Since joining in 2014 as President, Michael Lewis has transformed the Edward P. Evans Foundation into a major driver for innovation in the research of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). From direct support of compelling new ideas to development of young faculty, Dr. Lewis has successfully positioned the Foundation as the premier private funding source for MDS.

Dr. Lewis is convinced that recent scientific advancements in hematology hold great promise for the discovery and development of transformational MDS therapies that could make a real difference in the lives of patients. He believes that the Edward P. Evans Foundations is the right organization to catalyze these advances.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Lewis had over thirty years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry discovering and developing small molecule and biological products. He lead discovery programs for the treatment of cancer and immunological disorders as head of the Eisai Research Institute, a major US research subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. During his tenure, Eisai was able to introduce two landmark original drugs, eritoran and eribulin, into the clinic. Eritoran progressed as far as Phase 3 for the treatment of sepsis and eribulin was approved by the FDA in 2010 for the treatment of breast cancer.

After heading Eisai Research Institute for 13 years Dr. Lewis lead Eisai’s Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (PST) unit, Eisai’s global research manufacturing and pharmaceutics division, reporting to the CEO. Here he was responsible for the global chemical development, technical product commercialization and logistics for all of Eisai’s drug discovery and development programs. PST supported over 60 programs each year, ranging from small molecule, biological, discovery and technology projects to follow up on approved commercial products.

Dr. Lewis received his B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. from Harvard University.