Dr. Ferrara earned his M.D. degree in 1981 from the University of Catania Medical School in Italy. After completing his postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco, he joined Genentech Inc. in 1988. It is there where he spent nearly 25 years working on the isolation, molecular cloning and biological characterization of VEGF-A which resulted in the development of bevacizumab, the first anti-angiogenic agent to be approved by the FDA for cancer therapy. His research also led to the development of ranibizumab, which has been FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple intraocular neovascular disorders. In December 2012, Dr. Ferrara joined the University of California, San Diego as a Distinguished Professor of Pathology, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology & Pharmacology, and Senior Deputy Director for Basic Science of the Moores Cancer Center. He is continuing his research on angiogenesis, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms of resistance and finding additional targets.

Dr. Ferrara has authored over 300 scientific publications. He is also the recipient of numerous scientific awards, including the the Lasker-deBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Champalimaud Vision Award and the Gairdner Foundation Award. Dr. Ferrara is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, USA.

Terms of Appointment: Dec 2017 – Dec 2019