Kyung Bo Kim is a tenured professor and FIU Medicine researcher at the FIU Center for Translational Science in Port St. Lucie, FL. His work lies at the intersection of chemistry and biology, focusing on developing small molecules that target the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. These molecules are designed to reveal disease mechanisms and serve as potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.
The Kim Lab is advancing proteasome inhibitor research to create therapies for incurable diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma.
Before joining FIU, Kim was a faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy.
Areas of Expertise
- Chemical biology
- Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
- Proteasome inhibitor drug development
- Translational therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease and cancer
Research Interests
- Pharmacological intervention of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer (multiple myeloma), and inflammatory bowel disease
- Mechanistic understanding of how the immunoproteasome modulates disease processes
See research publications and more on FIU Discovery.
Research Grants
- NIH R01 AG073122, Immunoproteasome inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease – Developing macrocyclic peptide epoxyketone-based drugs to alleviate cognitive deficits independently of amyloid deposits and tau polymerization.
- FIU Medicine/Baptist Health Pilot Project Grant (AWD# 18179), Development of proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of glioblastoma – Developing brain-permeable proteasome inhibitors to treat glioblastoma. 2024
Education
- Postdoctoral training, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Ph.D., Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- M.S., Organic Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea
- B.S., Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Korea