Dr. Ralph Reisfeld holds a Ph.D. degree from Ohio State University. Ralph A. Reisfeld spent time in the Endocrinology Branch, National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. He subsequently held the role of Group Leader at Merck, Sharp and Dohme in Rahway, New Jersey and, in 1963, the Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, NIH where he became Section Chief and remained until 1970. In 1970 he became a Member (Professor) at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California where he has remained to this date. After initially continuing research on HLA antigens, he focused on cancer research primarily on monoclonal antibody and recombinant antibody-cytokine fusion protein-mediated cancer immunotherapy. During the last 5 years, Dr. Reisfeld and colleagues have intensified their research efforts on DNA-based cancer vaccines primarily aimed at improving cancer therapy bysuppressing tumor angiogenesis and promoting programmed cancer cell death (apoptosis).

Dr. Reisfeld has trained more than 75 postdoctoral fellows, published over 400 papers and received two 7-year Outstanding Investigator Awards from the National Cancer Institute recognizing his research achievements. He belongs to numerous professional societies and is a member of a number of Scientific Advisory Boards of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies as well as NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Dr. Reisfeld served on several NIH, ACS and DOD Study Sections and is a member of Editorial Boards, including Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, the Journal of Immunology, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy and Bioconjugate Chemistry.