Steven I. Park

My research is primarily focused on targeted therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). I have worked with Oliver Press, M.D./Ph.D. at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on development of a new method to deliver potentially curative doses of radiation specifically to lymphoma cells (also known as radioimmunotherapy or RIT) while minimizing radiation exposures to normal organs. We have also incorporated novel radionuclides which emit α-particles into various RIT schemes. In comparison to standard RIT with β-emitting radionuclides such as Zevalin or Bexxar, which are FDA approved for relapsed or refractory indolent NHL, RIT with α-emitting radionuclides may be advantageous in the treatment of minimal residual disease because the short path length and high energies of α-particles produce optimal cytotoxicity at small target sites while minimizing damage to the surrounding normal tissues. We have successfully shown that RIT with α-emitting radionuclides is associated with significant tumor regression and prolonged survival in preclinical mouse models. Based on these works, I was elected as a Lymphoma Research Foundation Fellow.

My second major area of research is to investigate the role of selective downregulation of myc proto-oncogene in inhibition of tumor growth. In collaboration with Dr. Leaf Huang, the chair of Molecular Pharmaceutics at UNC, we have developed lipid coated calcium phosphate (LCP) nanoparticles conjugated with the Selective High-Affinity Ligand (SHAL), a small molecule that has high affinities for HLA-DR10, which is overexpressed in the majority of NHL. We are currently evaluating the efficacy of SHAL-conjugated LCP nanoparticles in delivering myc-siRNA to lymphoma cells. If this approach proves successful, a minimally toxic nanoparticle formulation could be utilized to enhance the efficacy of most traditional chemotherapeutics.

1994 Regent Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley
1995 Sonnenberg Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley
1996 Phi Beta Kappa, University of California, Berkeley
1996 Candidate for the University Medal, University of California, Berkeley
1996 The Highest Distinction in General Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley
1999 Ray & Ruby Dami Scholarship, University of California, Davis
1999 Deans Research Fellowship, University of California, Davis
1999 American Cancer Society Award
2002 Morton Levitt Research Award, University of California, Davis
2002 Budd & Elma Smith Scholarship, University of California, Davis
2002 Regent Scholarship, University of California, Davis
2008 Lymphoma Research Foundation Fellowship Award
2010 NIH KL2 - Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Career Development Award, National Institute of Health/University of North Carolina