Dr. Backstrom was most recently executive vice president, head of research and development at Acceleron Pharma. Prior to Acceleron, he held clinical research and development positions of increasing responsibility during his tenure at Celgene, from 2008 to 2019; eventually serving as Celgene’s chief medical officer and head of regulatory affairs.
Prior to Celgene, he served as vice president, global medical affairs and safety at Pharmion. Jay began his career in industry in 1990 at Marion Merrell Dow and continued as part of its successor companies including Hoechst Marion Roussel, where he held positions in clinical research and global drug surveillance and pharmacoepidemiology. He also spent nearly three years at Quintiles in medical and scientific services, including therapeutic head, cardiovascular, respiratory and critical care, where he oversaw extensive clinical work across a variety of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
Prior to his move to industry, Jay served as staff physician and medical director of the Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Jay holds an M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine and received post-graduate training in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital. He also earned a Master’s in public health from Saint Louis University School of Public Health.
