Jason Bock, Ph.D.
Vice President and Head of Biologics Product Development
About Dr. Bock
Jason Bock, Ph.D., has spent the last 20 years in small, medium and large biotech and biopharma companies developing biologic therapeutics. He has brought 15 novel drugs through preclinical development into clinical studies, as well as driven three biologics through the clinic to commercialization globally. He is excited to use his experience to build the Biologics Development team within Therapeutics Discovery to synergize the innovative basic research to world-class clinicians at MD Anderson.
Affiliations and Related Links
Fighting Cancer: It's Personal
What’s your Moon Shot focus?
Biologic therapeutics, especially monoclonal antibodies have been revolutionizing the treatment of cancer, especially through immuno-oncology. Now the field of cell therapy is finally at a tipping point and tremendous breakthroughs are within reach. MD Anderson can be a major player in defining this field and I’m excited to help us have the biggest impact we can on patients.
What makes MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program stand out?
Clearly the adjacencies with the basic scientists and translational clinicians are our biggest advantages. By bringing those together with biologics drug development we will create a unique organization with so much potential to impact patients.
What makes your fight against cancer personal?
I have dedicated my life to developing drugs for terrible diseases, including diabetes, severe asthma and chronic migraines, but historically the treatments for cancer are so toxic because the disease is so unyielding. With biologics we have the chance to develop not only more effective treatments, but also less toxic ones that elegantly harness the immune system to treat cancer and potentially cure it.
What do you hope to accomplish?
I’m fascinated to take on this challenge of building a unique organization to take on the opportunities of biologics, especially cell therapies. These are by far the most complicated therapeutics in history, and I believe MD Anderson can be a leader in this field. Not only can we bring numerous, novel products through to patients, but we can also be pioneers in the science of cell therapy drug development.
What motivates and excites you about the work you’re doing?
I’m exhilarated by working with talented, passionate teammates on a difficult challenge where the rewards are tremendous. This summarizes the opportunity we have with biologics as part of MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery team.
What else do you want people to know about you and your work?
I fully believe in the principle that a leader’s main role is to create and hold space for people to do amazing things. I am completely confident that we have all the building blocks and tools as our disposal to truly accomplish those amazing things together.