Her Story
About Theresa
Theresa Proia, PhD, is a Senior Director and Translational Medicine Lead for Antibody-Drug Conjugates at AstraZeneca, where she applies more than 14 years of experience in oncology drug discovery, development, and translational research to advance innovative cancer therapies. Her career has focused on bridging preclinical discoveries with clinical applications by designing translational strategies, developing biomarkers, analyzing patient samples, and creating approaches to better identify patients most likely to benefit from targeted treatments. Dr. Proia began her industry career as a Scientist at AVEO Oncology before joining AstraZeneca, where she spent nearly a decade in in vivo pharmacology supporting immuno-oncology programs and other small molecule drug programs. Throughout her career, she progressed from laboratory-based research roles into leadership positions, managing scientific teams and overseeing complex oncology research initiatives. In her current role, she leads translational medicine efforts involving clinical study design, translational endpoints, and biomarker strategies that help accelerate the delivery of effective therapies to cancer patients. Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Proia is passionate about mentorship, collaboration, and giving back to the cancer community. She co-founded Hats for Hope Lodge, an initiative providing care packages and support to cancer patients at the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Boston, and serves as a mentor through the Scientist Mentoring and Diversity Program. Holding a PhD in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Tufts University School of Medicine and a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Proia continues to champion scientific innovation, teamwork, and patient-centered research.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Theresa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for bringing better therapeutics to patients and my commitment to making a meaningful impact through science. My personal experiences with cancer, including my father’s stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis and my own experience with having a benign tumor removed, have strengthened my connection to the patient perspective and motivated me to continue advancing treatments that can improve lives.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received came from my principal investigator during my undergraduate honors research. They encouraged me to pursue a PhD rather than stopping at my bachelor’s degree and helped me understand that advanced education would open additional career opportunities. That guidance became a pivotal moment in my career and shaped my path as a scientist.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women to take opportunities even when they do not feel completely ready. You do not need to wait until you feel 120% prepared before taking the next step. Building confidence, taking calculated risks, and developing a strong network of trusted colleagues and mentors are essential for growth and success.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field is the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in scientific research. AI has the potential to automate processes, accelerate drug discovery, and help scientists reach answers more efficiently. However, it is also important that researchers continue developing strong critical-thinking skills and understand how to effectively apply these tools while maintaining scientific rigor.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Collaboration and communication are the values I consider most important. I believe that strong relationships, mutual respect, and understanding each individual’s strengths and areas for growth allow teams to achieve their best results. Creating an environment where people feel valued and supported leads to stronger partnerships and more impactful outcomes.
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