Awarded in 2013
Home Department: Bioengineering
Faculty Advisors: Jennifer Cochran (Bioengineering) and Alejandro Sweet-Cordero (Pediatrics)

Research Title: Development of a therapy for lung cancer by targeting a novel molecular cancer marker with next generation protein engineering strategy

Research Description: To communicate with their environment, cells use receptors at their surface to detect various biochemical signals. Receptor-mediated dysregulation of signaling pathways can lead to various diseases, including cancer. Protein therapeutics with special targeting activity have become increasingly important to manipulate receptor signaling pathways for effective cancer therapies with lower side effects. The goal of Jun Kim's project is to study the ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor signaling pathway as a novel therapeutic target for cancer. To move beyond proof-of-principle and develop a therapeutic clinical candidate, he will use a protein engineering approach to develop affinity and specificity enhanced therapeutic molecules for clinical application.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Jun Woo is a postdoc with Dr. Julien Sage at Stanford.