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Johnson Ung, PhDPostdoctoral Research Fellow
PhD, 2025, University of Virginia School of Medicine Johnson obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands in Southern California and trained at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle before pursuing his PhD studies at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. In graduate school, he evaluated dysregulated ceramide metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ceramides are tumor suppressive, pro-apoptotic sphingolipids, and their depletion is an emerging AML feature. His thesis centered on developing and characterizing new inhibitors of acid ceramidase, a ceramide-depleting enzyme, and evaluating the therapeutic potential of inhibiting acid ceramidase to overcome resistance to the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax in AML. After receiving his degree in May 2025, Johnson transitioned to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in August 2025 as an NCI F99/K00 fellow. In the Davids Lab, he will employ dynamic BH3 profiling to define apoptotic priming kinetics of approved anti-cancer drugs to enhance drug combination timing and identify integrated stress response-related therapeutic vulnerabilities in various hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and AML. In his spare time, Johnson enjoys weightlifting, long walks, cooking, playing the French horn and piano, and listening to music. You may also find him reading at the local pub, saying hi to strangers' dogs, or being humbled at the local spin studio. |