Melvin Perelman Ph.D. served as Executive Vice President and President, Lilly Research Laboratories of Eli Lilly & Company since 1986 until his retirement in 1993. Dr. Perelman served as President of Lilly International from 1976 to 1986. Dr. Perelman spent 36 years at Eli Lilly & Company.

Dr. Perelman began his career in 1957 as an Organic Chemist. Dr. Perelman serves as a Director at Immune Response Corporation, a biotech company and Inhale Therapeutics Systems, Inc., a drug delivery system company. Dr. Perelman served as member of the board of Directors of itherX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a bio-pharmaceutical company, since 1996. He served as a member of the board of Directors of Lilly from 1976 to 1993. He served as Director of Nektar Therapeutics from January 1996 to March 21, 2005 and was a Member of Audit Committee. Dr. Perelman also served as chairman of the IUSM first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised $211 million, exceeding its original goal by $61 million.

Dr. Perelman holds a B.S. in chemistry from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Rice University.