Dr. Leslie Khawli is a member of the faculty at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and currently the Director of the Pathology Graduate Program. Dr. Khawli holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon and a PhD in bioorganic chemistry from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. After completing a NIH postdoctoral research fellowship in experimental nuclear medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, he joined the faculty at USC and has achieved the status of full professor. Dr. Khawli successfully made a transition to the biotechnology industry and joined Genentech/Roche in San Francisco to lead a wide range of research scientists in the practical application of his research and skills. After 8 years, he made a switch back to USC so he could translate his real-industrial drug development experience into an academic role.
Dr. Khawli active research has been revolved around the interface of chemistry and biology, specifically in the design, characterization and delivery of antibody, ADC, fusion protein, and cell-based therapeutics. A major research focus is to increase the value of mechanistic pharmacology of targeted biotherapeutics and investigate the structural and functional properties affecting their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and metabolism, while ensuring safety and efficacy. His laboratory works effectively with Dr. Alan Epstein and many other interdisciplinary teams at USC to support the preclinical development of biotherapeutics that translate to clinical applications. These joint collaborative efforts have been supported by research agencies, private foundations, and numerous pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Khawli research has been reported in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications as well as book chapters and review articles. His research discoveries have resulted in several US and international patents pertaining to the targeted delivery of biotherapeutics. He is an accomplished scientist in his field and has been actively participating in various biotechnology companies in the US and abroad as a scientific consultant.
Dr. Khawli has had a long-standing commitment to various education and administrative programs aimed at mentoring and training graduate students and young researchers for careers in academia or biotech and pharma industry. He is also the recipient of numerous teaching, research and service awards.