He is most proud of bringing six drugs to market for cancer patients, which included seventeen approved indications from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union.
GULPH MILLS, PA, August 27, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Clet Niyikiza, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Niyikiza is a distinguished figure in the field of cancer research and drug development with a career spanning over three decades. He currently serves as the founder and executive chairman of LEAF4Life Inc., a position he has held since 2018. In this role, he evaluates large, complex systems used for space research and aircraft design while also acting as a scientist for medicine development strategies for cancer. His expertise in mathematics and stochastic processes has been instrumental in his professional journey.
In addition to his primary role, Dr. Niyikiza serves as chief executive officer at L.E.A.F. Pharmaceuticals, a firm he founded in 2014. Prior to his current roles, he was the executive vice president of development at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals from 2009 to 2014, where he played a crucial role in advancing the company's oncology pipeline. Before joining Merrimack, he served as vice president and medicine development leader at GlaxoSmithKline from 2005 to 2009. His earlier career includes significant contributions as a Lilly research fellow and global oncology pharmacogenomics leader at Eli Lilly and Company from 1993 to 2005 after beginning his professional journey as a scientist at Syntex Corporation from 1991 to 1993.
Dr. Niyikiza's academic background is equally impressive. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics and statistics from Indiana University Bloomington, and a Master of Science in statistics and applied economics from the African Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics. He attributes his success to the values instilled in him by his mother during his upbringing in Rwanda, East Africa, emphasizing the importance of staying healthy, doing the right thing and contributing positively to society.
Throughout his career, Dr. Niyikiza has been recognized for his groundbreaking work in cancer research and treatment. He is most proud of bringing six drugs to market for cancer patients, which included seventeen approved indications from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union. Additionally, he has developed groundbreaking drugs that have become integral to cancer treatment worldwide, significantly advancing cancer care.
Dr. Niyikiza is an active member of several industry-related organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the C-Change National Forum. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, such as the Health Care Innovator Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2016, Scientist of the Year by the Wall Street Journal and an Innovation Award for a "New Class of Drugs for Cancer" from Greater Philadelphia.
In his personal life, Dr. Niyikiza enjoys building homes for his family, reading and traveling. In addition, he is deeply committed to civic engagement, sponsoring and volunteering at children's hospitals with cancer patients. He remains driven by human values that focus on uplifting others through support, knowledge sharing and developing medicines that improve quality of life.
Looking ahead, Dr. Niyikiza aims to develop new medications for life-threatening diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. He envisions creating a drug with anti-aging properties to help people age gracefully while retaining strength. Additionally, he is keen on developing medications for wartime injuries, recognizing the need for effective treatments for injuries resulting from conflicts throughout the world.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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