Francis Burrows, Ph.D.

Francis Burrows, Ph.D., is a drug discovery and development scientist with over twenty years’ experience in small and large biotech companies. He joined Kura Oncology in 2015 and serves as Chief Scientific Officer and head of Translational Research. Throughout his career, he has focused on the biology of disease, primarily cancer, and the discovery, characterization and development of small molecule drugs. Dr. Burrows has founded two biotech startups, one of which, Conforma Therapeutics, was acquired by Biogen in 2006. As Senior Director of Oncology Discovery at Biogen, he was responsible for one clinical, two preclinical and four discovery programs and also initiated efforts to use Hsp90 inhibitors in neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions. In 2008, he founded Aarden Pharmaceuticals, and in 2009 he also took on the role of Head of Oncology Biology at Tragara Pharmaceuticals. He earned his Ph.D. in immunology and completed his training in London and Dallas working on antibody-based therapeutics for cancer.