Robert is a MD/PhD graduate of the UPenn School of Medicine, who received his clinical training at Massachusetts General Hospital. Following faculty appointments at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania and appointment within the HHMI as an Associate Investigator., Robert joined Merck & Co. where he ran and expanded several basic science laboratories along with a pre-clinical whole animal group and was a member of multiple clinical project teams., He joined Chiron as VP of Pharmacology and Pre-clinical Affairs and a member of the Clinical Development Committee ultimately moving to the Corporate Development group to assist with licensing and M&A efforts. Dr. Johnson joined Kosan Biosciences as the VP of pre-clinical, clinical, and corporate development when Kosan was a pre-IPO platform company and helped build a strong portfolio of oncology drug candidates across Phase 1 to 3 clinical trials along with leading the significant licensing deals. After Kosan became a public company, Dr. Johnson advanced to Chief Medical Officer and ultimately CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. Kosan was subsequently sold to Bristol Myers Squib. Robert is a Trustee for the Hope Fund for Cancer Research and the Chief Medical Officer of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation.