Yu-Fen Chang

CEO and founder
LumiSTAR Biotechnology

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Dr. Chang worked on projects involving the development of a variety of luminescent and fluorescent protein-based indicators during her PhD, which could be used for cellular dynamics measurements and real-time in vivo tracking. In 2011, she was awarded the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship to incorporate these indicators into the development of advanced imaging technology for measuring cellular function. Her research results were published in several high-impact journals. Subsequently, she received a research grant from BHF (2013-2016) to support her research at John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford University, where she integrated the developed technologies into iPSC applications for drug screening and precision medicine. In 2016, she founded LumiSTAR Biotechnology and led the company in the development of high-throughput screening platforms for drug discovery and iPSC-associated cell therapy.
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Speech title & Synopsis

Modernizing Drug Discovery: Innovative Human iPSC-Derived 3D Models as Animal Testing Alternatives.

The FDA Modernization Act 3.0 is accelerating the adoption of innovative, human iPSC-derived 3D models as animal testing alternatives in drug discovery. Our portfolio includes advanced neurodegenerative disease models and cardiotoxicity models, which are engineered from patient-specific stem cells to closely replicate human tissue architecture and function. These models provide more accurate predictions of drug efficacy and safety compared to traditional animal or 2D cell cultures, capturing complex cell interactions and genetic diversity relevant to human health. Integrated into high-throughput screening platforms, these systems enable rapid and cost-effective compound evaluation, align with regulatory trends favoring human-relevant data, and address ethical concerns around animal use. By offering robust tools for modeling diseases like Alzheimer’s and assessing cardiac safety, our approach enhances the translatability of preclinical findings and supports the development of safer, more effective therapies in a truly modernized drug discovery process.