Annalee Nguyen

Annalee Nguyen is a Research Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, where she holds a dual appointment in the Advanced Protein Therapeutics Core (APT). She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2006), and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (2000). Dr. Nguyen specializes in protein engineering and antibody-based therapeutics, focusing on reducing treatment side effects in cancer and infectious diseases. As Director of the CPRIT-funded APT Core, she leads efforts to develop therapies targeting pancreatic, brain, breast, and other cancers through collaborations with institutions like Dell Medical School and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Her research emphasizes precision therapies, such as bispecific antibodies and pH-sensitive proteins to minimize on-target off-tumor effects. Current projects include leveraging tumor microenvironment acidity and collaborations with Dr. William Matsui on pancreatic cancer stem cell targeting. The APT Core provides advanced capabilities in protein production, phage display, and cellular assays, alongside training programs like the annual Phage Display Short Course.

Dr. Nguyen’s work bridges academia and industry, with contributions to antibody engineering, T-cell receptor design, and biologic drug development. Her lab supports translational research, advancing therapies from discovery to pre-clinical models, with a focus on improving patient quality of life during treatment.