Dr. Woong-Kyung Suh is Director of Immune Regulation Research Unit at IRCM (Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal), Associate Research Professor at University of Montreal, and Adjunct Professor at McGill University. Dr. Suh’s main research interest isto understand signal transduction pathways of T follicular helper (Tfh) and T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells in health and disease using gene-targeted mouse models. T cell costimulatory receptors and their downstream signaling molecules play important roles in generation and function of Tfh/Tfr cells and they are also suspected to support progression of Tfh-derived peripheral T cell lymphoma AITL (angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma). Dr. Suh’s laboratory has identified phosphoinositide 3-kinase as one of the key Tfh signaling components. Expanding on thisfinding, Dr. Suh’s group continues to work on CD28 and SLAM family costimulatory receptors and their downstream adaptor proteins, kinases, and transcription factors that control follicular T cells. The long-term goal of Dr. Suh’s research is to develop knowledge-based innovative treatment options for antibody-associated immunological disorders and AITL.

Signaling transduction mechanisms in T follicular helper cell generation and function; Role of T cell costimulation in tumor progression of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL); Role of B7 family costimulation in anti-tumor T cell immunity