Jung Soo Suk

Jung Soo Suk, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Neurosurgery and holds adjunct appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Neurosurgery and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering.

• B.Eng., Chemical Engineering, Korea University (2001)
• M.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (2005)
• Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2011)

Dr. Suk specializes in overcoming biological barriers (e.g., blood-brain barrier, airway mucus) through nanotechnology-based delivery systems, focusing on synthetic or natural materials (polymers, lipids, extracellular vesicles) for targeted therapies in cancers, genetic disorders, and lung diseases. His recent work expands into cancer immunotherapy, particularly mechanisms of immune resistance in malignancies.

The 15 most recent articles highlight his expertise in nanoparticle design for drug delivery across biological barriers (e.g., brain, lungs, eyes), with a strong emphasis on preclinical validation and clinical translation. Trends include focused ultrasound for barrier opening, mRNA platforms for immunotherapy, and gene editing via advanced vectors.

Scientific Awards:

• Korea University Merit-Based Scholarship (1998)
• Society of Experimental Biology & Medicine Best Paper Award (2007)
• Johns Hopkins Center for Nanomedicine Award for Research Excellence (2014)
• W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Research Award (2015)
• Acta Biomaterialia Reviewer Award (2018)

Grants include funding from the National Institute of Health, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Focus Ultrasound Foundation, and TEDCO, covering projects like nanoparticle delivery for glioblastoma, inhaled gene therapy for COPD, and immunostimulatory antibody conjugates.

Dr. Suk’s research team integrates material science, biophysics, and medical biology to develop safe, efficient therapeutic platforms for debilitating diseases.