Simone (Simon) F.
About Simone (Simon) F.
Simone F. is the Director of Translational Medicine at Kite Pharma, where he leads the Translational Pharmacology team and oversees clinical trials. He has a strong academic background with a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology and extensive experience in drug development and biomarker research.
Current Role at Kite Pharma
Simone F. serves as the Director of Translational Medicine at Kite Pharma, a position held since 2021. In this role, she leads the Translational Pharmacology team, overseeing Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and managing Phase I-III clinical trials. Her focus includes the development of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for CAR T cell therapy, as well as understanding the mechanisms of resistance and toxicity associated with this innovative treatment.
Previous Experience in Drug Development
Prior to her current role, Simone F. worked at The Institute of Cancer Research as a Senior Scientific Officer in Drug Development from 2015 to 2017. She also held the position of Principal Scientist in Translational Medicine at Kite Pharma from 2019 to 2021. Her experience includes a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Davis, where she specialized in Cell Signalling in Lung Diseases from 2009 to 2014, and a research associate role at King's College London in Oncology from 2014 to 2015.
Educational Background
Simone F. completed her Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences with a thesis in Cell Biology at Università degli Studi di Palermo from 1999 to 2005. She further pursued her academic career, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Cell and Developmental Biology from the same institution between 2006 and 2009. Additionally, she served as an Educational Tutor in Life Sciences at Università degli Studi di Palermo for one year in 2007.
Research Contributions
Throughout her career, Simone F. has contributed to the field of oncology and drug development, focusing on the discovery of biomarkers and understanding treatment resistance in CAR T cell therapy. Her work at various research institutions has involved significant contributions to the understanding of drug mechanisms and the development of therapeutic strategies.