HEEKYONG (RACHEL) BAE Cancer and Inflammation Program
Center for Cancer Research NCI-Frederick
Frederick, MD USA
Dr. Heekyong (Rachel) Bae received her BS from Seoul National University, South Korea. Working with Dr. Kwan-Hwa Park, a leading scientist the field of enzymology in Korea, her initial research experience was focused on protein chemistry and purification techniques as the basis for her Master’s degree. This award is made possible through the generosity of the Fleischmann Foundation and is dedicated to the memory of ISICR member and outstanding interferon research scientist Christina Fleischmann. Dr. Bae completed her Ph.D at Michigan State University studying immunotoxicology. Her work focused on intracellular signaling leading to proinflammatory cytokine production. After graduation in 2009, she extended her expertise to immunology and oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School where she worked with Dr. Jun-Lin Guan, currently Chair of Cancer Biology at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute. She investigated the mechanisms leading to autophagy-associated immunosurveillance and cellular chemosensitization. During this research project, she also expanded her research expertise to include virus and antibody constructs for expression and detection of target proteins. In 2011, she moved to the Radiation Oncology Branch at the National Cancer Institute for a chance to extend her career into the fields of clinical oncology and bioinformatics. She developed a protocol for separating translated RNA from mouse glioma xenograft samples and patient tissue biopsies. Using functional genomic tools, she identified target cellular mechanisms that would enhance radiation therapy. In 2014 she transferred to the Cancer and Inflammation Program at NCI. Since working in the laboratory of Dr. Howard Young, she has been investigating the pathways and targets involved in systemic autoimmunity with a special emphasis on the development of primary biliary cholangitis in female mice, utilizing a novel model of chronic IFN-γ expression developed in the Young lab.
Awards Committee Co-Chairs, Eleanor Fish (R) and Jennifer Towne (L) present the 2016 Christina Fleischmann Award to Michelle Tate.
