Sung Lee
Cell and Gene Therapy Scientist
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About
Innovative and results-driven cell and gene therapy Scientist with over 10 years of experience spanning academic research and biopharmaceutical R&D, specializing in CAR-T, T-cell engineering, gene editing, and translational cell therapy development. Extensive hands-on experience engineering primary human immune cells using lentiviral vector transduction, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and electroporation-based gene delivery to develop and optimize next-generation cell therapy platforms. Deep expertise in T-cell biology, immune cell activation, expansion, functional characterization, and mechanism-of-action studies, with extensive experience in flow cytometry, mammalian cell culture, cytokine analysis, ELISA, multiplex immunoassays, cytotoxicity assays, and molecular biology techniques.
Proven success developing and optimizing CAR-T manufacturing workflows including T-cell isolation, activation, lentiviral transduction, gene editing (viral/non-viral), expansion, and functional evaluation. Recognized for scientific rigor, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate complex immunology and cell engineering strategies into robust, reproducible research platforms supporting discovery and translational development.
Experience
Scientist III - Thermo Fisher Scientific - Carlsbad, CA
(2021-01)
- Lead experimental development of next-generation cell therapy workflows, optimizing upstream and downstream processes to address critical gaps in the field.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to drive innovations in scalable and clinically relevant manufacturing strategies.
Senior Scientist - GlyTR Therapeutics - JLABS@San Diego / ULP@Irvine, CA
(2019-01 - 2021-12)
- Designed and executed preclinical studies for a novel immunotherapy platform targeting solid tumors.
- Conducted in vivo studies using murine cancer models to evaluate efficacy and immune response modulation.
Assistant Project Scientist - University of California, Irvine - Irvine, CA
(2015-01 - 2021-12)
- Contributed to multi-disciplinary research projects in cancer immunology, B cell biology, and neuroinflammation (Multiple Sclerosis).
- Collaborated with clinicians and researchers to develop and evaluate therapeutic strategies.
Project Scientist - Glixis Therapeutics LLC - QB3@953, San Francisco, CA
(2014-01 - 2015-12)
- Led experimental work for the development of a first-in-class oral therapeutic targeting the molecular and genetic basis of Multiple Sclerosis.
- Integrated translational science approaches into early-stage drug discovery.
Assistant Researcher (Molecular Biologist) - University of California, San Francisco - San Francisco, CA
(2013-01 - 2014-12)
- Applied B/T-cell immunology and stem cell expertise to investigate signaling mechanisms in cancer and autoimmune disorders.
- Contributed to publications and grant proposals by delivering impactful data and molecular insights.
Research Fellow - City of Hope Medical Center, Beckman Research Institute - Duarte, CA
(2008-01 - 2011-12)
- Investigated the molecular regulation of hematopoietic stem cell fate and lineage commitment in the bone marrow niche.
- Explored genetic drivers of hematologic malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma.
Education
BS - Biology - The Ohio State University (2002-03)
Ph.D - Medical Immunology - University of California, Irvine (2007-12)
CLS Preparatory Program - University of California, Berkeley (2014-12)
