Kun (Quinn) Yao

Kun (Quinn) Yao has worked in the biotech industry since 1994. Kun (Quinn) began their career as an Assistant Researcher at the University of Maryland at College Park, where they developed a reverse genetics system for birnaviruses. After that, they were a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Human Gene Therapy, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where they constructed and evaluated recombinant adenovirus and adeno-associated virus viral vectors for human gene therapy applications. In 1999, they joined Wyeth Research as a Principal Scientist and Section Head of Wyeth Vaccine Analytical Development, where they led the Protein and Molecular Characterization group responsible for analytical method development, qualification, validation and technology transfer. Kun (Quinn) then moved to Wyeth Vaccines Research as Associate Director. In 2008, they joined MedImmune, Biological Division of AstraZeneca as Associate Director, where they provided technical leadership and support for live attenuated influenza virus vaccine fill/finish operation and commercial production and QC release testing. In 2015, they became Director of Global Technical Operations (GTO) at AstraZeneca-Biologicals. In 2018, they joined Spark Therapeutics, Inc. as Analytical & Technology Development Leader, Process Development, where they built up the Analytical and Technology Development Team and directed efforts to develop QTPPs and CQAs for AAV based gene therapeutics pipeline products. In 2020, they became Executive Director at Passage Bio. Most recently, in 2022, they were appointed Vice President (VP), Head of CMC and Tech Ops at NeuExcell Therapeutics.

Kun (Quinn) Yao obtained a Master's degree in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology from the China Veterinary Drug Control Institute between 1988 and 1991. From 1994 to 1995, they attended Auburn University, studying Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Kun (Quinn) then attended the University of Maryland, where they earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Virology & Immunology between 1995 and 1998. Afterward, they completed a Post-doc fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Gene Therapy, Virology, and Immunology in 1999.