Physician Richard Buller, Vice President of Oncology Clinical Development at Pfizer, selected for the 2016 UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry Alumni Award.
Dr. Buller will accept the award and present his commencement address titled “Is It Really Serendipity?” at the UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry graduation ceremony on June 11, 2016 in the Court of Sciences.
Biography: Dr. Rich Buller, B.S., chemistry, UCLA (‘71); Ph.D., cell biology and M.D., Baylor College of Medicine (‘76,’77), has had a career in the private practice of Obstetrics & Gynecology, followed by a fellowship in gynecologic oncology, UC Irvine (‘88-‘90), and a move to academia as Professor and Head of Gynecologic Oncology & Professor, Pharmacology, at the University of Iowa College Medicine. There, his research focus was on the molecular biology of ovarian cancer as well as conducting clinical trials. As a clinician scientist, with Board Certification in Gynecologic Oncology, Dr. Buller has authored ~150 basic science & clinical publications while mentoring multiple fellows. He has also received numerous awards and honors including multiple year listings in the Guide to America’s Top Physicians prepared by Consumer Research Council of America. In 2004, Dr. Buller joined the pharmaceutical industry to work in clinical development at GlaxoSmithKline and then to lead Translational Medicine at Exelixis before moving to Pfizer as Head of Translational Oncology. Since 2012, he has overseen Oncology Clinical Development (clinical, statistics, and clinical pharmacology). His industry efforts have contributed two companion diagnostics and more than ten new or supplemental drug applications, including Xalkori for Alk+ non-small cell lung cancer and IBRANCE for ER+/HER2- breast cancer. Dr. Buller is married to his high school sweetheart, Cathy, and they are the proud parents of four sons and a daughter.
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To learn more about the Saturday, June 11, 2016 Chemistry and Biochemistry graduation ceremony visit the commencement website.
