Lili Yang, PhD

Lili Yang, PhD, is a Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her PhD in Biology from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), studying with David Baltimore, PhD. Her research laboratory at UCLA studies tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, with a special focus on developing gene and cell-based immunotherapy for cancer.

Her work has resulted in over 80 publications, 28 patents, 2 clinical trials, and 2 biotech startups. Dr. Yang has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including a TR35 (Innovators Under 35) Award from the MIT Technology Review Magazine, a Director’s New Innovator Award from the National Institute of Health (NIH), a Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), and an Outstanding New Investigator Award from the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT). She was named Women in Biopharma by Endpoints News in 2022, and Top Women in Academic Entrepreneurship by BIOS in 2023.

• TR35 (Innovators Under 35) Award, MIT Technology Review Magazine
• Director’s New Innovator Award, National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Young Investigator Award, American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
• Outstanding New Investigator Award, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
• Women in Biopharma, Endpoints News (2022)
• Top Women in Academic Entrepreneurship, BIOS (2023)