Breaking Boundaries: Stories from Asian and Pacific Islander Trailblazers in Science and Tech

About the Speakers

Ann Lee, PhD, is the Chief Technical Officer of Prime Medicine. Ann is an accomplished biotech executive with 35 years of biopharma and biotech experiences across multiple modalities of vaccines, biologics, small molecules cell therapy development and gene editing CMC development and manufacturing. She has a passion for helping patients, innovating new technologies, and developing employees. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to the licensure and commercialization of 25 new vaccines and medicines, with the most recent being two CAR T cell therapies. Ann previously worked at BMS, which acquired Celgene and Juno Therapeutics. Ann joined Juno Therapeutics in 2017 as Executive VP of Technical Operations to work in the new field of cell and gene therapy. She built the global Cell Therapy Development and Operations organization to more than 2000 employees responsible for developing new manufacturing processes and technologies, manufacturing, quality assurance, designing new facilities, and creating the global supply chain network and digital systems to deliver these autologous products. Read more here.

Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D. in her most recent role was the Chief Medical Officer at Biogen, responsible for the Worldwide Medical function since rejoining Biogen in January 2020. Previously, from 2016-2019, Dr. Radhakrishnan was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Medical, Primary Care Business Unit at Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. At Sanofi, she led the medical strategy and operations for the diabetes and cardiovascular products and development programs. Prior to this, she held several key leadership roles at Bioverativ Inc. from 2016-2018, Biogen for the first time from 2013-2016, Bristol Myers Squibb from 2009-2013, United Health Group from 2006-2008, and Cephalon from 2005-2006. Dr. Radhakrishnan has extensive experience in overseeing the medical strategy development, external scientific engagement strategy with academic institutions, top and emerging key opinion leaders, patient advocacy groups, media, investors, payers, policy makers, government, and regulators. She has overseen the launch preparations and execution of several blockbuster launches including Abilify, Orencia, Tecfidera, Praluent, Nusinersen, Qalsody, Leqembi, Skyclarys and life cycle management of several critical programs in the Hemophilia, Immunology, Rare Disease, Cardiovascular and CNS Therapeutic areas. Read more here.

Crystal Shih Byers is a second-generation Taiwanese American, born in Wisconsin, and raised in Michigan.  Crystal was raised by somewhat open-minded parents who started more Taiwanese and ended up more Taiwanese-American. This was challenging, as she was constantly revising what it meant to be Taiwanese American, pitting her family’s shifting feedback against her daily experience. Crystal started out shy. In math and science, Crystal found the vocabulary and prowess to gain confidence. In the learning process, she found a constant source of dopamine.  Her drive to keep learning guides her decision-making today. It gives her unlimited chances to learn and to connect with others. Crystal brings an amiable, scientifically-informed beginner’s mindset to every new pivot she navigates and she constantly seeks change and new environments to keep growing. Read more here. 

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