Frontage Laboratories, an Exton, Pennsylvania-based global CRO/CDMO, has appointed Yuxiang (Richard) Huang, Ph.D. as Vice President, Biologics, Gene and Cell Therapy (BGCT) and Genomics Services, the company announced on October 19, 2026. Huang brings more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology, advanced therapeutics, genomics and process development. He has supported more than 15 technology transfers and more than 10 IND/BLA programs, with deep expertise in cell and gene therapy, CMC strategy and GMP manufacturing readiness.
Frontage said Huang is recognized for his scientific depth, collaborative leadership style and ability to translate complex client needs into coordinated development plans. The company added that his combination of genomics innovation and advanced therapeutics experience will strengthen its BGCT and Genomics Services capabilities. Under a matrix reporting structure, Huang will report to Tony Liu, Ph.D., SVP and Head of US CDMO, for BGCT services, and to John Lin, Ph.D., Co-CEO, for Genomics Services.
About Yuxiang (Richard) Huang
Before joining Frontage, Huang worked as an independent CMC consultant, advising biotech companies on manufacturing strategy, CDMO selection, technology transfer and clinical supply planning. He previously served as Executive Director and Head of Cell Therapy and Viral Vector Process Development at Minaris Advanced Therapies, supporting more than 15 clinical and commercial-stage cell and gene therapy client projects. Before Minaris, he held Senior Director and Executive Director roles at WuXi Advanced Therapies, where he grew the process development team to 38 scientists and engineers. His teams transferred more than 15 programs into GMP manufacturing across modalities including CAR-T, TIL, HSC, MSC, NK, lentiviral vectors and AAV.
Earlier, Huang led a sequencing and molecular biology team supporting antigen discovery and TCR-T development at Kite Pharma, a Gilead Sciences company, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, collaborating with partners including the National Cancer Institute. He spent nearly nine years at Illumina, leading flowcell development and sequencing teams that supported the HiSeq X, NovaSeq and iSeq platforms, and he is a named contributor on patented sequencing and flowcell technologies.
Huang earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Hong Kong. He also holds a Master’s in Biochemistry and a Bachelor’s in Microbiology from Sichuan University.
About Frontage Laboratories
Frontage Laboratories is a global pharmaceutical development organization that advances drug discovery and development through integrated laboratory and clinical services. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, the company has 28 sites across North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe and about 2,200 employees worldwide, and it has completed more than 200 FDA inspections. Its services span drug discovery, DMPK, safety and toxicology, bioanalytical and genomics testing, central lab services, CMC product development and manufacturing, including biologics and cell and gene therapy, and early-phase clinical trials.
