Dr. Bettina J. Steffen joined LLS in 2023 as Senior Director of Research Programs. She is the science officer for the LLS investigator-initiated clinical trials (ACT) and Research Accelerator for Follicular Lymphoma (RAFL) grant programs focusing on translating innovative research into clinical trials that will pave the way for new therapies to treat blood cancers.
Bettina brings more than 15 years of experience in research program leadership and therapeutic development to LLS. Prior to joining LLS, Bettina served as Associate Director of Therapeutic Development at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), where she led a scientific team managing a portfolio of clinical and translational research awards across multiple therapeutic areas including hematology and oncology. She successfully led international funding alliances with the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium Canada and the Medical Research Council of the UK. Earlier in her career, she held roles at ProSanos Corporation and healthcare technology companies, where she managed research programs and developed healthcare innovations. Bettina received her M.D. from Stanford School of Medicine and her A.B. in Biology from Dartmouth College. Beyond her professional work, she demonstrates community commitment through board service at the Urban School of San Francisco and Americares.