Founders at Work: Synthetic Design Lab

A pioneer in the field of cancer immunotherapy and protein engineering and co-author of the Cancer Immunity Cycle, Dr. Chen is an experienced physician-scientist, key opinion leader, drug developer, and entrepreneur. Prior to founding Synthetic Design Lab, Dr. Chen spent over a decade at Genentech, as Vice President and Global Head of Cancer Immunotherapy Development, where he focused on development of immune modulatory, anti-angiogenic, and ADCs as targeted therapies and their accompanying diagnostic tools. This included leading clinical development for atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ), the first approved PD-L1 inhibitor, from pre-IND to clinical trials and commercialization. Dr. Chen then joined IGM Biosciences as Chief Medical Officer, developing novel engineered multivalent and multispecific therapeutics and overseeing the company’s growth from a small 25-person team to one of the most successful IPOs of 2019. He is also a founding partner of Genesis BioCapital and founder of Bionic Medicines. Dr. Chen received a B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his M.D. and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Southern California, and conducted his residency, oncology fellowship, and postdoctoral work at Stanford University. He also serves the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) as Immuno-Engineering Co-Chair, previously completed his term on the Board of Directors, and is on the Board of the Protein & Antibody Engineering Summit (PEGS BOSTON 2025). About Founders at Work:This monthly seminar series alternates between our San Francisco and San Carlos locations and showcases a distinguished current resident or alumnus from our community. These sessions are designed to provide early-stage founders with real-world advice, practical strategies, and inspiring stories from those who’ve navigated the entrepreneurial journey successfully.This event is open to the public. Please be sure to register to reserve your spot!