Lex H.T. Van der Ploeg is Managing Director for VDP, LLC, an independent consulting agency focused on guiding research and development for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical Industries and private investors. At VDP, Lex focuses on supporting R&D initiatives from a strategic and tactical perspective, as an integrated part time member of Management and R&D teams. Lex functions as Senior Advisor for Strategy and Planning at Somalogic, Inc. Lex is CSO for Rhythm pharmaceuticals, he serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Excellentia Global partners and is a consultant to Neurotez, Inc.
Lex’s expertise includes development of diagnostics and therapeutics including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. Prior to starting VDP, LLC, Lex was the Sr. Vice President of Integrative Medicine and Translational Science at Abraxis/Celgene. Previously, he held the position of, Vice president, Basic Research, and site head at Merck Research Laboratories Boston focused on oncology and neurodegenerative disease. Prior to starting Merck Research Laboratories Boston in December 2003, Lex held diverse functions at Merck Research Laboratories including site head MRL San Diego and Head Obesity research for Merck Rahway and Banyu, Japan. At Merck, Lex held leadership roles in obesity and metabolism, oncology, neurodegenerative disease research and diagnostics.
Lex received his M.S. degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Biochemistry in 1980 from the University of Amsterdam and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Enzymology/Genetics in 1984 from the University of Amsterdam/Netherlands Cancer Research Center. Following receipt of his Ph.D. he joined the faculty of the Dept of Genetics and Development of Columbia University, as an assistant Professor and received tenure at Columbia University in 1987. Lex held an adjunct faculty position at the Department of Genetics and Development of Columbia University from 1992 through 2009. He has received numerous awards and grants for his research and has published over 200 research articles, and is an inventor on over 50 patents and patent applications.