Q&A with Kijung Kwak: Building Better Gene Therapies Through Bioengineering

Provide a summary of your PhRMA Foundation-funded research.

Scientists are exploring gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease, but getting these therapies into the brain is difficult due to the restrictive blood-brain barrier (BBB), a protective layer of cells that controls what moves from the blood into the brain. Additionally, current gene therapies can also affect healthy tissues outside the brain, leading to off-target effects and safety risks. My research aims to develop a new way to deliver gene therapies more precisely to the brain. We are designing nanoparticles that carry therapeutic genes and are coated with membranes derived from certain cell types, such as immune cells and stem cells. These special coatings help the nanoparticles travel to specific areas of the brain and inflamed tissues, often present in Parkinson’s disease. To further improve delivery, we will use sound waves via focused ultrasound to temporarily and safely open the BBB to deliver the therapeutic genes to the brain.

Why did you become a researcher and why did you pursue this specific research?

I chose to become a researcher because I realized that solving problems in medicine begins in a lab. What especially interested me was the idea that we can engineer materials to affect biology on every scale, from molecules to whole organisms, in essence becoming designers of life itself.

That’s what attracted me to bioengineering, more specifically biomaterials and drug and gene delivery. I like that the field is not only about discovering a biological mechanism, but also about figuring out how we can manipulate that mechanism in a precise and useful way. Whether it is delivering a gene to a specific immune cell or designing a nanoparticle that changes how the body responds to cancer or pathogens, the research feels very tangible to me.

That translational aspect is ultimately what drew me to the MD/PhD path as well. I want to understand disease in the context of clinical management, while also developing the scientific tools to build new therapies when the existing ones are not enough.

For grad school, I selected my lab after seeing the work being done by my principal investigator, Dr. Jung Soo Suk. Delivering therapies more precisely has always been an interest of mine and the lab’s expertise in developing different delivery technologies to overcome physiological barriers aligned well with my goals of studying drug/gene delivery in the broader context of medicine.

Tell us about a turning point from your career journey so far.

Looking back, I was fortunate not to have experienced or witnessed serious illness in my immediate family and friends. Of course, I knew of diseases and that people suffered from them, but only in an abstract and distant sense, like watching it happen on TV. It wasn’t until I started working in a hospital during high school that I came face to face with the reality of living with a disease and the burden it brought on patients and those close to them. I also observed what physicians did and the roles they played in patient care. That’s when I realized I wanted to do something about this and that there was a viable path for me to do so. It gave me a sense of “self” and a possible place for me in society where I could help others. While there are many moments that were integral to my career, this one stands out as the “spark” that started it.

What is a common misconception people have about science?

One common misconception perpetuated in popular media is that science is about knowing facts and applying rigid, logical thinking. But to me, research in real life is an art form and requires intuition and creativity. Half of my time is spent figuring out what questions to ask, and the other half is figuring out how to answer them. Experiments fail more often than not, hypotheses change directions, and sometimes the most interesting discoveries come from moments of serendipity, when an unexpected result opens the door to an entirely new question. Science is far more imaginative and iterative than it is often portrayed. In that sense, it feels a lot closer to art than people expect.

What do you love most about research?

I love working on a question where the answer isn’t known. I start by simply asking, “What would happen if I did this?” In my line of work, designing an experiment or a new drug/gene delivery system can feel a lot like engineering a solution to a puzzle. And when you discover something, there’s a rare thrill in seeing your hypothesis come true in reality. In my experience, the wonder you feel as you pull back the mysterious curtain of biology little by little is unparalleled.

What do you like to do outside of research?

My pastimes are reading, visiting local museums, and playing tennis. More recently, I’ve been trying my hand at astrophotography. During a hike in Acadia National Park, I was lucky enough to capture some amazing shots of the Milky Way. Finding dark skies in the right conditions has been difficult around where I live, but when everything lines up, it makes for a uniquely fantastic experience.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

My advice would be to think broadly. Not just thinking outside the box but realizing the box was never there to begin with. Early on during my research career, I would get pigeonholed in my thinking when approaching a problem and often get stumped. Looking back later, I would realize I could solve the problem in a different way by borrowing ideas from other disciplines. This applies well beyond academics. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of research. I’ve learned the value of stepping back, staying connected to the world outside your immediate “bubble,” and having balanced interests beyond your work.

What are your career goals?

My career goal is to be a physician-scientist. What that will look like isn’t entirely concrete yet, but I envision splitting time between clinical practice and running a research laboratory. After completing my PhD, I will return to medical school to continue developing a deeper understanding of medicine and patient care. My hope is that the experiences I accumulate throughout my training will strengthen my understanding of bioengineering within a clinical context. After my MD-PhD training, I plan to pursue a research-focused residency and ultimately use my training in bioengineering and drug delivery to develop translational technologies that can truly impact patients in meaningful ways.