While modern immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment for certain cancers, they remain largely ineffective against solid tumors such as those in the breast, lung, and ovary. These tumors build protective microenvironments that suppress immune activity and block immune cells from penetrating and destroying cancer tissue. Dr. Hyung Jun Kim’s research focuses on overcoming this barrier by engineering a new type of immune cell therapy based on macrophages—versatile immune cells that can naturally enter tumors but often get “reprogrammed” by the tumor to help rather than fight it.
Dr. Kim is systematically redesigning macrophages to restore and enhance their anti-tumor potential. Using genetic engineering and synthetic biology, he is equipping macrophages with specialized receptors that recognize and engulf cancer cells with greater precision. He is also programming them with custom gene circuits that release immune-activating molecules directly within tumors, stimulating other immune cells to join the attack. By combining these complementary strategies, his work aims to create a “living medicine” that both kills cancer cells directly and mobilizes a broader immune response against resistant solid tumors.
Dr. Kim brings exceptional cross-disciplinary expertise spanning genetics, cell biology, and immune engineering. His earlier research revealed key mechanisms of chromosome organization during cell division and advanced genome-scale screening and macrophage engineering technologies. Building on this foundation, he is now developing next-generation, macrophage-based immunotherapies designed to overcome the protective barriers of solid tumors and improve outcomes for patients resistant to current treatments.
Sponsor
Roarke Kamber, PhD
Projects and Grants
Systematic Engineering of Multifunctional Macrophages for Solid Tumor Immunotherapy
