Head of External Innovation China
Merck Serono (Beijing) Pharmaceutical R&D Co., Ltd.
Dr. Chen Chen (Michael) currently works as Head of External Innovation China and APAC for Merck KGaA. Michael leads collaborations with academic institutions and local pharmaceutical companies in China and APAC areas with alignment of Merck R&D focus and requirement. He encompasses scouting and evaluation of external opportunities including assets from discovery to clinical development stages, new drug target/biomarker findings, and novel discovery technologies, through open innovation, licensing, co-development, investment and other collaboration models. He also provides his duties within Merck global BD team for various internalization and externalization opportunities.
Michael received his bachelor degree in cell and molecular biology from University of Essex, a master degree in cancer immunotherapy from University of Nottingham and a PhD in Biochemistry from Imperial College London. Before joining Merck, he has been leading research projects at Spirogen Ltd./MedImmune, and involved in business development/investment activities at WuXi AppTec and ChemPartner.