Title: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology
Education:
- BSc, Chemistry & Biochemistry, State University of New York at Stony Brook
- MS & MPhil, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University
- PhD, Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, Yale University
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemistry & Cell Biology, Rockefeller University
Professional journey:
Before coming to UNMC, Dr. Kwok was an associate professor at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) at the University of Montreal.
Research interests:
- Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of cell division using chemical and cell biology tools.
- Exploring the roles of microtubule-based systems in cell biology and their roles in cancer development.
“I look forward to working with students and colleagues on the basic research side at the College of Dentistry, especially on the treatment of cancer, including oral cancer. Being part of a team in a collegial environment is essential to advancing research and education, and in promoting healthy social interaction. I look forward to collaborating with my clinical colleagues,” Dr. Kwok said.
Honors & awards:
- 2004-2007 Merck Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Award
- 2010-2013 Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) Junior 1 Investigator Award
- 2013-2017 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award
- 2017-2019 Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) Junior 2 Investigator Award
Publications:
See listing of Dr. Kwok’s publications.
Grants:
- National Institutes of Health (Subcontract), The novel role of microtubule regulators in DNA damage response and cancer therapy, Co-PI; 2021/1 – 2025/12.
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, Project Grant), Examining chemical modulation of kinesin-13 activities: From mechanism to validation; PI; 2017/04-2022/03.
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC, Discovery Grant), Catalytic modulation of microtubule polymerization (by KIF14): A molecular and biochemical dissection, PI; 2015/4 – 2020/03.
- Cancer Research Society (CRS), Targeting kinesin-13 family of microtubule depolymerases as a cancer therapeutic strategy, PI; 2015/9 – 2017/08.
- Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (CCSRI, Innovation Grant), Targeting the oncogenic kinesin motor protein KIF14 for cancer therapy, PI; 2015/2 – 2017/1.
- Open Operating grant Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Title: Regulation and Dynamics of Mitotic Spindle Assembly, PI; 2009/10-2014/9.
Hometown: I basically grew up in Hong Kong. I attended elementary and high school in Hong Kong before moving to the US with my family.
My family: I am married and have two sons in their late teens. They are planning to start their university studies soon. In fact, they are applying to UNL. We are all looking forward to starting our new chapter in Lincoln.
Favorite things to do on a day off: Spending time outdoors, hiking and biking. Recently, Holmes Lake Park has become one of my favorite places to go. I also enjoy reading and social gatherings with family and friends. Occasionally, enjoying a good movie is not a bad idea.
Three things people may not know about me: That’s an interesting question. The first thing that comes to mind is that every ten years or so I move to a new country (it just happened that way). Second, I enjoy cooking and trying different cuisines (just like doing biochemistry). Third, I enjoy playing poker.