PhRMA Foundation Welcomes Two Board Members

The PhRMA Foundation announced the appointment to its Board of Directors of Dr. John C. Reed, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Innovative Medicine R&D at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and Dr. Donatello Crocetta, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Communities at UCB.

The PhRMA Foundation is a 60-year-old nonprofit that fosters biopharmaceutical innovation and value-driven health care by investing in the frontiers of research. The Foundation catalyzes the careers of promising researchers through competitive, peer-reviewed grants and fellowships.

“With their exceptional leadership experience and deep knowledge of the industry, Dr. Reed and Dr. Crocetta will be instrumental to the PhRMA Foundation’s efforts to support cutting-edge research and the careers of promising early career scientists,” said PhRMA Foundation President Amy M. Miller, PhD. “I look forward to working with them to ensure the Foundation is funding innovative science that has the potential to advance patient health.”

Dr. Reed is a biomedical research leader with a distinguished career across nonprofit, academia, and industry. His mission is to focus J&J’s research and development teams at the intersection of unmet medical need and innovation to change the trajectory of human health. Employing multiple drug modalities, his team works across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiopulmonary, immunology, and neuroscience. He encourages a culture that is fast-paced and open to reimagining how life-saving medicines are discovered, developed, and delivered.

Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson in April 2023, Dr. Reed held executive leadership positions at Sanofi and Roche, serving on their respective executive committees. He previously served as CEO of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (now Sanford Burnham Prebys), where he established multiple therapeutic area-aligned research centers and platform technology centers. Dr. Reed replaces Board member Dr. Aran Maree, MD, who left Johnson & Johnson for a new opportunity. Dr. Reed previously served on the Foundation’s Board when he worked at Sanofi.

“It’s a privilege to rejoin the PhRMA Foundation Board during a transformative time for the industry,” Dr. Reed said. “Investing in future scientific leaders is incredibly important as the research community pursues solutions to some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.”

With over 24 years of health care experience, Dr. Crocetta has dedicated his career to improving patients’ lives. In his current role at UCB, he fosters clinical and medical strategy and oversees the risk-benefit profile of the entire portfolio. As a core member of UCB’s early development governance committees, he is involved in the technical review and validation of interim and topline results of proof of concept and early clinical studies. Dr. Crocetta also leads Medical Affairs, driving therapeutic area strategy, evidence generation, scientific communication, and managed access programs. He collaborates closely with regulatory bodies, scientific institutions, and patient organizations, focusing on transforming outcomes for patients living with immunological, neurological, and rare diseases, and driving equitable access through innovative science and clinical research.

Dr. Crocetta previously held senior roles at Takeda, Shire, and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, overseeing medical and clinical development strategies for multiple therapeutic areas and successfully launching transformative therapies worldwide. Dr. Crocetta replaces Board member Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, MD, PhD, who recently retired from her role as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President at UCB.

“The PhRMA Foundation’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking research and supporting the next generation of scientists aligns deeply with my passion for improving patient health,” Dr. Crocetta said. “I am truly honored to join the esteemed Board and contribute to guiding the Foundation in its vital mission to advance biomedical research. Supporting early-career scientists is crucial for fostering scientific innovation, and I am excited to help drive this impactful work forward.”

View the PhRMA Foundation Board of Directors.