About Chaofeng Liu
Long before hitting his stride in the pharmaceutical industry, Chaofeng Liu was quietly enthralled by patterns and data, as well as the logic that underpins the universe. Born and raised in Beijing, China, Chaofeng pursued his early academic training at Peking University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Probability and Statistics.
Even at that stage of life, Chaofeng’s insatiable curiosity was matched only by his desire to lead; he held numerous leadership positions on campus and garnered several awards for academic excellence, including the Outstanding Student Fellowship and Young Scientist Awards at Peking University.
However, statistics was never just about formulas and theories for Chaofeng. It was a gateway to real-world impact. His passion for using data to answer meaningful questions led him across the globe to the United States, where he completed a Ph.D. in Biostatistics at UCLA and later an Executive MBA from Purdue University. With a rare blend of technical skill and business acumen, Chaofeng set out to make a dent in the healthcare universe.
Building Bridges Between Science and Healing
For over 22 years, Chaofeng Liu has worked at the interface between science, strategy, and human health. He has worked in numerous therapeutic areas—from neuroscience to oncology and all stages of clinical development, from early-stage development to regulatory submission and product approval.
His career began at Eli Lilly, where he quickly became one of the statistical, process innovation, and cross-functional leadership talents. Over the years, he held senior roles in global organizations like Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Forest Laboratories, PAREXEL, and Astellas Pharmaceuticals. Chaofeng brought a steady hand, a strategic mind, and a deep respect for the scientific process at each stop.
One of the most defining chapters of his career came during his time at Astellas, where he spearheaded statisticians to develop Gilteritinib, a first-in-class targeted treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). He’s credited with leading the Gilteritinib (FLT3 TKI) compound team from the FIH trial to Accelerated Approval and full Approval in FDA, PMDA, and EMA.
A Mind That Never Stops Asking “What If?”
Innovation has never been an afterthought for Chaofeng—it’s foundational to his approach. He’s long been a leader in the field, introducing adaptive trial designs that increase efficiency while maintaining scientific integrity.
Within Astellas, he ran an innovation team that developed adaptive designs for seamless phase I/II and phase II/III trial structures. These designs helped expedite drug development and make it more responsive to patients.
Over the years, Chaofeng has also developed and deployed novel statistical methodologies that are now widely cited and adopted in the field. He has contributed to leading medical journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, and Statistics in Medicine.
The Architect of Teams and Culture
Beyond his achievements, Chaofeng has always been a builder of teams and a mentor of future leaders. As the VP of Biometrics and Data Management at EpimAb Biotherapeutics, he didn’t just lead strategy—he built the department from scratch.
He also recruited talent, built structure, and implemented systems to support the company’s increasing clinical pipeline. Most importantly, he created an environment where innovation and rigor could coexist.
His life also focused on creating algorithms that efficiently and accurately analyze large, high-dimensional data sets. As founder of ACME Data Analysis and Services, LLC, his current role is a natural extension of his life’s work. He provides statistical consulting services on clinical trial design and analysis for biotech companies such as Immunocore, Kyverna, Fate, BlueSphere, and CareDx. Chaofeng also addresses complicated statistical issues in clinical studies and communications with regulatory agencies, primarily for Oncology drugs.
A Voice That Carries in Academia
While his primary domain is industry, Chaofeng stays close to academia. He has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Statistics at Purdue University for over a decade, teaching and mentoring students. He brings textbook knowledge and decades of practical experience to the classroom, helping students better understand how statistics work in the real world.
His dedication to the larger statistical community is evident from his professional organization service. As President and Program Chair of the ASA Northern Indiana Chapter for 2013, 2017, and 2018, Chaofeng coordinated opportunities for learning and sharing among colleagues. Whether organizing conferences or leading technical sessions at the Joint Statistical Meetings, he consistently gives back to the community that helped shape his career.
Excellence Without Ego
With all he’s achieved, Chaofeng is as humble as they come. He’s not one to drop a title or mention an award, even though he holds many, including the Astellas President Award, multiple academic fellowships, and industry-wide recognition for his work in oncology drug development.
To those who know him, Chaofeng is humble, approachable, and deeply committed to doing things correctly. Whether solving a complex statistical problem, leading a team, or mentoring a young scientist, he shows up with integrity, patience, and a deep love for the craft.
Statistics with a Soul
What makes Chaofeng Liu different is not so much what he knows but how he uses that knowledge. He brings something beyond the routine to an enterprise based on deadlines, exactitude, and competition: a sense of mission.
Celebrating his 60th birthday this month, he has never wavered from his determination to increase his understanding of statistical methodology, support start-up biotech companies, and train younger statisticians. From West Lafayette, Indiana, he still does more than most of us to shape the present and future of clinical research—quietly and without fuss.
