Diversity in Life Sciences

Cherié Butts is a cellular immunologist currently leading clinical development activities for multiple sclerosis trials at Biogen (Cambridge, MA). She obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. Her pre-doctoral studies at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center characterized anti-tumor immune responses in ovarian cancer patients and postdoctoral studies at the National Institutes of Health examined neuroendocrine regulation of innate immunity. She continued this work at the US Food & Drug Administration, taking on additional responsibilities of evaluating drug and biologics applications. She moved into program management at Biogen, initially in immunology and later leading pre-clinical programs across all therapeutic areas (hematology, immunology, fibrosis, and neurology). She transitioned to portfolio management, driving therapeutic and disease area strategy for the Neuroimmunology & Acute Neurology group and helping scientists and clinicians appreciate how assets address a specific unmet medical need for patients with debilitating conditions. She most recently served on the Portfolio Transformation team at Biogen, leading the probability of success theme and team learning & health initiative.

She is passionate about the furtherance of biomedical research and works with professional societies, scientific and professional development organizations, and biomedical research institutions. She currently serves on the Board of Overseers and Research Affairs Oversight Committee of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Board of Directors of Keystone Symposia; Board of Trustees at Salem State University; Council of the Society of Leukocyte Biology; and is Adjunct Professor at University of Maryland.