Dr. Jin Lee (Am’08) has had a very transformative experience since her studies at the University of Oxford as a Thouron Scholar. Now the CoFounder and CEO of IMIDeology, a multidisciplinary, virtual and in-person clinic specialising in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), she has a deeply personal and mission-driven reason behind bringing forth transformative experiences for others.
Born in China, having lived and travelled across the U.S., U.K., and Middle East, Dr. Lee is no stranger to pushing herself towards new things and accepting new challenges. “By the time I was a junior at Penn, I’d already studied in China, the U.S., and Jordan. I valued the importance of international study and wanted to join a talented group of alumni to study in England,” she shares.
With her bachelor’s degree in Biological Basis of Behaviour and Biology, plus a minor in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Lee headed off to Oxford’s prestigious DPhil Experimental Psychology programme.
The Transformation Begins
“The Thouron Award profoundly shaped my time abroad. It gave me the opportunity to study at Oxford University, where I not only deepened my academic training but also discovered lifelong passions — entrepreneurship and meditation, that continue to influence my life and leadership today,” Dr. Lee recalls. For many of our Scholars and Alumni, the Thouron Award makes not only their academic pursuits more financially secure, but also affords them a life of exploration — to travel across Europe, build their cultural perspectives, and form enduring friendships.
Since completing her DPhil, Dr. Lee feels the lasting and transformative impact of the Award on her life. “Professionally, it opened unexpected doors. I’m now a limited partner at Oxonian Ventures, a fund created by Oxford alumni to support Oxford-founded startups, reflecting my ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship and global impact,” she shares. Professionally, she has gone on to be the CEO and Founder of BabyNoggin, the Global Director of Digital Health at Astellas Pharma, and a board member, investor, and advisor for countless funds, startups, and nonprofits in the healthcare and medical industries.
With Dr. Lee’s expanded worldview, increased intellectual curiosity, and confidence to think boldly and build globally, she cofounded IMIDeology. “Fueled by my family’s diagnosis, we’re building a clinic model that helps patients with chronic inflammation and autoimmune conditions get diagnosed and treated faster, avoid irreversible damage, and regain quality of life,” she explains. The care model that IMIDeology is built on is accessible, insurance-friendly, and immediate to 23 million Americans with IMIDs, as well as paves the way to serve the 100+ million people affected by inflammation-related chronic conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Called to Help Others
In addition to her healthcare startup, Dr. Lee is an investor and highly recognised professional in the healthcare industry. “I also invest in the future of healthcare as a limited partner in three angel funds and serve on multiple startup and nonprofit boards, including past roles with the American Heart Association and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association,” she details. But the effects of her transformative experience in academia and life don’t stop there for Dr. Lee. She has been recognised as a Presidential Leadership Scholar by four U.S. presidential centres, including those formed by former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, Lyndon B. Johnson, George Bush, and George W. Bush.
“I’ve been fortunate to be named to the 2025 BLOC 100 List for biopharma leaders of color, and share my story as a TEDx speaker and at conferences like HLTH, SXSW, and Sirius XM Radio. But the accomplishment I’m most proud of is leading IMIDeology,” Dr. Lee proudly states. For her, success means her patients fully get back their lives and the things they love to do — filled with dignity and hope.
As a mother, Dr. Lee mainly has hobbies that involve activities she and her family can do together. They take dance classes, go for weekend hikes, and her children explore entrepreneurship with her help. “They now run their own little business offering jewellery making, balloon twisting, and face painting,” she shares.
What’s next for Dr. Lee? September 13–14, 2025, her clinic, IMIDeology, will host a day-and-a-half Autoimmune Patient Summit and Retreat at the Mercy University Westchester Campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York. The event is a space for patients to connect, learn from experts, and support one another. Longtime warriors and those newly diagnosed are welcome to come, and Dr. Lee hopes you’ll leave equipped with tools, insights, and a community to help you thrive. Learn more or get involved at: www.imideology.com/summit.
If there is anyone in New York who is struggling with unexplained pain, fatigue, or symptoms of chronic inflammation, Dr. Lee’s clinic can help. “We offer fast, compassionate care with a holistic treatment approach, including access to rheumatologists, pain specialists, GI doctors, and dietitians — all within days, not months,” she states.
Ensuring a Lasting Impact
The future is always so bright for the Thouron Award as it continues to grow and evolve. Dr. Lee has high hopes for our Award which transformed so much of her life. “I’m deeply grateful to the Thouron Community for the foundation it provided and for the lifelong friendships, opportunities, and inspiration it continues to bring. I hope the Thouron Award continues to grow by strengthening its Alumni Community beyond Philadelphia and London. It would be wonderful to have more regional gatherings,” she vocalises.
Additionally, thinking about the future of those who are selected as Scholars, Dr. Lee believes a formal mentor-mentee programme would be an incredible way to deepen connections across cohorts. “The Thouron Community is full of remarkable people, and creating more opportunities to engage and learn from each other would make the experience even more impactful,” she states.
What Could Your Future Look Like as a Thouron Scholar?
Learn more about the Thouron Award — one of the most prestigious and generous academic scholarships in the world, offering funding and cultural exchange between the University of Pennsylvania and U.K. institutions.