Ann Leen Receives 2026 Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award

Ann Leen, PhD, has received a 2026 Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award from Baylor College of Medicine recognizing her outstanding scientific contributions and leadership in cellular immunotherapy.

The award recognizes Baylor College of Medicine faculty whose recent publications have made significant contributions to clinical or basic biomedical research over a three-year period.

Dr. Leen’s work focuses on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer and serious infections. Her research centers on the development and clinical translation of T cell–based therapies, effectively bridging laboratory discovery and patient care to expand treatment options for patients with limited therapeutic choices.

She has played a pivotal role in advancing T-cell therapies, including multiantigen-targeted approaches designed to address tumor heterogeneity and immune escape.  Her studies demonstrate that these therapies can be delivered safely while providing durable, long-term patient benefits.

In addition, Dr. Leen has advanced T-cell therapies that target viral infections, particularly for immunocompromised patients who require rapid intervention. She has helped establish off-the-shelf, multivirus-specific T-cell platforms, enabling faster targeted treatment, while improving access to care.

Her contributions have also streamlined and standardized manufacturing processes, reducing production complexity and expanding access to clinical-grade therapies.

Her research has been published in leading journals such as Nature Medicine, The Lancet Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research and Blood. Through these high-impact clinical and translational studies, her work continues to advance immune-based therapies and bring innovative cellular treatments closer to routine clinical use for patients worldwide.

Texas Children’s Hospital is proud to recognize Dr. Leen for this achievement and her continued contributions to advancing pediatric care.

View Ann Leen's TXCH profile here.

Read more: https://www.bcm.edu/news/baylor-recognizes-research-excellence-with-debakey-awards