Press Release

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.  

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.

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. 

Yeonsoo Yoon, PhD

Senior Scientist, Genetic Engineering Lead

Dr. Yeonsoo Yoon began his biomedical science career at Yonsei University, majoring in biochemistry. He continued his graduate studies in chemical genomics at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for his master’s degree before moving to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. During his Ph.D. program, Dr. Yoon specialized in mouse embryology techniques and developed foundational skills in molecular and cellular biology, with extensive knowledge in mouse development and genetics. Before joining Leveragen in 2023, he developed the AAV-CRISPR technique at UMass Chan Medical School, enabling the generation of genome-edited mice by infecting mouse zygotes with adeno-associated virus containing CRISPR/Cas9 components. He has successfully conducted multiple CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing projects.

Skylar Worster, BS

Research Associate

Skylar Worster honed her laboratory skills as part of the Biotech Program at Worcester Technical High School, culminating in a Co-op at Blue Sky Lab during her senior year. She then pursued a degree in Biology with a focus on Biotechnology at Fitchburg State University. During her final year, Skylar worked under Eric Williams, contributing to research on modeling muscular dystrophy in mammalian cell culture. Her team's research was presented at the Fitchburg State University and UMASS undergraduate research conferences in 2022. Shortly after graduation, Skylar joined Leveragen, where she has continued to develop her expertise, acquiring new skills that enhance both her professional growth and the company's objectives.

Hongjie Pan, PhD

Director, Head of In Vivo Discovery and Technology Innovation

Dr. Hongjie Pan has amassed significant experience in the biotech industry, notably at Abpro and Harbour BioMed, where he led two therapeutic drugs to Investigational New Drug (IND) filings over the span of eight years. He earned his PhD in Veterinary Pathology from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia and conducted postdoctoral research at Boston Medical Center and Duke Medical School. Dr. Pan has a robust background in T cells, myeloid cells, and NK cell biology, along with extensive hands-on experience in various immunological assays, including T cell activation and proliferation, ADCC, Elispot/ELISA, cytotoxicity, dendritic cell antigen presentation, in vivo human cancer cell mouse xenograft models, and immune cell isolation from PBMC. His current research interests focus on antibody discovery and engineering, as well as the development of subsequent in vitro and in vivo assays.

Brian O'Nuallain, PhD

Director, Head of In Vitro Discovery & External Innovation

Dr. Brian O'Nuallain has over 25 years of experience in industry and academia, specializing in protein biochemistry and antibody development for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, amyloidosis, and cancer. He holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Chemistry from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University College Dublin. He completed post-doctoral training at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Dr. O'Nuallain previously served as the Director and Head of In Vitro Discovery at Alloy Therapeutics, generating therapeutic antibodies for over 30 targets. His industry roles also include Senior Principal Scientist at Immunitas Therapeutics and Verseau Therapeutics, where he developed antibody therapeutics for novel immuno-oncology targets, resulting in publications and patent applications. At Biolegend, he advanced from Scientist to Neuroscience Supervisor, developing products for neurodegeneration and protein clearance. His academic appointments include Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, with research on anti-amyloid antibodies, one of which is in phase 3 clinical trials. Dr. O'Nuallain has authored 29 papers, submitted three patents, and consulted for companies such as Pfizer and Baxter.

Samantha Meske, MSc

Executive Assistant to the CEO, Operations Manager

Samantha Meske began her career in the health industries during her undergraduate studies, initially working for Walgreen's, where she spent seven and a half years, including two years as a Shift Lead. She then transitioned to a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) registered Plasma Donation center, serving as both a CLIA representative and Quality Lead Technician for three years. Following this, Samantha worked for a year at a pre-transplant testing center, performing tests on human blood samples for transplant organs and tissues, and briefly as a histology technician. She joined Leveragen in December 2019 as the Operations Manager and Research Associate, bringing a wealth of experience in clinical and operational roles.

Yuhang Liu, PhD

Senior Data Scientist

Dr. Yuhang Liu earned a Ph.D. in statistics from Florida State University, bringing extensive experience in statistical modeling and machine learning to his role. With specific research interests in computational methods in bioinformatics, Dr. Liu has practical expertise in deep learning, AI, and natural language processing. Known for being a self-motivated problem solver and reliable collaborator, Dr. Liu is also recognized for his effective communication skills and easy-going nature, making him an asset to any team.

Shi Lei, PhD

Principal Scientist, Synthetic Biology Lead

Dr. Shi Lei completed his PhD at Bowling Green State University, focusing on the molecular mechanism of nitrogen fixation under the guidance of Dr. Nara Gavini. Following his doctoral studies, he worked at Covance Laboratories, investigating the roles of RNA helicase DDX25 in spermatogenesis in collaboration with Dr. Maria Dufau from the NIH, and developing immunoassays for clinical samples. After three years, Dr. Lei returned to academia as a postdoctoral researcher at UMass Medical School, where he studied molecular drivers of gastric cancer, biological rhythms, and mitochondrial disorders. He then joined EpigenDx, providing epigenetic analysis for both academic and industrial clients. Subsequently, Dr. Lei served as VP at Chi Scientific and Puhe Bio, managing scientific service activities and maintaining relationships with elite customers. He joined Leveragen in early 2019, bringing extensive expertise in molecular biology and epigenetics to the team.

Carli Garceau, BS

Research Associate

Carli Garceau is currently a Research Associate on the Genetic Engineering team at Leveragen, Inc. She received her BS degree in Biology from Bridgewater State University in 2018. During her time at BSU, Carli conducted undergraduate research under Dr. Jennifer Mendell, studying the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in ticks and the risk of transmission to humans. Since graduating, she has gained experience in both academic and industrial laboratory settings, acquiring numerous in vitro and in vivo techniques.

Peng Ding, MD

Principal Research Associate

Dr. Peng Ding brings ten years of experience in vaccine, antibody, and neurobiology laboratories at the college level, with proficiency in DNA vaccine production, immunization, immune analysis methods, and neurobiology experimental techniques. Over the past five years, Dr. Ding has worked in the industrial field of model animals, focusing on humanization goals in mice using embryonic stem cells and CRISPR-Cas technology. His early education in clinical medicine in China provided him with systematic knowledge and skills across various specialized fields. Additionally, Dr. Ding has over ten years of clinical experience in internal medicine and several years of neurology management experience. His expertise encompasses immunization, serological experiments, extraction and purification of biomacromolecules, stereotactic surgery in small animals, tumor xenograft, embryo micromanipulation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), cryopreservation techniques, animal facility management, and the cultivation of various ES and tumor cell lines.

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.

ChiaChing Chou, PhD

Principal Scientist

Dr. Chia-Ching Chou specializes in high-throughput antibody discovery and engineering, utilizing advanced techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), phage display, yeast display, and hybridoma. Prior to joining Leveragen, Dr. Chou has previously held key roles at Immunitas Therapeutics, Dynamicure Biotechnology, and Abalone Bio. At Abcam, Dr. Chou advanced from Research Scientist I to Senior Scientist, significantly contributing to antibody pipelines through phage display and next- generation sequencing. During Dr. Chou's tenure at Rutgers, the focus was on genome engineering and characterizing protein interactions essential for genome stability and aging. With profound expertise in molecular biology techniques and a demonstrated ability to innovate in antibody discovery projects, Dr. Chou is recognized as a leading expert in the field.