[Management] Alumna Hwang Yu-kyeong, Head of R&D at the Institute of Cell Therapy at Green Cross LabCell
- Date2021.10.06
- 5098
Alumna Hwang Yu-kyeong, Head of R&D at the Institute of Cell Therapy at Green Cross LabCell
Today, the Ewha DNA interview is taking the time to meet with Hwang Yu-kyeong (Biology, graduating class of 1989), who is spearheading research and development as the head of R&D at the Institute of Cell Therapy at Green Cross (GC) LabCell, which is developing treatments against intractable diseases using cells as a raw material for medicines.
Q. Hello! Please briefly introduce yourself.
Hello, I am Hwang Yu-kyeong from the incoming class of ’85 for the Department of Biology at Ewha. I am currently working as the head of R&D at the Institute of Cell Therapy at GC LabCell. GC LabCell is a bio company that develops cell and gene therapeutics. It is currently trying to develop treatments for intractable diseases using cells from the human body as a raw material for medicines. To this end, I am heading the entire process from the initial research stage to clinical trials.
Q. We are curious about what made you study “cell therapeutics.”
The MOGAM Institute for Biomedical Research where I previous worked is a nonprofit research foundation funded by GC Pharma, which is famous for vaccines. As such, the institute was actively engaged in research on not only vaccines but also targeted antibody therapeutics against cancers or various physiological materials to activate immune cells. The accumulation of such research capabilities at the institute subsequently directed GC Pharma towards cell therapeutics in anticipation of future trends. To this end, my team and I were assigned to the development of cell therapeutics, as we have significant experience in dealing with immune cells.
At first, similarly to the majority of other research on immune cells, our research focused on developing T-cell therapeutics. However, as I explained previously, therapeutics using T-cells must be manufactured individually in a customized process using each patient’s blood, which therefore makes it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to manufacture and sell as medicine. So, as we sought out alternatives, we became drawn to natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are a certain type of immune cells in our body that have the potential to treat patients without causing serious immune side-effects even when transplanted into others. It was then that we fell in love with NK cells for over ten years!
Q. What do you think of the potential that NK cells have as a therapeutic?
NK cells can identify and eliminate abnormal cells faster than any other immune cells in our immune system. Not only that, other people’s NK cells can be used to treat patients without serious immune side-effects. Isn’t that wonderful? Already, the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy facilitated by the manipulation of T-cell genes is resulting in a breakthrough in medical treatments and has already entered into clinical use under FDA approval. If NK cells are proven to have as much efficacy as CAR T-cells without side-effects, I’m certain that they’ll take over from CAR T-cells as the next game-changer.
Q. Tell us about a time when you struggled and a time when you were proud of yourself.
As a researcher, it’s upsetting to run into difficulties in research, but I realized upon becoming the head of a research institute that I now have to focus more on organizational problems. I’m constantly asking questions such as “How can I create a better work environment?” or “How can I improve efficiency with limited resources and time?”
Another big challenge is formulating strategies to set the research direction and explaining them to the management to obtain their approval. We establish such strategies by putting our heads together with outstanding people from each field, but making investments with uncertain outcomes is not an easy decision to make from the management’s point of view. Perhaps the toughest part is asking myself whether my decision was right or not. Of course, I never make decisions alone, but I have to be aware that my decisions can heavily affect researchers’ work and the company’s direction. For example, I’m reminded of the time when we decided that it was time for the NK cell project that we researched and developed to enter advanced overseas markets. In 2019 when we established Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc. in the U.S. to fully commence the development of NK cell therapeutics in the U.S. market, we couldn’t help but ask ourselves whether our technological prowess had matured enough for us to venture into such a bold and risky investment and whether we were confident enough that the business would succeed. Since the decision was pivotal not only to GC LabCell but also its affiliates, it was tough for us to make that decision.
Looking back at the past, there were also moments that really warmed my heart. Perhaps the most memorable moment was when I concluded a large-scale business deal with MSD (Merck), a global pharmaceutical company. Indeed, while there were high expectations on our research and technology in the field of cell therapeutics, we were also faced with widespread doubts. The collaboration deal with Merck removed such doubts in one stroke and brought a great sense of pride to our researchers. It meant that we were finally being recognized for the platform technology that we had accumulated through around 10 years of research.
Q. What do you think is the most important attribute required of researchers?
First of all, this may be obvious, but researchers need solid competency in their research fields. You need at least one of either lab skills or creative problem-solving abilities to be a good researcher. Second, they require an endless sense of curiosity and the mindset for discovering and actively dealing with problems. These are such fundamental attributers for researchers that they do not require any additional explanation, and I would advise those who lack such attributes to find another path than being a researcher. Third, communication with others is also essential. Research is not some kind of lofty, solitary work. Researchers have to discuss their research findings with other researchers and humbly accept sharp criticism from others even if it’s upsetting. Large-scale research projects require many people to work and think together. Lastly, I would emphasize the motto “ethics in research and humility before truth.”
It’s difficult to choose only one of these attributes as the most important, but I would maybe say that an endless sense of curiosity deserves special emphasis for researchers, unlike in other career paths. I hope that Ewha continues to produce many excellent researchers who will shine in their respective fields. I’ll be cheering them on!