Kenji Sasaki, PhD

Kenji Sasaki was appointed as the Chief Scientific Officer at Ono Pharma Foundation in 2025. He received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Nagoya University in 2004, specializing in the synthesis and evaluation of glycoconjugate polymers. With over two decades of experience in Ono Pharmaceutical's research division, he has played a pivotal role in advancing drug discovery and chemical proteomics. During his career, he further honed his expertise as a visiting scientist at the University of Tokyo and as a Professional Scientific Collaborator at the Scripps Research Institute, focusing on the total synthesis of bioactive lipids and chemical proteomics for ligand and target discovery. After these experiences, he returned to Ono Pharmaceutical to continue his drug discovery research, pioneering chemoproteomics technologies and exploring compound screening for undruggable targets.

At Ono Pharma Foundation, Kenji is dedicated to leveraging his extensive knowledge in drug discovery and chemical biology to drive innovative research. He supports a diverse network of scientists, helping them pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that can transform patient care and lead to novel therapeutic solutions that improve patient outcomes.