J. Jean Cui, Ph.D.

J. Jean Cui, Ph.D., is one of BlossomHill Therapeutics’ cofounders and the scientific leader of its pipeline programs. Dr. Cui was the scientific founder of the San Diego-based oncology biotech company Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (Turning Point). Turning Point went public on NASDAQ in April 2019 (Ticker: TPTX) and was acquired in August 2022 by Bristol Myers Squibb for $4.1 billion. From 2013 to 2020, Dr. Cui served as Turning Point’s chief scientific officer and a member of its board of directors. Prior to Turning Point, Dr. Cui was a senior principal scientist and associate research fellow at Pfizer in La Jolla, Calif. Before Pfizer, Dr. Cui served as project leader and group leader at SUGEN, Inc., a Pharmacia Corporation.

With more than 25 years in the industry, Dr. Cui has made significant contributions to oncology drug discovery and development, including leading the design and development of three marketed medicines: repotrectinib (AUGTYRO^®), crizotinib (XALKORI^®) and lorlatinib (LORBRENA^®).

Dr. Cui has been the recipient of numerous noteworthy awards and recognitions. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2024. Dr. Cui and her Crizotinib chemistry team at Pfizer were selected for the 38th National Inventor of the Year Award in 2011. She was an honoree for the 2013 American Chemical Society (ACS)’s Heroes of Chemistry Program for the discovery and development of Crizotinib. Dr. Cui received her 2nd Heroes of Chemistry Award from ACS in 2021 for the discovery and development of Lorlatinib. She is the recipient of 2023 Distinguished Scientist Award from ACS San Diego Section. Dr. Cui received 2 Pfizer Worldwide R&D Achievement Awards (2006 and 2012) and Pfizer innovation award in 2011. She received the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from her Ph.D. alma mater. Dr. Cui was the winner of 2022 San Diego BioPharma Achievement Award by SABPA. She is an honoree for The Committe of 100 Circle of Excellence Award in Humanity in Science & Technology in 2023.

Dr. Cui received her doctorate from Ohio State University and her Bachelor and Master of Science from the University of Science and Technology of China. She obtained her postdoctoral training at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California Berkeley.