Youngjae You

Youngjae You is a Professor of Empire Innovation in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy. His research focuses on Antibody-Drug Conjugates, Cancer Chemotherapy, Medicinal Chemistry, and Targeted Drug Delivery. He holds adjunct roles at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and has led numerous grants totaling over $10 million in funding. Key awards include the 2019 Professor of Empire Innovation title and multiple DoD/CDMRP grants. His work emphasizes prodrug design, photodynamic therapy, and combination therapies.

Education:

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Chungnam National University (2001)
• MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Chungnam National University (2000)
• BPharm, Chungnam National University (1994)

Research Interests:

Dr. You specializes in developing light-activatable prodrugs for targeted cancer therapies, including far-red/NIR light-activated delivery systems. His work integrates quantitative pharmacokinetic modeling, singlet oxygen dynamics, and receptor-targeted drug conjugation to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Key applications include bladder, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Funding Highlights:

• NIH/NIGMS: $1.37M (2023-2027) for light-responsive drug delivery
• National Cancer Institute: $2.1M (2022-2027) for bladder cancer treatments
• DoD/CDMRP/PRCRP: $392K (2017-2020) for photodynamic-chemotherapy combinations

Awards:

• PHF Presidential Professorship (2018)
• American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (2013)
• Multiple DoD/CDMRP Idea Awards

Service & Grants:

Serves as Principal Investigator on 8 major grants. Active reviewer for Wellcome Trust, NIH, and international funding agencies. Holds patents on BODIPY derivatives and singlet oxygen-labile linkers.

Lab & Collaborations:

Leads the You Lab at UB, collaborating with bioengineers and clinicians to advance photomedicine and targeted drug delivery systems. Engaged in multidisciplinary teams addressing spatiotemporal control in cancer treatments.