Dr. Frank McCormick is a distinguished molecular biologist and internationally recognized leader in cancer research whose pioneering work has transformed the understanding of RAS-driven malignancies. He holds the David A. Wood Distinguished Professorship of Tumor Biology and Cancer Research at the University of California, San Francisco, where he served as Director of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center from its inception in 1997 through 2014. Prior to his academic career, Dr. McCormick held significant leadership positions in the biotechnology industry, serving as Director of Molecular Biology and later Vice President of Research at Cetus Corporation from 1981 to 1991, and as Vice President of Research at Chiron Corporation from 1991 to 1992. In 1992, he founded Onyx Pharmaceuticals, a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel cancer therapies, where he initiated drug discovery programs that would later yield clinically significant treatments.
Dr. McCormick's groundbreaking research has led to the development of multiple FDA-approved cancer therapeutics, most notably Sorafenib, which received approval in 2005 for renal cell carcinoma and in 2007 for hepatocellular carcinoma, and Palbociclib, a CDK4 kinase inhibitor approved for advanced breast cancer. His laboratory's seminal work on Ras proteins, which are mutated in most pancreatic cancers and many colorectal and lung cancers, has provided fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms driving these notoriously difficult-to-treat malignancies. With over 400 scientific publications and more than 20 issued patents, his research has established critical frameworks for understanding how Ras proteins promote cancer stem cell properties, enable metastatic tumor establishment, and confer drug resistance. Dr. McCormick developed innovative experimental systems including the expression of single Ras isoforms in "Ras-less" cellular backgrounds, which have become essential tools for identifying specific biochemical properties of individual Ras proteins.
As a visionary leader in the cancer research community, Dr. McCormick served as President of the American Association for Cancer Research from 2012 to 2013 and has since spearheaded the National Cancer Institute's Ras Initiative at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, coordinating a national effort to develop therapies against Ras-driven cancers. He has been instrumental in building collaborative networks that bridge academic research and pharmaceutical development, fostering partnerships with major cancer-drug development organizations to advance promising compounds through clinical testing. His enduring commitment to translating basic science into clinical applications has positioned him as a pivotal figure in the oncology field, with his work continuing to shape therapeutic approaches for some of the most challenging cancers. In 2025, Dr. McCormick was honored with the inaugural Stephenson Global Prize, recognizing his transformative contributions to understanding and treating RAS-driven cancers that affect millions worldwide.
