Reflecting on My First Few Weeks as Moderna’s Chief Development Officer

Today kicks off the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, and we are proud to present important Phase 1/2 data on mRNA-4359, our investigational cancer antigen therapy, as a first-line therapy in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic melanoma. mRNA-4359 uniquely encodes epitopes of two common immune escape pathways, PD-L1 and IDO1, with the goal of eliciting antigen-specific T-cell responses that can eventually lead to anti-tumor killing. These early results for mRNA-4359 reinforce our commitment to push forward, learn quickly and continuously improve to bring more effective treatment options to patients.

My career has been shaped by having a front-row seat to two major innovations in cancer care. I have had the privilege of being part of the teams behind the first checkpoint therapy and the first T-cell receptor therapy. These career-defining experiences sparked a longing to continue to be part of truly impactful research and led me to search for that next transformative medicine.

During the launch of the first checkpoint therapy, an industry leader told us that we had “written a new chapter in Goodman & Gilman,” the definitive pharmacology textbook. I believe Moderna is authoring the next chapter. mRNA in oncology is at a similar inflection point: The ability to design, iterate and deliver therapies with precision could open the door to approaches we could not have pursued even a decade ago. This is why I joined Moderna as Chief Development Officer a few weeks ago.

I have learned over the course of my career that pharmacology and biology are intertwined. Unusual response kinetics can inform mechanism of action. On-target adverse events can confirm target engagement. In randomized, Phase 2 or 3 cancer trials, the sum of the patients determine the outcome; whereas in Phase 1, single patients provide clues of activity. I was initially drawn to Moderna based on their individualized neoantigen therapy Phase 2 results, but soon after joining, I started a deep dive into the pipeline programs. I have spent time with the clinical and scientific teams reviewing individual patients and the early signals we are seeing across our oncology portfolio reinforce the promise of mRNA for treating cancer.

At Moderna, we are exploring the power of mRNA technology across a broad range of indications and settings, from early-stage disease to metastatic settings, and have a clinical pipeline designed to address cancer from multiple angles: individualized therapies, antigen therapies, T-cell engagers and cell therapy enhancers. This diversified strategy reflects a core belief that cancer is not a single disease and will not be solved with a single solution. The aspirations are bold but we are certainly up for the challenge.

Since joining Moderna, what has struck me most is not just the science – although it is extraordinary. It is the mindset of our team. There is a shared urgency, a willingness to challenge convention, and a culture that empowers teams to operate with rigor, purpose and appropriate risk. In oncology, where patients are waiting, that combination matters. Behind every data point is a person—someone hoping for more time, better outcomes, or a treatment option with less side effects.

It is a privilege to be part of this dedicated team. We are still at the beginning of writing this new chapter, but the direction is clear: to bring forward a new generation of therapies that are more precise, more adaptable, and ultimately more impactful for patients living with cancer.