burnham to join the pharma industry as head of research and early development at Roche.
Dr Vuori commented on her successor: “Given Dr Nisen’s extensive experience in target-to-market development of medicines, he is exceptionally well suited to lead the Institute and the implementation of our strategic vision.”