Biography

Emily M. Lee, Ph.D., is a staff scientist and functional group lead in the Early Translation Branch (ETB) of NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation (DPI). Additionally, she is a senior staff scientist in the center’s 3-D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory. Lee has a diverse background in human disease, high-throughput screening, and induced pluripotent stem cells and primary cells. She uses her knowledge to research, assess and apply new assay technologies to develop cost-effective assays that are physiologically relevant. These assays include 3-D organotypic models to discover and develop drugs for neurologic disorders, liver disease, and encephalitic viral infections.

Prior to joining the ETB as a biologist, Lee was a postdoctoral fellow in DPI’s Therapeutic Development Branch. There, she developed high-throughput assays for rare and neglected diseases and for rare genetic diseases. These assays included antiviral screening.

Lee earned her doctorate in cell and molecular biology from Florida State University. She worked with Hengli Tang, Ph.D., to study host–pathogen interactions and identify potential antiviral compounds. Her efforts focused on positive-sense RNA viruses in the Flaviviridae family.

Research Topics

Lee’s research focuses on developing and describing cell-based and tissue-engineered platforms for modeling viral diseases and finding antiviral drugs. She and her team work closely together on fast-paced projects. Their current efforts address high-impact Biosafety Levels (BSL)-2 and BSL-3 viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Lee’s team also works jointly with members of the 3-D Tissue Bioprinting Program, as well as with academic, government and industry partners.