Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 2/1/2026 12:00:00 AM
Ivy Dong, PhD, Associate Director Clinical Pharmacology, Abbvie, Inc., Irvine, CA
What is your favorite part of being the Cell, Gene, Regenerative Medicine & Nucleic Acid (CGRN) Community Vice Chair?
Meeting people! Through organizing community events and core member monthly meetings, I get to know many fellow clinical pharmacologists and pharmacometricians, with expertise in different modalities and disease areas. It truly feels like a community to share experiences and insights. I recognize some of their names from literature I read—it is really exciting to put a face to the name and to have an opportunity for in-depth discussions.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I was part of the team that enabled the first IND using in vivo, systemic CRISPR gene editing. It was exciting to learn and innovate with the team on different considerations for a new modality. I hope gene editing can live up to its promise of offering potential cures and substantially reducing disease burdens for patients.
Who has inspired you in your career?
There are so many of them! I am inspired by people around me all the time: mentors, colleagues, and friends. Some inspire me not to be afraid of seemingly impossible ideas. Some remind me to always keep the big picture in mind. Some are role models on my teams. Some inspire me to always think about the science in context.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
The greatest challenge is determining how much to influence a team decision. I find it really tricky to balance the right “dose” of influence I should make when we try to decide as a team, especially on strategy decisions that you can argue both ways. On the spectrum from not expressing my opinion to being strongly assertive, it is difficult to know how much I should push.
When you are not working, how do you spend your free time?
Exercise takes up a big chunk of my free time, like playing tennis, swimming, and doing Pilates. I love catching up with friends over a relaxing brunch and exploring the different parts of the city.
Dr. Dong has been a member of ASCPT since 2023.
