Principal Investigator

Biography 

Professor Kwak’s overarching goal as a scientist is to deepen our understanding of the immunological principles that underlie vaccines and, ultimately, to harness this knowledge to develop vaccines that can reliably protect people from disease. To pursue this vision, he carried out vaccine research during his Ph.D. training with Professor Richard Roden, a leading investigator in next-generation HPV vaccines. After completing his doctorate, he joined the laboratory of Susan Pierce, whose pioneering work in B cell immunology provided him with critical insights into mechanisms essential for effective vaccine design.

Since 2021, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Professor Kwak has established and led the Ki Lab. Grounded in fundamental immunology, his laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms governing B cell activation and tolerance, with particular focus on how B cell signaling is shaped by different antigenic forms, environmental cues, and disease conditions. By elucidating these regulatory pathways, the Ki Lab seeks to provide a conceptual framework for the rational design of next-generation vaccines and for the development of innovative therapies targeting B cell–mediated diseases, including autoimmunity.

Education

• Ph.D.  2014 The Johns Hopkins University, Pathobiology (Advisor: Richard Roden)

• BS        2006 SungKyunKwan University, Genetic Engineering

Professional Experiences

2006-2008 Lab technician, Salk Institute, San Diego, CA

2014-2018 Postdoc Visiting Fellow, NIAID, Rockville, MD

2018-2019 Postdoc IRTA, NIAID, Rockville MD

2019-2020 Research Fellow, NIAID, Rockville, MD

2021-                     Now Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea

Honors and Awards

2010 NIH travel awards, 26th international papillomavirus conference, Montreal, Canada

2011 Pathology young investigators’ day award, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

2011 NIH travel awards, 27th international papillomavirus conference, Berlin, Germany

2017 The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Thermo-Fisher Trainee Achievement Award, Washington DC, USA

2017 FASEB Autoimmunity Ben Pernis Memorial Travel Award, Saxtons River, VT, USA

2018 The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Thermo-Fisher Trainee Achievement Award, Austin TX, USA

2025 Samsung Science & Technology Foundation - Samsung Future Technology Basic Science Promotion Grant