Frank Bennett, Ph.D.
About Frank Bennett, Ph.D.
C. Frank Bennett, Ph.D., is the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, known for his pivotal role in the development of antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents.
Company
C. Frank Bennett, Ph.D., is one of the founding members of Ionis Pharmaceuticals. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing Ionis' technology and expanding the company's drug discovery platform. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Bennett has played a critical role in positioning Ionis as a leader in the field of antisense oligonucleotide research and therapeutics.
Title
Dr. C. Frank Bennett holds the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Ionis Pharmaceuticals. His role entails leading the scientific direction and strategic initiatives of the company, particularly in the area of antisense oligonucleotide research.
Education and Expertise
Dr. Bennett received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He also holds a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Bennett performed postdoctoral research in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at SmithKline and French Laboratories. His expertise lies in antisense oligonucleotides, with over 230 published papers and more than 175 issued patents in the field.
Background
Before joining Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Bennett worked as an associate senior investigator in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at SmithKline and French Laboratories, now GlaxoSmithKline. He has substantial experience in drug discovery and development, particularly in the application of antisense oligonucleotides for treating inflammatory, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.
Achievements
Dr. Bennett has been widely recognized for his contributions to the field of neurology and antisense oligonucleotide research. He is a co-recipient of the 2021 Gabbay Award and the 2019 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for the discovery and development of SPINRAZA (nusinersen). In addition, he received the inaugural Healy Center International Prize for Innovation in ALS, the 2018 HDF Leslie Gehry Brenner Prize for Innovation in Science, and the Rainwater Prize for Outstanding Innovation in Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Dr. Bennett's achievements underscore his leadership and commitment to advancing therapeutic options for serious diseases.