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Kees Melief
Chief Scientific Officer bij ISA Pharmaceuticals
Cornelis "Kees" Melief is a renowned immunologist and the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at ISA Pharmaceuticals, a Dutch biotech company specializing in the development of therapeutic vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases.13
Career Background
Melief's journey in immunology began almost by chance through a student project.1 He built a successful career in academia, becoming a professor at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).4 After retiring from his academic position, Melief co-founded ISA Pharmaceuticals in 2004 and took on the role of CSO.13
Expertise and Contributions
Professor Melief is globally recognized for his expertise in:
- Cancer immunology
- Immunotherapy
- Development of synthetic therapeutic cancer vaccines
His groundbreaking work in these fields has earned him several awards for his discoveries and lifetime contributions to cancer immunology.15
Leadership Style
As CSO, Melief emphasizes the importance of:
- Being well-informed about recent literature
- Awareness of the competitive landscape
- Watching communications from competing companies
- Inspiring scientists with innovative ideas
- Focusing on science-driven approaches
He strongly believes that validating scientific concepts is the best guarantee for a successful biotech company.1
Recognition
Melief's contributions to the field have been widely acknowledged:
- He was selected as a Fellow by the Board of Directors of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).2
- The Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) has honored him for his work.4
Advice for Aspiring CSOs
For those transitioning from academia to a CSO position, Melief advises:
- Believe strongly in the company's technology
- Appreciate the medical need for the product being developed
- Be patient due to regulatory processes and hurdles
- Consider patenting inventions before publishing results1
Kees Melief's career exemplifies the successful transition from academia to industry, combining scientific expertise with commercial acumen in the biotech sector.
