Steven Quay

STEVEN QUAY is a physician-scientist and founder of Seattle-based Atossa Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS), a pre-commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

He received his M.S., Ph.D., and M.D. degrees from The University of Michigan, was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Nobel Laureate H. Gobind Khorana, a resident at the Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital, a faculty member of Harvard Medical School, and was on the faculty of Stanford University School of Medicine for a decade.

Dr. Steven Quay has an expansive body of work characterized by contributions to medical imaging, oncology, infectious diseases, and drug delivery, placing him in the top 1% of scientists worldwide. His research on intranasal drug delivery, published in 2007, is highly influential, cited 804 times, advancing the field of non-invasive therapeutics. He has also pioneered work in the development of gadolinium-based contrast agents for MRI, with 14 US patents and foundational studies like his 1990 paper cited 630 times. His 1981 discovery that tumor-shed vesicles drive coagulation and fibrin deposition, describing them as a “tumor cocoon,” has shaped cancer treatments, inspiring use of anticoagulants like LMWHs and tissue factor inhibitors to counteract tumor-induced clotting and support patient care.

His patents, such as those for ultrasound contrast agents, autism and cystic fibrosis treatments, and innovative drug formulations, highlight his role in translating basic research into practical medical applications. With 12,000 citations to his publications and an h-index of 59, Dr. Quay’s work documents a career dedicated to enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies in medicine. These metrics underscore his contributions to medical research, particularly in oncology and infectious diseases.

He is the author of two Amazon Best Seller books related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and has testified before the US Congress on medical research and healthcare national policy issues, as well as advised the US State Department on complex medical questions related to national security.

Dr. Steven Quay’s media coverage highlights his significant contributions to public health discussions, garnering over 14 million online views and securing 219,000 social media shares across a variety of high-profile outlets, including two Wall Street Journal op-eds. The collection features 188 distinct articles and interviews, showcasing his expertise on topics such as pandemic preparedness, biomedical research, and the ethics of high-risk scientific endeavors. With a reach spanning international audiences, this coverage underscores Dr. Quay’s role as a trusted voice in translating complex scientific issues into actionable insights.

He has founded six startups, invented seven FDA-approved pharmaceuticals, and has 91 US patents for inventions in 22 different fields of medicine. The medicines he has invented have been used by over 80 million people worldwide. His current passion is the prevention of the two million yearly breast cancer cases worldwide. A TEDx talk he delivered on breast cancer prevention has been viewed 229,000 times.