TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Dr. Raymond Goodrich

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Dr. Raymond Goodrich has spent more than 37 years at the forefront of medical research, innovating in fields as critical as transfusion, transplantation medicine, and pathogen reduction technologies. Now, as chief science officer, vice president of R&D, and co-founder of PhotonPharma, Inc., Ray is channeling his deep expertise into one of medicine’s most pressing challenges: cancer.

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PhotonPharma, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, is redefining the landscape of immuno-oncology. The company’s groundbreaking platform stimulates a patient’s immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional CAR T-cell therapies that require extensive external manipulation of immune cells, PhotonPharma takes a revolutionary approach—removing the patient’s tumor cells, treating them to inactivate replication, and reintroducing them to trigger an immune response within the body. This process is simpler, less costly, and offers broader antigen targeting, significantly reducing the chance for tumors to evade detection.

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“PhotonPharma’s technology is unique because we’re working with the tumor’s own antigens,” Ray explains. “Instead of targeting a handful of antigens, we’re addressing all the antigens associated with the tumor, which makes it much harder for the cancer to develop resistance.”

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Ray’s illustrious career is marked by pioneering achievements, including the invention of Mirasol PRT, Innocell, and SolaVAX technology platforms. A co-founder of four biotech startups—CryoPharm Corporation, Navigant Biotechnologies, PhotonPharma, and Solaris Vaccines—he has also held key academic and industry positions, including serving as professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology at Colorado State University (CSU) and as executive director of CSU’s Infectious Disease Research Center. His expertise in microbiology, immunology, and biophysical chemistry, combined with his leadership in startup environments, has garnered numerous accolades, including the CSU Ventures Award for Innovative Excellence and an honorary Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3) Award. Holding a BS in chemistry from Ohio State University and a PhD from the California Institute of Technology, Ray has also been recognized as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Ohio State University.

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For Ray, collaboration is at the heart of his success. “A lot of people have been involved in the work that I’ve done over the years and what we’ve been able to achieve,” he shares. “These are big problems that we’re attacking. I’ve learned the importance of collaborating, cooperating, and bringing together diverse talents to address these challenges.”

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PhotonPharma’s journey is entering an exciting new chapter with FDA-cleared patient trials launching in January at City of Hope in Duarte, California. The initial focus is on advanced ovarian cancer, marking a significant step toward transforming cancer therapy.

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As the world eagerly watches these developments, Ray remains steadfast in his mission: advancing technologies that not only save lives, but also redefine what’s possible in medicine. His work exemplifies the power of innovation, teamwork, and unwavering dedication to solving some of the toughest problems in healthcare.

 

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Dr. Raymond Goodrich
CSO, VP of R&D, and Co-Founder
PhotonPharma, Inc.

Websites: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=mh7LrQEAAAAJ
http://www.photonpharmaceuticals.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-goodrich-14512621/