IDEAYA Biosciences Welcomes Dr. Theodora Ross as Chief Development Officer

IDEAYA Biosciences Welcomes Dr. Theodora Ross as CDO

On February 23, 2026, IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc., a prominent player in the precision medicine oncology sector, announced the appointment of Dr. Theodora (Theo) Ross to the newly established position of Chief Development Officer (CDO). In this critical role, Dr. Ross will spearhead early clinical development initiatives centered around IDAYA's innovative oncology pipeline, playing an indispensable role in shaping the company’s long-term research and development strategy.

Dr. Ross comes to IDEAYA from AbbVie, where she held the title of Vice President and was the Head of Early Oncology Research and Development for the Bay Area. Her proven track record comprises leading the successful advancement of early clinical programs, truly positioning her as a formidable asset to IDEAYA's leadership team.

Yujiro S. Hata, President and CEO of IDEAYA Biosciences, expressed his excitement, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ross to IDEAYA as we advance our deep pipeline of potential first-in-class clinical-stage assets. Theo is an exceptionally talented and accomplished clinician with a proven history in leading clinical execution and pipeline strategy for multiple global pharmaceutical companies. With her joining our team, we are poised to drive our ambitious clinical development plan as we enter our next growth phase."

In her own words, Dr. Ross reflected on her new commitment: "I am honored and excited to join IDEAYA as the company advances one of the most innovative and scientifically driven oncology pipelines in biotechnology. It is clear that the greatest advancements occur when we commit to rigorous scientific exploration and prioritize our objectives to enhance the impact we can make for patients. IDEAYA has exemplified this discipline by focusing on programs with robust scientific reasoning and clinical promise. I'm eager to contribute to this continued focus."

With over three decades of expertise in oncology, Dr. Ross has an extensive background in guiding significant oncology projects. While at AbbVie, she was influential in moving five early clinical programs from first-in-human studies to Phase 1/2 clinical proof-of-concept trials across multiple solid tumor categorizations. Notably, she also played a significant role as the Research and Development champion during AbbVie's strategic acquisition of Immunogen—a deal valued at $10 billion—which was key to launching AbbVie's first marketed solid tumor oncology product, Elahere.

Further showcasing her illustrious career, Dr. Ross has held various prestigious positions, including over a decade at Amgen as Vice President of Global Development, where she also headed Precision Medicine and Thoracic Oncology, and at Merck as Vice President of Translational Medicine. Prior to her significant industry roles, Dr. Ross led the Cancer Genetics Department at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Her profound experience extends to a 20-year tenure as an oncologist, laboratory scientist, and educator at top-tier cancer centers and academic institutions, working at both UTSW and the University of Michigan.

Dr. Ross obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College, followed by her M.D. and Ph.D. from Washington University. She completed her internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and pursued an oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, also connected to Harvard.

About IDEAYA Biosciences

IDEAYA Biosciences is committed to pioneering transformative therapies for cancer through precision medicine. By combining small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology, and bioinformatics with robust translation biomarker identification capabilities, the company aims to develop customized, potentially first-in-class targeted therapies. IDEAYA's product pipeline primarily focuses on synthetic lethality and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed for genetically defined solid tumor conditions. The overarching mission is to deliver a new era of precision oncology treatments that are not only more selective and effective but also deeply personalized, with the intent to improve clinical outcomes and alter the course of disease for cancer patients. For more information, visit IDEAYA's corporate presentation available on their website.