Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Professor, Department of Anesthesia, UCSF
Biography
Dr. Liu is globally recognized for his research in antibody-based cancer target discovery and therapeutic development. His groundbreaking work in prostate cancer and multiple myeloma led to the founding of Fortis Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer therapies. The Liu lab identifies novel antigens and epitopes through a unique, non-gene expression-based approach and develops therapeutics using human monoclonal and multi-specific antibodies. Dr. Liu has successfully translated several laboratory discoveries into clinical trials. Notably, he identified CD46 as a novel, lineage-independent antigen in prostate cancer, developed a human monoclonal antibody that binds to a tumor-selective epitope on CD46, and created an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) now in three clinical trials. In his study on mesothelioma, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, he also identified ALPPL2ALPG, a genuinely tumor-specific cell surface antigen, and developed ALPPL2-targeted ADC and T cell redirection therapies, which have been licensed to biotech companies for clinical development.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley
Track Chair: Maryland Franklin, Labcorp
- Cross-Application of Oncology Drugs in Rare Diseases
- Razelle Kurzrock, Medical College of Wisconsin
- PMWC 2025 Award Ceremony
Luminary Honoree: David R. Liu, Broad Institute & Crystal Mackal, Stanford University
Pioneer Honoree: Drew Weissman, Penn Medicine
- Breakthroughs in Cancer Immunotherapy: mRNA Vaccines and CAR T-Cell Advances (PANEL)
Chair: Ira Mellman, Medici Therapeutics
- Drew Weissman, Penn Medicine
- Crystal Mackal, Stanford University - Next-Generation ADCs: Challenges and Innovations in Immunotherapy Combinations (PANEL)
Chair: Sandhya Girish, Gilead
- Bin Liu, UCSF
- Hanspeter Gerber, Sutro Bioscience
- Amrita Kamath, Genentech
- Stephen Eck, MacroGenics - Strategic IP Management in Cell and Gene Therapy: Navigating Legal and Practical Challenges
- Janet Xiao, Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Keynote: Base Editing, Prime Editing, and Targeted Gene Integration: Precision Therapeutic Genome Editingn
- David R. Liu, Broad Institute
- Advances in Allogeneic Cell Therapies: Overcoming Hurdles and Expanding Applications (PANEL)
Chair: Elliot Norry, Adaptimmune
- Larry Lamb, IN8bio
- Indu Ramachandran, Century Therapeutics - Bottlenecks in Manufacturing of Cell Therapies
- Fabian Gerlinghaus, Cellares
- Transforming Cancer Treatment: Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Breakthroughs
Chair: Catriona Jamieson, UCSD Health
- Irv Weisman, Stanford
- Collaborations Advancing Genetics-based Diagnostic Testing for Cell and Gene Therapy
Chair: Maryland Franklin, Labcorp
- Data-Driven Innovations in Oncology Cell Therapy Trials
- Prabhu Snehit, Stanford
- Advancements and Future Directions in Therapeutic Ultrasound for Precision Medicine
Chair: Masha Stromme, EXACT Therapeutics
- John de Groot, UCSF
- Bhaskar Ramamurthy, Cordance Medical
- Raag Airan, Stanford
Davos of Precision Medicine
PMWC 2027 Program
January 27–29, 2027 · Santa Clara Convention Center
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