Luciano Rossetti

Luciano Rossetti, M.D., is Flagship Pioneering’s Chief Medical Officer and the Head of Research & Development for Flagship’s Pioneering Medicines Initiative.

Luciano joined Flagship in January 2021, and his leadership brings significant relationships, clinical expertise, and industry insight to both Flagship and Pioneering Medicines. With deep experience in global clinical development, he will provide expert advice and direction on clinical assets and play a pivotal role in ensuring R&D and clinical operations excellence across the Flagship ecosystem. As head of R&D for Pioneering Medicines, he will support Flagship Pioneering’s Executive Partner, Paul Biondi and the Pioneering Medicines Leadership Team in conceiving and building a portfolio of unique medicines sourced from the broad spectrum of scientific platforms within the Flagship ecosystem of companies.

Prior to joining Flagship, he served for six years as Global Head of Research & Development at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, where he led the R&D organization’s rigorous pipeline prioritization; delivered global therapeutic approvals across several cancer indications and in multiple sclerosis; and played a leading role in establishing and directing global strategic alliances. He previously served as Merck & Co. Senior Vice President, late-stage clinical development and before that was in charge of end-to-end R&D strategy across all therapeutic areas as head of Global Scientific Strategy.

Prior to joining Merck & Co. in 2006, Luciano spent 18 years in academic medicine as Professor of Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology and leader of the Diabetes Research & Training Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading journals.

Luciano was a Post-Doctoral Fellow of Rome University Medical School and of Yale University Medical School. He holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the Trieste University Medical School, Italy.