Leisha Emens

Dr. Leisha Emens has served as Senior Vice President, Translational Research since December 2022. Dr. Emens joins Ankyra from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center where she has served as professor of medicine, director of translational immunotherapy for the Women’s Cancer Research Center, and co-leader, of the Cancer Immunology, and Immunotherapy Program.

Dr. Emens is a medical oncologist focused on breast cancer and is internationally recognized for her work in breast cancer immunotherapy. She developed and tested a vaccine for breast cancer patients, and more recently has played a key role in the development of the anti-PD-L1 agent atezolizumab for triple-negative breast cancer and HER2+ breast cancer.