Yuhua (Albert) Wang
Boston,MA
Summary
- Strategic leader in drug delivery and nanomedicine, with 18+ years spanning early research through GMP manufacturing, driving innovation in nanoparticle-based therapeutics and patient-centric delivery solutions.
- Expert in advanced delivery science, with demonstrated success in designing and implementing lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and virus-like biomimetic systems for efficient delivery of nucleic acids (mRNA, siRNA, ASO, pDNA), small molecules, and peptide therapeutics across systemic and local administration routes.
- Proven record of cross-functional leadership, mentoring high-performing teams and orchestrating collaborations across research, computational, analytical development, and process development groups to ensure seamless translation from discovery to manufacturing.
- Shaped portfolio strategies for global pharma leaders (AstraZeneca, Takeda, GSK, LEO Pharma) by integrating AI/ML, NLP, and patient-level analytics to inform oncology positioning, optimize resource allocation, and accelerate drug candidate identification.
- Recognized opinion leader in excipient standards, contributing to the USP Excipient Expert Committee by developing compendial standards, modernizing analytical methods, and advocating harmonization efforts with regulators including the FDA.
- Strong scientific communicator with 37 peer-reviewed publications (4,300+ citations, H-index 32), 4 patents, 2 book chapters, and leadership in external collaborations — reinforcing organizational excellence in innovation and scientific strategy.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Expert Committee
US Pharmacopeia Excipient Expert Committee
01.2025 - 01.2030
- Develop new compendial standards and modernizing analytical and characterization methods to advance quality and safety of pharmaceutical excipients (lipids and polymers).
Director, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
08.2024 - Current
- Partnered with gene editing teams to enhance the AATD program’s drug potency by 800-fold, achieving successful drug candidate nomination.
- Pioneered next-generation chemically modified RNA technology, achieving 7× durability and 10× expression improvements, and established a scalable GMP-ready manufacturing process.
- Led strategic planning and tech-transfer for establishing internal GMP LNP manufacturing capabilities, enabling future scalability and clinical readiness.
- Anticipated delivery science trends and launched external collaborations to drive innovation in RNA and nanoparticle delivery, securing competitive advantage for the pipeline.
Associate Director, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
03.2023 - 08.2024
- Served as one of four primary stakeholders overseeing external manufacturing of two in vivo gene editing programs CTX310 and CTX320. Successfully completed GMP production for both programs within 18 months from drug candidate nomination under constrained resources, enabling first-in-human dosing.
- Established internal capabilities for gram-scale production of gRNA, mRNA, and LNP, strengthening organizational self-sufficiency.
- Launched an internal RNA database, linking thousands of sequences with quality attributes and biological activity to enable data-driven trending and ML-based genetic medicine development.
- Advanced ligation-based extra-long gRNA engineering, substantially improving quality attributes while reducing production costs for drug substance manufacturing.
- Aligned cross-functional teams (research, analytical development, process development, and computational science) to build pipeline strategies, ensuring seamless preclinical program translation into development.
Principal Scientist, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Designed and implemented antibody-conjugated LNP formulations for HSC-targeted, extra-hepatic delivery, expanding the therapeutic reach of gene editing programs.
- Led vendor selection and managed external manufacturing partnerships for critical raw materials, ensuring supply reliability and quality.
Senior Healthcare Analytics Consultant
Cobbs Creek Healthcare
10.2020 - 02.2022
- Shaped market strategies and portfolio market by applying machine learning and patient-level data analytics to uncover treatment trends for AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI, and by building oncology forecast models for Takeda to support territory-based business development.
- Optimized resource allocation and operational efficiency at LEO Pharma through the development of demand forecasting models, while also advancing drug discovery efforts at GSK by partnering with data scientists to design NLP models that identified potential candidates from large literature databases.
- Delivered high-impact commercial insights through competitive landscape and pricing analyses for commercial-stage drug launch campaign, as well as market intelligence reports for biotech startups that directly supported successful fundraising and market entry strategies.
Director of Research
OncoTrap Inc
07.2017 - 02.2022
- Co-founded and led a nanomedicine startup spun out from UNC’s Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, developing next-generation lipid nanoparticle delivery platforms for gene and RNA therapeutics.
- Secured NIH SBIR funding as Principal Investigator to advance a lipid nanoparticle-based gene therapy for cytokine storm syndrome, while overseeing internal R&D, external CDMO partnerships, and IND-enabling development.
- Directed corporate strategy and operations, managing budgets, and driving alignment between technical milestones, funding objectives, and investor relations.
Education
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Pharmacogenengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC07.2016
Ph.D. - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Washington State University
Pullman, WA08.2010
Bachelor of Science - Life Sciences
Fudan University
Shanghai, China05.2005
Selected Publications
- H. Lara#, Y. Wang#, AS. Beltran, K. Juárez-Moreno, X. Yuan, S. Kato, AV. Leisewitz, M. Cuello Fredes, AF. Licea, DC. Connolly, L. Huang, P. Blancafort. Targeting serous epithelial ovarian cancer with designer zinc finger transcription factors. J Biol Chem. 287(35): 29873-86 (2012) (Co-first author) (plasmid delivery)
- Y. Wang, H. Su, Y. Yang, Y. Hu, L. Zhang, P. Blancafort, L. Huang. Systemic Delivery of Modified mRNA Encoding Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Thymidine Kinase for Targeted Cancer Gene Therapy. Mol Ther. Feb; 21(2): 358-67 (2012) highlighted by Cell Therapy News (December. 17, 2012) (mRNA delivery)
- Y. Wang#, Z Xu#, S Guo, L Zhang, A Sharma, GP. Robertson and L Huang. Intravenous Delivery of siRNA Targeting CD47 Effectively Inhibits Melanoma Tumor Growth and Lung Metastasis. Mol Ther 21(10): 1919-1929 (2013) (Co-first author; # corresponding author) (siRNA delivery)
- Y. Wang and L. Huang. A window onto siRNA delivery. Nat Biotechnol 31(7):611-2. (2013)
- S Guo, Y Wang, L. Miao, Z Xu, M Lin, Y Zhang and L Huang. Lipid-coated cisplatin nanoparticles induce neighboring effect and exhibit enhanced anticancer efficacy. ACS Nano 7(11), 9896-9904 (2013) (Chemodrug delivery)
- Z. Xu#, Y. Wang#, L. Zhang and L Huang. Nanoparticle-Delivered Transforming Growth Factor-β siRNA Enhances Vaccination against Advanced Melanoma by Modifying Tumor Microenvironment. ACS Nano (Co-first author) (peptide delivery)
- Y. Wang, L. Huang Composite nanoparticles for gene delivery. Adv Genet 88:111-37. (2014)
- Y. Wang, L. Miao, A Satterlee and L. Huang. Delivery of oligonucleotides with lipid nanoparticles. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 87: 68-80 (2015)
- Y. Zhao, M. Huo, Z. Xu, Y. Wang# and L. Huang#. Nanoparticle delivery of CDDO-Me remodels the tumor microenvironment and enhances vaccine therapy for melanoma. Biomaterials. 68:54-66 (2015) (# corresponding author) (Chemodrug Delivery)
- L. Cheng#, Y. Wang# And L. Huang. Exosomes from M1-Polarized Macrophages Potentiate the Cancer Vaccine by Creating a Pro-inflammatory Microenvironment in the Lymph Node. Mol Ther. 25(7):1665-1675 (2017) (#Co-first author) (exosome-based delivery)
- Y. Wang, L. Zhang, Z. Xu, L. Miao, L. Huang; mRNA Vaccine with Antigen-Specific Checkpoint Blockade Induces an Enhanced Immune Response Against Established Melanoma. Mol Ther (2017) (mRNA/siRNA delivery)
Timeline
Expert Committee
US Pharmacopeia Excipient Expert Committee
01.2025 - 01.2030
Director, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
08.2024 - Current
Associate Director, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
03.2023 - 08.2024
Principal Scientist, Non-Viral Delivery
CRISPR Therapeutics
03.2022 - 03.2023
Senior Healthcare Analytics Consultant
Cobbs Creek Healthcare
10.2020 - 02.2022
Director of Research
OncoTrap Inc
07.2017 - 02.2022
Ph.D. - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Washington State University
Postdoctoral Research Associate - Pharmacogenengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Science - Life Sciences
Fudan University
Similar Profiles
DEEPAK PADHIDEEPAK PADHI
Senior Manager Business HR at Arihant Innochem, Pharma & Personal Care Excipient CompanySenior Manager Business HR at Arihant Innochem, Pharma & Personal Care Excipient Company
Himavarsha KandruHimavarsha Kandru
Team Lead, Customer Service at United states PharmacopeiaTeam Lead, Customer Service at United states Pharmacopeia
Lakishia S. JamesLakishia S. James
Scientist (Level II) at Biologics Laboratory, United States PharmacopeiaScientist (Level II) at Biologics Laboratory, United States Pharmacopeia
Natasha SanchezNatasha Sanchez
CNA at Brighton HospiceCNA at Brighton Hospice
Isabella PingreyIsabella Pingrey
Summer Marketing Internship at Tidal MagazineSummer Marketing Internship at Tidal Magazine