The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Breast Medical Oncology

In 2014, I began my tenure at MDACC under Dr. Tripathy's guidance, flourishing over seven years through the development of key research and leadership abilities, fostering lifelong friendships and collaborations, which continued even after my transition to BCM. My research broadened to embrace both clinical and translational fields, culminating in the completion of all trials aimed at various stages of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), with ongoing manuscript preparations and grant applications. Notably, I initiated several clinical trials, including the 2016-0537 trial testing a pan-HER inhibitor in the neoadjuvant IBC setting, and the 2016-0096 trial examining anti-PD1 therapy combined with endocrine therapy in the adjuvant setting of HR+ IBC. Additionally, the 2016-0890 trial explored a triple combination therapy for recurrent/metastatic IBC. These trials, despite IBC's rarity, met accrual goals and are nearing completion, with manuscripts expected to publish within the next couple of years, setting a foundation for future trials nationwide. My work not only propels clinical trial access for patients with rare breast cancers but also educates scientists and trainees within the Texas Medical Center. At BCM, I spearheaded the establishment of a protocol for circulating tumor DNA monitoring in breast malignancies and became a key figure in molecular projects funded by the National Cancer Institute and CPRIT, conducting proteogenomic studies and developing patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Collaborations have yielded significant publications and trial proposals, with a study on T cell repertoire changes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in revision for Cell, and findings on myeloid-derived suppressor cells published in Cell Stem Cell. Now back at Anderson, I've contributed as a co-investigator to studies on chemotherapy-induced reprogramming of neutrophils in the lungs and led national consortium trials through wider collaborations, as well as new initiatives in organ-specific profiling of advanced breast cancers. Taken together, I offer opportunities to mentees to have deep dive on translational research in right between clinic and bench.

PubMed

Education & Training

MD, Ewha Woman's University Medical School, 2004