# Chris Apfel

> Chris Apfel is a German-trained physician-scientist, founder, executive, and life-science investor whose career has moved from clinical prediction research to functional precision oncology. After developing the widely used Apfel Score and publishing more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, he co-founded SageMedic with Brigitte Apfel. The Redwood City company tests live tumor samples against multiple therapies and returns laboratory findings intended to support individualized treatment decisions.

- **Role:** Founder, President, CEO, and Chair at SageMedic Corp.
- **Organizations:** SageMedic Corp., University of California, San Francisco, Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Keiretsu Forum, Life Science Angels
- **Education:** MD and doctoral degree in medical sciences / epidemiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Training in anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, and emergency medicine, University of Würzburg, MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Co-developed the simplified Apfel Score, a four-factor clinical prediction tool used internationally., Published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers., Founded and leads SageMedic, which operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in Redwood City.

## Career timeline

- **1992** — Graduated from the University of Giessen Faculty of Medicine.
- **1998-1999** — Published work that led to the simplified four-factor Apfel Score for postoperative nausea and vomiting.
- **2000s-2010s** — Practiced as a clinician and served on the UCSF faculty, where he led clinical research and later continued as an adjunct associate professor.
- **2010s** — Served as an executive director at Cadence Pharmaceuticals and conducted health-economic research.
- **2014** — Co-founded SageMedic with Brigitte Apfel.
- **2017** — SageMedic Inc. became SageMedic Corp.
- **2020** — Presented SageMedic's functional diagnostic platform at the Precision Medicine World Conference in Silicon Valley.
- **2023** — SageMedic reported that its California laboratory had received CLIA accreditation through COLA and CMS.
- **2024** — SageMedic formed scientific, medical, and business advisory boards; Apfel also appeared in several public interviews about functional precision oncology.
- **2025** — SageMedic presented sarcoma tissue research at the ASCO Annual Meeting, and Apfel published an article on functional precision oncology.

## Achievements

- Co-developed the simplified Apfel Score, a four-factor clinical prediction tool used internationally.
- Published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers.
- Founded and leads SageMedic, which operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in Redwood City.
- Built a portfolio of more than 20 reported life-science investments, including Mission Bio, CorInnova, Pathware, and Raydiant Oximetry.
- Chaired the Life Science Committee for Northern California chapters of Keiretsu Forum.
- Presented SageMedic research at PMWC 2020 and the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.

## Latest updates

- **2025-08** — Apfel presented the SAGE Oncotest at InnovatorMD World Congress 2025.
- **2025-06** — Published the LinkedIn article 'Functional Precision Oncology: A Game Changer in Cancer Therapy.'
- **2025-05** — SageMedic presented data from live sarcoma tissue at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
- **2024-12** — SageMedic announced a business advisory board intended to support adoption of its functional precision oncology platform.
- **2024-11** — Appeared on Revolution Health Radio for an extended interview about his career and SageMedic's approach.
- **2024-09** — SageMedic announced its scientific and medical advisory board; Apfel said the group would help advance the company's precision-medicine work.

## Links

- Website: https://www.sagemedic.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisapfel
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ze-8rpJRYs

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-apfel
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18