Giulio Draetta

Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD, is a biopharmaceutical executive and scientific leader with deep expertise in oncology R&D, drug discovery, and translational innovation. He previously served as Chief Scientific Officer and Director of MD Anderson’s NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he led laboratory and clinical research and pharmaceutical R&D, shaping institutional strategy, commercialization, and large-scale industry partnerships. Giulio has held senior leadership roles in global pharma, including leading worldwide oncology drug discovery at Pharmacia–Pfizer and Merck, where he advanced multiple therapeutic programs through clinical development and built broad pharma–biotech alliances. He has co-founded several biotechnology companies and serves on numerous boards and scientific advisory committees, providing strategic guidance on pipeline development, portfolio prioritization, and corporate growth. At MD Anderson, he built and managed high-impact academic–industry collaborations that significantly accelerated translational research and contributed to approximately 75% of recent FDA oncology drug approvals. There he also led the Institute for Applied Cancer Science, and played a central role in establishing immuno-oncology, cell therapy, and data science initiatives. Internationally recognized for his scientific discoveries, including the identification of the first mammalian cyclin-dependent kinase, Dr. Draetta is a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization and the Association of American Physicians, and a Fellow of the AACR Academy.