Two Pharmaceutical Leaders Join PhRMA Foundation Board
June 23, 2025The PhRMA Foundation announced the appointment to its Board of Directors of Dr. Fiona H. Marshall, PhD, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis, and Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President at Pfizer.
The PhRMA Foundation today announced the appointment to its Board of Directors of Dr. Fiona H. Marshall, PhD, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis, and Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President at Pfizer.
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.
“Dr. Marshall and Dr. Cavazzoni bring extraordinary scientific leadership and regulatory expertise to our Board,” said PhRMA Foundation President Amy M. Miller, PhD. “Their insights will be invaluable as we continue to support the next generation of researchers driving innovation in the biopharmaceutical sciences.”
Dr. Marshall leads a global team of 5,500 scientists and associates across nine Novartis research sites, where she drives the discovery of high-impact medicines. She works across the pipeline — spanning research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization — to ensure the Biomedical Research team’s technological and scientific breakthroughs translate into therapies that address the world’s greatest disease burdens.
Before joining Novartis, she was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Sciences, Preclinical Development, and Translational Medicine at Merck & Co. Prior to that, she co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer of Heptares Therapeutics, a UK-based biotech focused on structure-based drug design. She has also held senior scientific roles at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and GSK. Dr. Marshall previously served on the PhRMA Foundation Board during her time at Merck.
“I’m honored to rejoin the PhRMA Foundation Board and support its mission to foster innovative research and education in the biomedical sciences,” Dr. Marshall said. “The Foundation’s commitment reflects my own dedication to translating scientific discovery into meaningful therapies for patients. I look forward to helping advance the next generation of scientists and innovators through this important work.”
Dr. Cavazzoni is the chief medical officer and executive vice president at Pfizer, where she oversees regulatory, pharmacovigilance, safety, epidemiology, and medical research functions. With more than 25 years of experience in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and R&D strategy, she has played a key role in advancing drug development and ensuring patient safety.
Before rejoining Pfizer, Dr. Cavazzoni served as the director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where she led regulatory and policy decisions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Under her leadership, CDER modernized drug evaluation processes, supported public health initiatives, and fostered innovation in therapeutic development. Her extensive pharmaceutical industry experience includes senior executive roles at Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi, where she led clinical sciences, safety risk management, and development operations. Throughout her career, she has been a key figure in shaping regulatory frameworks and driving advancements in drug safety and efficacy.
Dr. Cavazzoni earned her medical degree from McGill University and completed a residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in mood disorders at the University of Ottawa. She was also a faculty member at the University of Ottawa, where she conducted research on genetic predictors of bipolar disorder and worked in the Mood Disorders Program at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and remains a leading voice in medical innovation and regulatory science. Dr. Cavazzoni replaces Board member Dr. Aida Habtezion, MD, who recently left Pfizer.
“The PhRMA Foundation has a long history of investing in future scientific leaders, and I look forward to contributing to its mission of fostering scientific excellence,” Dr. Cavazzoni said. “The Foundation’s efforts will help to shape a future where cutting-edge research leads to improved health outcomes for all.”
