ESMO 2026:
Key Findings for Cancer Care and Drug Development

Dr. Cesar Alberto Eduardo Carrasco is a Senior Medical Director at Kapadi, Inc. He is a clinical oncologist and molecular geneticist with more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical and CRO industry, including 15 years running and medically monitoring Phase I–III clinical trials. At Kapadi he works as Global and Regional Medical Advisor on assigned projects. His work covers medical oversight of trials, protocol and eligibility support for investigative sites, Medical Management Plans, medical data review, and review of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) in collaboration with Pharmacovigilance.

Before Kapadi, he held Senior Medical Director roles at Parexel International, and Medpace in USA. He was Medical Director at Parexel in Buenos Aires and Associate Global Medical Director at Quintiles. Earlier, he held oncology medical affairs and medical science liaison roles across Latin America at Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Ferrer-Leti, and Eli Lilly. His medical affairs work included advisory boards, investigator-initiated trials, training programs covering about 20 countries, and engagement with key opinion leaders.

He has supported more than 140 oncology and hematology projects. These include solid tumors (breast, lung, gastric, colorectal, liver, prostate, ovarian, and GIST), hematologic malignancies (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma/CLL, multiple myeloma, mastocytosis, and mycosis fungoides), and cell and gene-based therapies such as CAR-T, CAR-NK, and RNA/antisense. He also brings experience in study start-up, regulatory submissions, preparing informed consent forms (ICFs), and negotiating site contracts.

Dr. Carrasco earned his MD and his clinical oncology specialization at Universidad Central de Venezuela. He also holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics, with a focus on Molecular Oncology, from the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas.

Scott E. Smith, MD, PhD, FACP, is Chief Medical Officer at Kapadi and a Physician-Scientist with more than 20 years of leadership in hematology, oncology and clinical research. As Senior Vice President and Global Head of Hematology at Parexel, he oversaw global clinical trial operations across more than 20 countries. As Founder and CEO of Chemosabe Consulting, he has advised more than 15 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on clinical development and immunotherapy strategy, contributing to the launch of four hematology and oncology therapies.

Previously, Dr. Smith served as Associate Cancer Center Director and Section Chief of Hematology at Loyola University Medical Center, where he expanded clinical programs and led teams of more than 50 professionals. His work includes bone marrow transplantation, CAR T-cell therapy, precision medicine initiatives and review for the FDA Orphan Products Development Program. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts and has spoken at international meetings including ASH and ASCO. Dr. Smith earned his MD and PhD at Wayne State University and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology.