Dr. Qiu is accomplished biopharma executive consultant with 25-year US and international experience in pioneering and participating on some of the most exciting ophthalmic therapeutic innovations (cell/gene therapy and drug discovery & delivery innovation). Most recently, she served as Consulting Chief Scientific & Medical Officer for Lineage Cell Therapeutics to help solve problems, create product values and make informed decision. Previously, she advised Astellas Pharma and Sanofi Aventis on the first human hRPE transplant and first lentiviral gene therapy for Stargardt’s macular degeneration, respectively. As retinal surgeon-biologist, she pioneered the use of 41G minimally invasive subretinal gene/cell delivery system, which has become the standard of care of subretinal gene therapy as of today (such as Luxtuna). Her conceptual idea of using suprachoroidal space for AAV gene delivery is becoming alternative new route of AAV gene delivery to the retina. In 2009, she invented a novel cell “reprogramming” method to generate human photoreceptor progenitors, which first time demonstrated the regenerative potentials of mammalian human retina. She also established a strategic roadmap for hESC or iPSC derivative cell therapy clinical development & validation, and established a new regulatory standard of early stage gene therapy for inherited retinal degeneration. At big data era, she pioneered of leveraging scientific data and evidence for drug discovery and development, which resulted in 80% R&D budget saving with high rate of success. Along with Prof John Marshall @ UCL, her “discovery” of Trabodenoson for extracellular matrix tissue rejuvenation is opening a new horizon of regenerative medicine for aging related diseases.

A Lawful US citizen through Naturalization since Feb 11th 2011!

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