Sam Blackman MD, PhD*

Sam Blackman MD, PhD, Retired co-founder and Head of Research and Development of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, is a physician-scientist trained in pediatric hematology/oncology and pediatric neuro-oncology.

Day One was co-founded in 2018 by Sam and Julie Grant of Caanan Partners to identify, acquire, and develop promising new treatments that could address childhood cancers. Under his leadership, the Company acquired tovorafenib in 2019 and developed it through U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in April 2024.

Sam led the early clinical development of more than 10 novel cancer therapeutics. Prior to founding Day One, Sam held roles of increasing responsibility at Silverback Therapeutics, Juno Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Sam was responsible for the pediatric development of dabrafenib, resulting in the first industry-sponsored pediatric oncology “basket trial”. Through roles at CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, and ACCELERATE, Sam has been an active leader in the pediatric oncology drug development community. He served on our A Kid’s Brain Tumor Cure Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for years before starting DayOne and advancing Ojemda to pediatric drug approval. Sam is a multi-time performer on The Moth Radio Hour.

Sam is a graduate of the pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston, and the pediatric residency program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He received his MD and PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Chicago.