Richard Klausner

Richard Klausner is a distinguished figure in the biotechnology and health sectors, currently serving as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Scientist of Altos Labs. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Lyell Immunopharma, Inc., and the President of the Milky Way Research Foundation. Additionally, Klausner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Milky Way Investments, and has founded and directed Juno Therapeutics and GRAIL. He holds the position of Chairman at Sonoma Biotherapeutics. Previously, Klausner was the Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Opportunity Officer of Illumina Corporation, and served as the Executive Director for Global Health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Appointed by Presidents Clinton and Bush, he was the eleventh Director of the US National Cancer Institute from 1995 to 2001. Klausner has also served as chief of the Cell Biology and Metabolism Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and was a past president of the American Society of Clinical Investigation. His expertise has been sought in senior advisory roles by the US, Norwegian, Qatari, and Indian governments.