Kitana Kaiphanliam, PhD

Dr. Kitana Kaiphanliam has diverse work experience in biotechnology and engineering and is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Ananta Technologies, a biotechnology startup focused on resolving manufacturing bottlenecks for cell therapies. At Ananta Technologies, she is leading the development of the CentriFLEX bioreactor for optimal T cell growth in cancer immunotherapy treatments.

Prior to her role at Ananta Technologies, Dr. Kaiphanliam was a Graduate Research Assistant at Washington State University from 2017 to 2023. Under the guidance of Professor Bernard Van Wie, she worked on two NSF-funded projects: designing a bioreactor for T cell manufacturing in cancer immunotherapy and developing a hands-on learning tool for undergraduate engineering students. Dr. Kaiphanliam also gained experience as an Undergraduate Research Assistant working under Professor Xiao Zhang at Washington State University Tri-Cities, where she analyzed potential co-products of converting biorefinery lignin to biofuels.

Overall, Dr. Kaiphanliam has a strong background in biotechnology, research, teaching, and mentoring. Kitana brings a unique combination of academic and industry experience to her current role at Ananta Technologies.