Dr. J. Carl Barrett stands as a preeminent leader in the field of oncology translational medicine with an extensive seventeen-year career dedicated to advancing cancer therapeutics. He currently serves as Vice President and Head of Oncology Translational Medicine at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where he leads a global team responsible for biomarker strategy and translational science initiatives across the oncology portfolio. Prior to his tenure at AstraZeneca, Dr. Barrett held significant leadership positions at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research as VP and Global Head of Biomarkers and Imaging, and at the National Cancer Institute where he served as Founding Director for the Center of Cancer Research. His rich professional journey spans both government and industry sectors, providing him with a unique perspective on the drug development continuum from basic research to clinical application.
Dr. Barrett has established an extraordinary scholarly record with more than six hundred publications that have significantly influenced the field of cancer drug development and biomarker science. His pioneering work in clinical biomarker development has transformed how oncology therapies are evaluated and personalized for patient populations, with his systems biology approaches providing critical insights into therapeutic mechanisms and resistance. At AstraZeneca, he directed a global team of over 250 scientists who supported the development of numerous oncology compounds through strategic biomarker identification and validation. His contributions to translational medicine methodologies have become industry standards, enabling more precise patient selection and improved clinical trial outcomes across multiple therapeutic areas in oncology.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Barrett maintains an influential presence in the broader scientific community through active mentorship and leadership roles that have shaped the careers of countless professionals in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. He recently joined the Scientific Advisory Board of BioAI Health, bringing his translational expertise to advance AI-powered precision medicine applications for patient screening in clinical trials. Driven by a passion for lifelong learning and effective scientific communication, he continues to champion innovative approaches that bridge computational biology with clinical oncology practice. His current research focuses on leveraging comprehensive epigenomic profiling from plasma to inform therapy selection, representing the cutting edge of liquid biopsy technology and its application to personalized cancer treatment.
