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. In 2023, she was an honoree for the Committee of 100 Circle of Excellence Award in Humanity in Science & Technology and the recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award by the American Chemical Society San Diego Section. In 2022, she received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from her doctorate alma mater, Ohio State University, and the San Diego BioPharma Achievement Award from SABPA for outstanding contributions to the San Diego biotech industry. In addition, Dr. Cui was an honoree for the 2021 and 2013 American Chemical Society (ACS) Heroes of Chemistry Program for the design and development of lorlatinib and crizotinib, respectively. In 2013, she won the inaugural CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences. In both 2012 and 2006, Dr. Cui received the Pfizer Worldwide R&D Achievement Award. In 2011, her crizotinib chemistry team at Pfizer received the 38th National Inventor of the Year Award from the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Dr. Cui was also awarded the Pfizer Innovation Award that same year.

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.