Dr. Christopher Cross is a seasoned leader in global health equity, oncology, and biomedical research, with over a decade of experience spanning academia, industry, and health organizations. Currently serving as the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Cross spearheads initiatives that integrate health equity into oncology research, education, and patient care, impacting a global network of more than 50,000 oncology professionals.
Throughout Cross’s career, a strong commitment to advancing health outcomes for underserved populations has been a driving force. As the Founder and Chairman of Cross River Strategies, LLC, he led national efforts to increase minority representation in clinical trials, successfully partnering with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and healthcare institutions to diversify clinical research. This work resulted in the successful recruitment of over 240 African American participants, directly contributing to precision medicine efforts.
Dr. Cross’s experience extends into the biopharmaceutical industry, where, as a PhD Intern at BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc., he played a key role in developing strategies to integrate patient experience data into regulatory submissions, including Investigational New Drug (IND) and Biologics License Applications (BLA). This role honed his expertise in navigating complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring that real-world evidence (RWE) and patient insights were effectively utilized to support therapeutic approvals.
In academia, Cross served as a Principal Investigator at the Center for Community Engagement and Health Equity at Yale Cancer Center, where he taught community research fellows and led innovative community based participatory research efforts to address health equity issues in cancer.
Cross holds a Ph.D. in Population Genetics from Howard University, where his research focused on genomic evolutionary biology and bioinformatics. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University, specializing in cancer biology and human computational genetics. Over the years, Cross has published peer-reviewed articles, presented at international conferences, and has been a prominent advocate for health equity and diversity in clinical research.
With a diverse skill set that spans strategic program development, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory expertise, Cross continues to lead transformative
initiatives that drive innovation in global health equity and oncology. His work has not only advanced scientific understanding but also brought tangible benefits to communities and healthcare systems worldwide.