PRiME Connaught Global Speaker Series
PRiME Connaught Global Speaker Series continues in January 2026 with
Simmyung Yook, SKKU, Korea
Keynote talk title: "Antibody-Directed Tumor Reprogramming for Precision Immuno-Oncology"
Abstract
Durable responses to cancer immunotherapy remain limited by tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion, with stem-like tumor cell populations contributing to therapeutic resistance, metastasis, and recurrence. Addressing these barriers requires precision strategies that not only eradicate malignant cells but also reprogram tumor cell states governing immune visibility and therapeutic susceptibility.
In this seminar, Dr. Yook will present an integrated antibody-directed tumor reprogramming framework that unifies site-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with antibody-functionalized nanomedicine. Using triple-negative breast cancer as a representative model, she will describe the development of a site-specifically engineered PD-L1-ADC that combines potent cytotoxicity with inhibition of immune checkpoint–mediated escape. Leveraging microbial transglutaminase-mediated conjugation, this platform achieves a homogeneous drug-to-antibody ratio while preserving antigen binding, intracellular trafficking, and controlled payload release, key determinants for selectively targeting PD-L1-high, therapy-resistant tumor populations.
In parallel, Dr. Yook will introduce PD-L1 antibody conjugated, redox-responsive nanoplatforms that exploit the glutathione-rich tumor microenvironment to induce immunogenic cell death and orchestrate coordinated immune activation. Tumor-triggered MnO₂ degradation drives localized oxidative stress, synchronized antigen release, innate immune licensing, and tumor-restricted PD-L1 checkpoint engagement, enabling spatiotemporally controlled T-cell priming and effector responses beyond single-payload cytotoxicity.
Together, these studies position precision ADC engineering and antibody-guided nanomedicine as complementary and translatable modalities within a unified immuno-oncology framework for overcoming immunotherapy resistance and achieving durable cancer control.
About the speaker
Simmyung Yook, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Republic of Korea. She received her PhD. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto, Canada, under the supervision of Prof. Raymond M. Reilly, where her doctoral research focused on radiolabeled gold nanoparticle-based nanomedicine for breast cancer therapy. She also holds a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Seoul National University and a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology from McGill University.
Prof. Yook leads a multidisciplinary research program centered on targeted and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems, with particular emphasis on cancer immunotherapy, antibody- and immune cell-directed nanomedicine, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory disorders. Her research integrates biomaterials engineering, nanotechnology, and immuno-oncology to enhance therapeutic efficacy through disease microenvironment modulation. She has published extensively in leading journals including Journal of Controlled Release, Biomaterials, Chemical Engineering Journal, Science Advances, Theragnostic, Redox Biology, and Advanced Functional Materials.
She is actively involved in academic and professional service. Dr. Yook currently serves as Associate Editor of Archives of Pharmacal Research and has served as Assistant Editor of the Journal of Controlled Release since December 2025. She has also served on the Academic Committee of the Korean Society of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (KSPST) and contributed to the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Annual Meeting Program Committee, along with holding multiple executive roles in national pharmaceutical and biomaterials societies.
Her research is supported by national competitive funding agencies in the Republic of Korea, including the Korean ARPA-H Project (KHIDI) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Time: 11 AM - 12 PM
Location: Red Room, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research (160 College St)