Post Doctoral - Cancer Biology
University of California San Diego (UCSD) / Salk Institute - 2013

Ph.D. - Cancer Biology / Metabolism
Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine - 2006

D.V.M. - Veterinary Medicine
KonKuk University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Korea - 2000

Heme Sequestration Effectively Suppresses the Development and Progression of Both Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2022 - Journal Article

Oxidative Stress and the Intersection of Oncogenic Signaling and Metabolism in Squamous Cell Carcinomas 2021 - Journal Article

Heme Sequestration Effectively Suppresses the Development and Progression of Both Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2021 - Journal Article

Convergence of cancer metabolism and immunity: An overview 2018 - Journal Article

Targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1a/pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 axis by dichloroacetate suppresses bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis 2018 - Journal Article

Spatial Angular Compounding Technique for H-Scan Ultrasound Imaging 2018 - Journal Article

Regulation of acetate utilization by Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) 2018 - Journal Article

Glucose Transporter 1 Gene Variants Predict the Prognosis of Patients with Early-Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer 2018 - Journal Article

Lung Cancer Discovery Award - American Lung Association [2016]

I M Rosenzweig Young Investigator Award - Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation [2014]

Symposia Scholarship - Keystone Symposia [2012]

NRSA F32 Post-doctoral Fellowship - NIH/NCI [2011]

NRSA T32 Post-doctoral Fellowship - NIH/NCI [2010]

Symposia Scholarship - Keystone Symposia [2006]

Pathology Young Investigator Award - Johns Hopkins School of Medicine [2004]

Pre-doctoral Fellowship - Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) [2003]

Associate Professor
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center [2023–Present]

Adjunct Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2020–Present]

Research Director
VIP Animal Medical Center [2021–2022]

Senior Principal Scientist
Barer Institute Inc. [2020–2021]

Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [2013–2020]

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of California San Diego / Salk Institute [2008–2013]

Research Fellow
University of Pennsylvania [2000–2002]

Glucose reliance and metabolic vulnerabilities in human squamous cell carcinomas

Despite intensive efforts, targeting augmented glucose metabolism has resulted in varied, unsatisfactory outcomes to be considered as a viable therapeutic option for further development. Among multiple factors preventing effective therapeutic responses, a poorly understood tumor-intrinsic metabolic heterogeneity across different cancers, arising potentially from diverse microenvironmental or lineage-specific factors, may preclude effective therapeutic strategies to target cancer metabolism. In our recently published study, we uncovered the molecular mechanism in which, a squamous lineage-specific program p63 and SOX2 promotes GLUT1 expression through the intronic enhancer transactivation of the SLC2A1 (that encodes GLUT1) in human squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). This previously unrecognized metabolic feature embedded in squamous cancers argue that remarkably heightened GLUT1 expression and glucose influx is not a uniform metabolic hallmark of all cancers, but a potent and unique characteristic of squamous lineage cancers. We are studying epigenetic and molecular events underlying this control mechanism by characterizing how various transcription factors are binding and transcriptional activities within and across the locus and its boundaries enable SLC2A1 overexpression in SCC. The overarching goal of this project is to develop novel ways to silence the SLC2A1 gene selectively in SCC. 

Metabolic reprogramming and plasticity in the tumor microenvironment and fibrotic diseases

Metabolic dysregulation in stromal cells is associated with various human diseases including cancer and fibrosis. We previously reported that fibroblastic hypoxic signaling plays critical roles in tumor growth, tumor vascular remodeling, and therapeutic responses. In addition, our group has demonstrated that genetic as well as pharmacological inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)-mediated metabolic reprogramming significantly attenuate the progression of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Our studies suggest a critical biological and clinical consideration for evaluating metabolic alterations in myofibroblast activation and fibrotic progression in the tumor microenvironment and fibrotic progression. We employ various transgenic animal model systems for an integrated understanding of cellular and molecular mechanistic link between metabolic alterations and plasticity and accelerated myofibroblastic activation and differentiation in highly desmoplastic cancers (e.g. pancreatic cancer) as well as pulmonary fibrosis. 

Dietary intervention for cancer therapeutics

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that dietary modulation could improve the response to cancer therapy. Given that cancers display diverse metabolic requirements influenced by numerous factors such as intrinsic oncogenic alterations, microenvironmental components, and therapeutic intervention, individualized strategies are essential for effective targeting metabolic vulnerabilities of specific cancer via dietary intervention. We have shown that ketogenic diet specifically inhibited the development of lung squamous cancers in KrasG12D;LKB1-null (KL) of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) model as well as esophagus, head and neck squamous cancer xenograft tumor models. We further demonstrated that the anti-SCC effects of ketogenic diet is due to systemic glucose restriction and an associated suppression of insulin/PI3K/AKT signaling in SCC cells. We are exploring combinatorial regimens to improve therapeutic efficacy of ketogenic diet and other dietary modulations. In addition, we are studying the impact of systemic responses by dietary intervention on stromal components such as immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. 

Researchers Receive $4.5 Million in Funding for Cancer Projects

More than $4.5 million in new funding from state and federal agencies will support cancer-related research over the next five years at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Two projects related to brain cancer, each totaling $200,000 over two years, recently received High-Impact/High-Risk Research Awards from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). A third CPRIT grant, of nearly $3.6 million over five years, will be used to establish a new core imaging facility for preclinical research. That award will be combined with $400,000 in matching funds from the University.

The Department of Defense (DOD) also recently awarded the University more than $527,000 for lung cancer research.

Scientists' Study Sweetens Connection Between Cancer, Sugar

In a new study, scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas have found that some types of cancers have more of a sweet tooth than others.

“It has been suspected that many cancer cells are heavily dependent on sugar as their energy supply, but it turns out that one specific type — squamous cell carcinoma — is remarkably more dependent,” said Dr. Jung-whan “Jay” Kim, assistant professor of biological sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and senior author of the study published online May 26 in the journal Nature Communications.

Scientists Discover New Cancer Connection Between Enzymes

A biologist at The University of Texas at Dallas and his colleagues have discovered that two enzymes previously linked independently with keeping cancer cells alive actually work in tandem to spur tumor growth.
“There has been no reason to suspect these two proteins interact, but now we know they do. This finding was totally unexpected,” said Dr. Jung-Whan (Jay) Kim, assistant professor of biological sciences and co-lead author of the study published online Dec. 14 in the journal Nature Communications.

Scientist Finds Clearer Obesity, Diabetes Link

New findings about the biological links between obesity and insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes may also shed light on the connection between obesity and cancer, says a scientist at The University of Texas at Dallas.
In a study published in the journal Cell, UT Dallas’ Dr. Jung-whan Kim and colleagues at the University of California, San Diego found that a protein called HIF-1 alpha plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes in obese mice.

University Work Earns Talented Teen A Trip to Intel Science Contest

Two summers and many late nights devoted to research in a UT Dallas laboratory have earned one high school student a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for honors among the nation’s elite young scientists. 

Joshua Choe, a senior at St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, is one of 40 high school students chosen as finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest pre-college science and math competition. Choe is the only finalist from Texas for the competition, which will be March 10-16 and present more than $1 million in awards. 

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

Active Member (2002 - present)

American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Full Member (2017 - present)