Dr. Sujuan Ba is the CEO & Co-founder of the AIM-HI Accelerator Fund (AIM-HI). Under her leadership, AIM-HI has so far seed invested in 18 early-stage oncology companies. In addition, Dr. Ba has worked at the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) as Senior Executive since 1999, currently serving as CEO & President. She is also the founder & CEO of the Asian Fund for Cancer Research since 2005. Dr. Ba is a co-founder and a founding board member of the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR), a non-profit organization pioneering groundbreaking adaptive clinical trial platforms, such as GBM AGILE, to deliver innovative therapies to patients faster. She is also a scientific advisor and a board member for more than half a dozen oncology start-ups.
Dr. Ba has led the establishment of NFCR’s annual Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research, an international prize recognizing outstanding scientific achievement in the war against cancer, and has served continuously as co-chair of the Prize Selection Committee since 2006. The prize has now grown into one of the premier cancer research awards in the world.
Dr. Ba has also led the establishment of the AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition in 2020, a first-of-its-kind program that provides investment, coaching, and networking opportunities to women-led oncology start-ups. More than 200 women-led oncology start-ups have gone through the rigorous review and judging process of the Women’s Venture Competition platform.
Dr. Ba launched the AIM-HI Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology in 2022, a one-of-its-kind program recognizing outstanding women pioneers who have significantly impacted cancer patients worldwide through the development, commercialization of novel technologies and implementation of public policy.
Dr. Ba was awarded one of the “20 Most Inspiring Women Leaders 2022” by The Women Leaders Magazine. Dr. Ba received NBC4 WORKING 4 THE COMMUNITY Award in 2019, recognizing her outstanding achievements as a scientist, leader, and role model in the STEM field. Dr. Ba also received the inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award from Society for Neuro-Oncology of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association for her outstanding contribution to international cooperation in 2017. She was named one of the “Top 300 Women Leaders in Global Health” in 2015 by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies’ Global Health Programme. She was also awarded the Public Service Award in 2014 by the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association–USA for her long-term devotion and distinguished service to the global biopharmaceutical community. She was selected to receive the CRS WOMEN IN SCIENCES Award in 2011.
Dr. Ba has served on the Women in Science Committee of CRS (Control Release Society) since 2017. She is also a Member of Springboard’s Life Science Council, a group of experts worldwide in biotech, pharma, medical devices, and health IT who invest their “human capital” in Springboard’s pipeline of high-growth, women-led companies. She is the former President of the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Association (2010-2011) and a lifetime member of BayHelix, an invitation-only organization of leaders of Chinese origin involved globally in life sciences and health.
Dr. Ba received her BS in radiochemistry from Peking University and her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.