IMGS Alumni Career Panel
Lin Wang, MD, PhD is a board-certified hematology-oncology physician at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, where she has been an attending physician since 2024. She specializes in the diagnosis and management of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, with a strong focus on translational research and clinical trial development.
Dr. Wang earned her MD from Tulane University School of Medicine and her PhD in Cancer Biology and Tumor Immunology from City of Hope National Medical Center. She completed her internal medicine residency and hematology-oncology fellowship at California Pacific Medical Center, and previously served as a Clinical Instructor in Malignant Hematology at the University of California, San Francisco.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Wang has extensive experience in oncology clinical development, having served as a Clinical Fellow at Genentech where she acted as a medical monitor for Phase II clinical trials and contributed to strategic program development. Her research background includes a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley and numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Cancer Research, Blood, Science, and Nature Biotechnology.
Dr. Wang has received multiple honors, including Best Resident of the Year at California Pacific Medical Center, and is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology.
Dr. Jun Wang is Senior Scientific Director at GemPharmatech, where he leads scientific engagement and supports the advancement of preclinical drug discovery through innovative animal models and translational research solutions.
Dr. Wang earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from East China University of Science and Technology before completing his Ph.D. in Developmental Neurobiology at the City of Hope Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral and staff scientist research at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and his research has resulted in more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in Nature and Cell Death & Differentiation.
Building on his academic foundation, Dr. Wang transitioned to the CRO industry, holding scientific leadership positions at Crown Bioscience and Charles River Laboratories. During this time, he directed numerous oncology and immuno-oncology programs utilizing patient-derived xenograft (PDX), cell-derived xenograft (CDX), syngeneic, orthotopic, and humanized mouse models. He also provided strategic guidance on study design, pharmacology, and translational research to academic and pharmaceutical partners.
Since joining GemPharmatech in 2022, Dr. Wang has progressed from Director of Business Development to Director of Scientific Engagement and now serves as Senior Scientific Director. In his current role, he collaborates closely with academic investigators and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate therapeutic development by integrating advanced preclinical models with scientific and translational expertise. His work focuses on bridging basic research and drug development, helping move innovative therapies from discovery toward clinical translation.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Cai M. Roberts is a tenured Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Midwestern University, where he combines cancer research with a strong commitment to educating the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals. His research focuses on two major drivers of cancer mortality, metastasis and drug resistance, with an emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms that connect these processes and identifying new therapeutic strategies to improve cancer treatment.
Dr. Roberts earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, graduating summa cum laude from the University of California, Davis, before pursuing his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the City of Hope Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. During his doctoral training in Dr. Carlotta Glackin’s laboratory, he investigated the role of the transcription factor TWIST in ovarian cancer metastasis and chemotherapy resistance, characterized key protein–protein interactions involved in tumor progression, and contributed to the development of siRNA nanoparticle-based therapeutic approaches. He subsequently completed postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine, where his research expanded to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), DNA damage repair, ovarian cancer stem cells, and p53 biology.
In 2021, Dr. Roberts joined Midwestern University as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and established his independent research laboratory. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2026. His laboratory integrates molecular and cellular biology, gene editing, and translational cancer biology to investigate mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, drug repurposing, and novel anticancer strategies. In addition to leading an active research program, Dr. Roberts teaches pharmacology and cancer biology across multiple professional programs and is dedicated to mentoring students in both the classroom and the laboratory.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Kaniel Cassady is Executive Director in Clinical Sciences at Regeneron. With expertise spanning immunology, translational science, and global clinical development, he is dedicated to advancing novel treatments from early research through clinical evaluation while emphasizing patient-centered trial design.
Dr. Cassady earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the City of Hope Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, under the co-mentorship of Dr. Art Riggs and Dr. Defu Zeng, where his research focused on hematology and immunology. To broaden his expertise in biotechnology and drug development, he subsequently completed a Master of Business and Science at Keck Graduate Institute, integrating scientific training with product development, commercialization, and strategic leadership.
Following his academic training, Dr. Cassady gained experience in translational research and pharmaceutical development through roles at Xinqiao Military Hospital, Pfizer, and bioStrategies Group before joining Regeneron in 2019 as chief of staff of the Hematology Clinical Development Unit. In that role, he helped build the unit's team, processes, and pipeline from six ongoing trials to more than 50 active studies in under five years, spanning pre-IND assets through pivotal programs and culminating in three global approvals.
He has since taken on broader enterprise responsibilities, including leading Regeneron's Regional Medical Directors, a team of ex-U.S. physicians supporting the company's global clinical trials, and serving as scientific lead for the Development Organization's Digital Transformation initiative.
Beyond his scientific leadership, Dr. Cassady is an active mentor and advocate for community engagement. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester & Putnam and has been recognized for his commitment to mentoring students and promoting STEM education.
Contact: [email protected]