Kristina Zakurdaeva, MD, PhD
Founder & Chair of the Board,
Foundation for Cancer Research Support
Dr. Zakurdaeva is an accomplished biopharmaceutical professional with an international interdisciplinary background in clinical studies and scientific research, as well as business development.
She holds an M.D. degree in Internal Medicine & Hematology and a Ph.D. in the Genetics of Acute Leukemia.
Upon completion of her training, Kristina worked as a Scientific Advisor for Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb and later headed Oncology and Immunology R&D projects in the Biomed Cluster of the Skolkovo Foundation where she successfully launched the Cancer Center of Excellence.
Subsequently, as a Chief Medical Officer at Gero, a drug discovery company focused on oncology, neurology, and aging, Dr. Zakurdaeva developed and executed clinical strategy for the company’s pipeline.
Further on, she served as a Chief Executive Officer of Incuron, a drug development company in oncology. Kristina’s main goal at Incuron was to accelerate the strategy and move the company’s assets through clinical trials.
In addition, she has served as an external expert at several companies and funds.
Dr. Zakurdaeva is an ASCO mentor and a speaker at clinical trial workshops.
Kristina has authored numerous, recent, peer-reviewed publications and co-authored a scientific discovery in genetics.
Dr. Zakurdaeva continues her research activities in oncology and hematology via collaborations with academia.
In 2017, Kristina created the Foundation for Cancer Research Support in Russia which aims to back research projects in oncology.
Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Foundation Board.