Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 11/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Yan Xu, MD, PhD, Section Head, Clinical Pharmacology, Biogen, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Why did you choose to participate in the Career Connect program?
I chose to participate in Career Connect because I see it as a meaningful way to give back to the ASCPT community by sharing lessons from my journey and helping others navigate this interesting field. It is also a great way to connect with and learn from others at different stages of their careers.
How has your membership in ASCPT benefited your career?
Being part of ASCPT has helped me stay connected with the latest science and connect with so many inspiring people in our field. I have learned so much from others through conferences, webinars, and the community as a whole. I especially enjoyed reading the ASCPT journals, where the perspectives and white papers have influenced how I think about our work and its impact we can make on drug development and patients.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of building and leading teams that have brought innovative therapies to patients who really needed them. Knowing that our work has made a difference in people’s lives is rewarding and motivates me to keep going every day.
What is the most important leadership lesson you have learned the hard way?
I have learned that leadership is not just about meeting goals and delivering results. It is about listening, bringing people together, and helping others grow and succeed, even when things get tough. Those moments have helped both me and my teams grow.
When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
I love spending time with my family, hiking, exploring nature, and reading about history. Those moments help me recharge and often spark new ideas for my work.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
I stag motivated by being curious and open to learning and trying something new. Whether it is exploring tools like AI, working with new modalities like cell therapy, learning about new disease like rare disease, or finding smarter ways to design trials, I find it exciting to connect ideas and come up with better ways to move things forward.
Dr. Xu has been a member of ASCPT since 2018.
