Dr. Jeffrey Engelman is a distinguished leader in cancer research and drug development with a career spanning academic medicine and pharmaceutical innovation. He currently serves as Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Treeline Biosciences, a biotechnology company dedicated to creating transformative precision medicines for patients with cancer and other serious conditions. Prior to this, he held the position of Vice President and Global Head of Oncology at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research from June 2016 to April 2021, where he directed the company's global cancer drug discovery portfolio. Before joining Novartis, Dr. Engelman was Director of Thoracic Oncology and Director of Molecular Therapeutics at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He received his MD and PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his clinical training at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Dr. Engelman's groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of targeted therapy resistance mechanisms in lung cancer, particularly through his seminal 2007 Science publication that elucidated how MET amplification drives resistance to EGFR inhibitors. His laboratory's work provided critical insights that directly supported the development and FDA approval of dacomitinib (Vizimpro) as a first-line treatment for patients with EGFR-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Through meticulous studies of response mechanisms and resistance pathways, his research has transformed clinical approaches to managing treatment-resistant cancers. The translational impact of his work is evident in therapeutic strategies now employed worldwide to overcome drug resistance in oncology practice, demonstrating his ability to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with tangible patient benefits.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Engelman has been instrumental in fostering collaborative research environments, as evidenced by his description of the 'very magical time' at Massachusetts General Hospital where interdisciplinary teams worked synergistically on lung cancer therapeutics. His career trajectory reflects a deliberate commitment to bridging the gap between basic scientific discovery and clinical application, moving from academic medicine to pharmaceutical leadership to biotech entrepreneurship. At Treeline Biosciences, he continues to focus on developing innovative cancer therapies in a nimble, science-driven environment that prioritizes patient impact over corporate bureaucracy. Dr. Engelman remains dedicated to advancing precision oncology through a unique blend of deep biological insight, drug discovery expertise, and unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes through targeted therapeutic approaches.
