Prof. Klaus Strein holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Heidelberg in Germany and is also qualified as an MD specialized in pharmacology and toxicology. In 1979, he joined Boehringer Mannheim (BM) as Head of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Over the years, he served as Head of Pharmacology and Head of Research and Development Medicine. In 1995, he joined the Executive Board of BM and became Head of Pharma in 1997. After BM was taken over by Roche in 1998, Klaus moved first to Basel and then to Penzberg, Germany, where in 1998/99 he became Head of Pharma Research. In 2001/2002, he and his team in Penzberg launched the Roche Therapeutic Protein Initiative. He assumed global responsibility for the generation and molecular engineering of therapeutic proteins/monoclonal antibodies at Roche. In August 2009, Klaus took over as ad interim Global Head of Pharma Research in Basel where, by early 2010, he was instrumental in the formation of the company's new global Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) division. Most recently, he has been in charge of all pRED activities in connection with the generation, optimization, early technical development and formulation of small molecules, therapeutic proteins, RNA therapeutics and therapeutic stem cells. Since 1986, Klaus has been an extraordinary Professor at the University of Heidelberg.

Chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology