Lieping Chen, M.D., Ph.D., is a UTC chair in cancer research, professor of immunobiology, dermatology and medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine and joined Zai Lab’s Scientific Advisory Board in 2018.
Dr. Chen is an accomplished immunologist and physician-scientist who brings to our Scientific Advisory Board expertise in immunology and oncology. Notably, Dr. Chen conducted the first proof-of-concept study showing that the B7-CD28 family molecules could be the targets for cancer immunotherapy by introducing B7-1 into tumor cells to enhance therapeutic immunity. This research inspired subsequent studies targeting the B7-CD28/CTLA-4 family molecules for the treatment of cancer. Dr. Chen discovered the B7-H1 (also called PD-L1) molecule and demonstrated the role of PD-L1 in the evasion of immunity in the tumor microenvironment, establishing the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway as the target for cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, he initiated and helped organize the first-in-human clinical trial of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody for treating cancer and developed PD-L1 staining as a biomarker to predict treatment outcome. Collectively, Dr. Chen’s discoveries directly led to the development of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody therapies against a broad spectrum of human cancers (upon first approval and five total anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies approved by the U.S. FDA since then).
Dr. Chen has published more than 400 research articles, reviews and book chapters. He has received several honors and awards, including the William B. Coley Award, Warren Alpert Foundation prize and Giants of Cancer Care. He is a member of US National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).
