Jaebok Choi, PhD

Jaebok Choi, PhD

Assistant Professor

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8007-0057-07
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

Room 731 Southwest Tower (office)
Room 724 Southwest Tower (lab)
Ph: 314-273-0153 (lab)

Research Interests
  • Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • GvHD
  • IFNγR
  • IL6R
  • JAK-STAT signaling
Research

The goal of my research program is to identify novel genes whose genetic/pharmacologic blockade may selectively prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) while maintaining or enhancing graft- versus-leukemia (GvL) effects (aka anti-leukemia activities of donor graft).

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is the only curative treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory leukemia and marrow failure states such as myelodysplasia and aplastic anemia. The therapeutic benefits of allo-HCT for these patients depend on GvL effects mediated by mature T cells present in the donor graft. Unfortunately, the same donor T cells that mediate the beneficial GvL effect can also cause GvHD. Both GvHD and GvL occur when T cells transplanted from a non-identical donor (the graft) recognize the transplant recipient (the host) and tumors as foreign, thereby initiating an immune reaction in the transplant recipient. Because of a strong association between GvHD and GvL, these two donor T cell-mediated immunologic effects of allo-HCT are difficult to separate. Thus, finding a means to harness the GvL activity of T cells while eliminating their tendency to cause GvHD is a major clinical goal in the allo-HCT field.

To achieve this goal, we have three distinct but closely related projects.

  1. Modulation of immune cell trafficking to GvHD target organs vs leukemia cells by targeting interferon gamma receptor and integrins.
  2. Role of JAK-STAT signaling in GvHD and tissue restoration.
  3. Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screens: The mechanisms by which allogeneic donor T cells differentially modulate GvHD and GvL remain largely unknown. This gap in our mechanistic understanding hinders our ability to specifically prevent/treat GvHD. We hypothesize that the genes we identify as being differentially associated with donor T cells that infiltrate tumors versus GvHD organs will be critical targets for the prevention of GvHD without negatively affecting GvL.
Profiles (publications)

Biosketch

Education & Training

  • 2006-2001: PhD in Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
    • Advisor: Anna P. Newman, PhD
  • 2001-1999: MA in Molecular Genetics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE
    • Advisor: Bruce A. Chase, PhD
  • 1996-1990: BS in Genetic Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
    • (10/1993-03/1991: mandatory military service in Korea)
  • 2009-2006: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
    • Advisor: John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD

Academic Positions & Employment

  • present-2018: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2018-2012: Assistant Professor (Research Track), Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2012-2009: Instructor, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Honors & Awards

  • 2017: Amy Strelzer Manasevit Research Program Scholar, Be The Match Foundation and the National Marrow Donor Program
  • 2015: Rays of Hope St. Baldrick’s Scholar, St. Baldrick’s Foundation
  • 2012: Best Abstract Award, Hematopoietic Development & Malignancy Program Retreat, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 2010: Keystone Symposia Scholarship/Award, Keystone Symposia: Developmental Origins and Epigenesis in Human Health and Disease, Singapore
  • 2009: ASBMT Best Abstract Award for Basic Science Research, International BMT Tandem Meeting, Tampa, FL

Editorial Responsibilities

  • present-2022: Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology
  • present-2021: Reviewer Board, International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • 2022-2020: Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology

Professional Societies & Organizations

  • present-2016: SIP grant reviewer, Siteman Investment Program Review Committee
  • present-2016: Faculty Member, Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy, Washington University
  • present-2010: Active Member, American Society of Hematology
  • present-2009: Research Associate Member, Siteman Cancer Center
  • present-2009: Member, Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences