James Heffernan, PhD

Sr. Scientist

Jim joined Luminary Therapeutics in February 2025. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology from Washington University in Saint Louis, where he studied small molecules produced by antibiotic resistant uropathogenic E. coli under Dr. Jeff Henderson. His dissertation research identified a novel quorum sensing transcription regulation pathway controlling the small molecule Yersiniabactin, a small molecule linked to antibiotic resistance. Jim joined Luminary after working at Wilson Wolf Manufacturing where he worked as a science liaison for companies making cell therapies. At Luminary, Jim is supporting the Oncology wing of the company as well as expanding the scale of manufacturing cell therapy products.