Appointments bring a CLL survivor, a pioneering drug developer, and decades of combined oncology leadership to the Board as CLL Society accelerates its mission to improve outcomes for individuals living with CLL / SLL
CLL Society, the only nonprofit organization in the United States exclusively dedicated to education, support, and research for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), today announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Rick Heinick, Chairman and CEO of SLAM Bio and CLL survivor, and Raquel Izumi, PhD, a seasoned clinical development leader whose career helped bring transformative CLL therapies to patients. The appointments deepen the Board’s connection to both the scientific and patient communities at a pivotal moment for CLL research and care.
“Welcoming Rick and Raquel to our Board marks a significant milestone for CLL Society,” shared Brian Koffman, MD, Co-Founder and CMO Emeritus, CLL Society. “Rick’s decades of life sciences leadership and firsthand experience as an individual living with CLL, reflects exactly the kind of patient-centered perspective that drives everything we do. And Raquel’s scientific contributions to the development of therapies that have genuinely changed outcomes for people with CLL speaks for itself. Together, they bring a depth of expertise and commitment that will help us accelerate our mission and ensure that every individual impacted by CLL has access to the education, support, and care they deserve.”
Rick Heinick: Bringing Strong Business Acumen to the Boardroom
Rick Heinick brings more than three decades of leadership across oncology, pharmaceutical, medical device sectors, and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to live with CLL. As a CLL cancer survivor and patient advocate, Heinick offers a unique perspective that bridges both sides of the healthcare experience.
Currently serving as CEO and Chairman of SLAM Bio, Heinick leads an oncology company developing a platform of first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecifics aimed at transforming outcomes for individuals with life-threatening cancers. His extensive board and investment portfolio spans cardiology, ophthalmology, and oncology. He previously served as an executive officer at Bausch + Lomb and as CEO and board member of RxSight (formerly Calhoun Vision), now a publicly traded company. Heinick holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a Master of Management from McGill University, and has been published in Harvard Business Review.
“Rick brings something truly unique to our Board. He has navigated the biotech landscape at the highest levels and has personally faced a CLL diagnosis,” said Steven Bloom, President and Chair of CLL Society’s Board of Directors. “That combination of business acumen, oncology industry experience, and lived experience as a CLL patient will strengthen our organization in meaningful ways. I have great respect for what Rick has built throughout his career, and I know that commitment and drive will be a tremendous asset as CLL Society continues to grow its impact.” “It is an honor to serve on this national board of the CLL Society and to have the opportunity to help patients battling leukemia,” said Rick Heinick.
Raquel Izumi, PhD: Developing the Science to Advancing the Mission
Raquel Izumi, PhD, is a seasoned clinical development scientist with an extraordinary record of advancing therapies from early-stage research through regulatory approval. Her contributions to the CLL field are significant: as a co-founder and senior executive at Acerta Pharma, she played a foundational role in the clinical development of acalabrutinib, a BTK inhibitor that has become a critical treatment option for many individuals living with CLL. Earlier in her career at Pharmacyclics, she contributed to clinical programs that led to FDA Breakthrough Designation and ultimately the approval of ibrutinib for CLL and mantle cell lymphoma.
Dr. Izumi currently serves as Acting CEO of Vincerx Pharma, where she continues to lead clinical development and operations across multiple oncology programs. She holds a doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology from UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara, and is a prolific author of peer-reviewed scientific literature.
“Raquel’s contributions to the development of treatments that have meaningfully changed outcomes for individuals with CLL are well known to those of us in this field,” said Susan O’Brien, MD, member of CLL Society’s Board of Directors. “I have seen firsthand the impact that acalabrutinib has had on my patients, and knowing the depth of scientific rigor and dedication that Raquel brought to that work makes her appointment to this Board especially meaningful. Her expertise will be invaluable as CLL Society deepens its engagement with the research and clinical development communities.”
With the addition of Rick Heinick and Raquel Izumi, CLL Society’s Board of Directors is better positioned than ever to advance its mission on behalf of the more than 200,000 individuals in the United States living with CLL or SLL. Heinick’s perspective as both a life sciences leader and a person living with CLL ensures that the patient voice remains at the center of CLL Society’s strategic direction, a reflection of the organization’s founding commitment to putting community first. Izumi’s deep scientific expertise and track record in clinical development will strengthen CLL Society’s engagement with the research and drug development communities, helping to connect patients with the latest advances in care. Together, their appointments signal a shared conviction: that improving outcomes for individuals living with CLL requires leadership that is equally grounded in science, in community, and in the lived experience of this disease.
About CLL Society
CLL Society is a patient-centric, physician-curated nonprofit organization focused on education, support, and research for those living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Dedicated to addressing the unmet needs of the CLL / SLL community, CLL Society explains the rapidly changing therapeutic landscape, supports and builds patient networks, engages in research, and educates providers and patients. Learn more at cllsociety.org.
CLL Society is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 46-4131354.
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