Wenru Song, MD, PhD
Immediate Past Chair (2022 - 2024)
Dr. Song is the co-founder, President and Head of R&D of Kira Pharmaceuticals, a new biotech startup based on cutting-edge immunological sciences. Dr. Song was most recently as the global VP and global clinical leader of Immuno-Oncology development at AstraZeneca Global Medicines. Previously, Dr. Song was the Head of Regional Oncology Development in Asia-Pacific at Millennium/Takeda Oncology, and global clinical lead at Pfizer Immuno-oncology. Prior to joining the pharma-industry, he was an associate investigator at Baylor Institute of Immunology Research and an attending oncologist physician at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center. He studied Medicine and PhD in Immunology, with clinical training in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine and medical oncology fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Song is board-certified in medical oncology and internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Song has extensive experience and track record in translational and clinical research in immuno-oncology both in academia and industry. Dr. Song is also very active in community services and professional organizations. He is a founding board member, the past-president and past Board Chair of the Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON), a former member of the Ad Hoc Committee on International Outreach of ASH, a former member of Career Development Committee and the International Affairs Committee of ASCO, a former member of the NCI's Immune Response Modifier Pathway Prioritization Working Group. He currently serves in the Executive Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), the Industry Council and Immune Biomarker Taskforce of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and the ASH Foundation Committee. With the unique leadership role over the years serving at ASCO, ASH, SITC, CSCO, and CAHON, Dr. Song has been passionate in serving CAHON and promoting CAHON’s missions.