Roche Appoints Mark Dawson to Lead Pharma Research and Early Development and Strengthen Innovation Pipeline

Roche Appoints Mark Dawson to Lead Pharma Research and Early Development and Strengthen Innovation Pipeline

(IN BRIEF) Roche has appointed physician-scientist Mark Dawson as Head of Pharma Research and Early Development, effective 1 May 2026, with the role based in Basel and including membership on the Enlarged Corporate Executive Committee. Dawson brings extensive expertise in cancer biology and epigenetics from his leadership at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and academic roles at the University of Melbourne. His internationally recognised research and numerous scientific honours position him to lead Roche’s early-stage innovation efforts and drive the development of next-generation therapies.

(PRESS RELEASE) BASEL, 18-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Roche has announced the appointment of Mark Dawson, M.D., Ph.D., as Head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), effective 1 May 2026. He will be based in Basel and will join the company’s Enlarged Corporate Executive Committee as part of his new responsibilities.

Dawson joins Roche from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where he currently serves as Associate Director of Research. An internationally recognised authority in cancer biology, his research has focused on chromatin regulation and epigenetics, contributing to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underpin cancer development and progression.

Alongside his clinical and scientific leadership roles, Dawson holds a professorship at the University of Melbourne and is an elected member of several prominent scientific bodies, including the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the European Molecular Biology Organisation. His academic and clinical work has earned numerous global distinctions, reflecting a career dedicated to advancing translational medicine and improving patient outcomes.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Melbourne in 1999, Dawson completed specialist training in haematology and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Over the course of his career, he has received major international honours such as the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science as Life Scientist of the Year, the Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, the William Dameshek Prize from the American Society of Hematology and recognition as a Howard Hughes International Research Scholar.

With a background that bridges frontline clinical practice and pioneering research, Dawson is expected to guide Roche’s early-stage research organisation as it advances new therapeutic approaches and strengthens its innovation pipeline.

About Roche
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice.

For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche’s business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045.

Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

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SOURCE: Roche