Leadership Team
Weisheng V. Chen, PhD., Founder and CEO
Dr. Weisheng Chen received his BS degree in Physiology, MS degree in Genetics, and PhD degree in Cell, Developmental and Neural Biology from Nanjing University, Peking University and the University of Michigan respectively. He carried out his dissertation study with molecular geneticist Philippe Soriano in gene trap mutagenesis, and conducted his postdoctoral research with molecular biology pioneer Tom Maniatis at Harvard and Columbia. Using gene editing, gene targeting, and chromosome engineering technologies, Dr. Chen systematically mutagenized and functionally characterized the clustered protocadherin gene family, revealing its central role in brain wiring and in the etiologies of neurological disorders. Prior to founding Leveragen in 2017, Dr. Chen was a founding scientist at Kallyope, Inc., where he led the genetic models group to functionally interrogate the gut-brain axis for novel therapeutics.
Frank L. Wang, PhD, Vice President of Biologics
Dr. Frank Wang joined Leveragen from AbbVie, where he spent 12 years in Biologics contributing to protein engineering and antigen/antibody/cell line generation. He served as project leader of multiple antibody discovery programs and led the discovery efforts to deliver ABBV-514, a GPCR antibody, into clinical trials for the treatment of cancers, and contributed to many clinical assets, including ABBV-085, ABBV-621, and ABBV-927. Prior to joining AbbVie, Dr. Wang spent over 6 years at Pfizer as principal scientist in protein science as well as project leader for small molecule drug discovery, and contributed to the discovery of FAAH inhibitor PF-04457845, which was later advanced into Phase II clinical trials. Dr. Wang earned his PhD in Chemistry from New York University, and his MS and BS degrees in Physical Chemistry from Peking University. He completed his postdoctoral training in cell cycle regulation at Harvard University before entering the pharmaceutical industry.
Hugh P. Cam, PhD, Director of Research
Dr. Hugh Cam obtained his BS degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, and his PhD in Biochemistry at Harvard University. Dr. Cam conducted his postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Shiv Grewal at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. There, he pursued research on RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly and genome surveillance of transposable elements. Dr. Cam joined Boston College as an assistant professor, focusing on the epigenetic regulation of repeat elements including transposons. Prior to joining Leveragen, Dr. Cam served as senior science project manager of Alzheimer’s disease research in the laboratory of Dr. Li-Huei Tsai at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT.
Advisory Board
Tom Maniatis, PhD
Dr. Tom Maniatis is the Isidore S. Edelman Professor at Columbia University and Scientific Director and CEO of the New York Genome Center. Dr. Maniatis is known for pioneering molecular cloning technology and its application for both basic research and biotechnology. His research has led to fundamental advances in understanding the mechanisms of gene regulation and RNA splicing, innate immunity signaling pathways, single cell diversity in the nervous system, and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Maniatis’ research has been recognized by many awards, including the Eli Lilly Award, the Richard Lounsbery Award, and the 2012 Lasker Award. He is a member of the U. S. National Academy of Science, the National Academy of Medicine, and a Fellow the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Maniatis has also co-founded Genetics Institute, ProScript, Acceleron, Kallyope, and the New York Genome Center.
Charles Zuker, PhD
Dr. Charles Zuker is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of Neuroscience, and Principal Investigator at the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University, and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Zuker is known for his work in sensory neuroscience, including mechanisms of phototransduction, mechanotransduction, and taste. Dr. Zuker and collaborators identified the cells, receptors, and coding logic for the five basic taste qualities (sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami). Dr. Zuker’s research has been recognized by the Cogan Award, and the Alcon Award, the Spencer Award, and the International Flavors and Fragrances Award. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science, the National Academy of Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Zuker is also a cofounder of Aurora Biosciences, Senomyx, Kallyope, and Cajal Neuroscience.
Zhijian Lu, PhD
Dr. Zhijian Lu is a skilled leader with broad and in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in all phases of biotherapeutics discovery, evaluation and development. He was most recently Head of Biologics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) Biologics Center in Shanghai. Dr. Lu began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1993 at Genetic Institute and served as staff scientist and later Principle Scientist. At Wyeth, he served as Director of the Biotherapeutics Expression and Purification Group, where he co-led the development of hybridoma and phage display platforms and guided protein engineering. Prior to joining NIBR, as Director of Extramural Partnered Research at Pfizer, Dr. Lu and his team evaluated B cell technologies for antibody discovery and introduced new transgenic mice. Currently Dr. Lu provides strategic and technical consultations to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
Team Members
Samantha Meske
Samantha Meske
Samantha Meske
Stanley Lei
Samantha Meske
Samantha Meske
Ye Shang
Samantha Meske
Ye Shang
Peng Ding
Annalise Robidoux
Ye Shang
Carli Garceau
Annalise Robidoux
Annalise Robidoux
Annalise Robidoux
Annalise Robidoux
Annalise Robidoux