Heon Ju Lee

CEO at CARBioTHERAPEUTICS

Speaker

Heon-Ju Lee, Ph.D. is the CEO of CarBioTherapeutics in South Korea, with over 30 years of experience in biotechnology, toxicology, and gene and cell therapy development. He holds a Ph.D. in Toxicogenetics, along with a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from Seoul National University.
Dr. Lee has held key leadership roles across both industry and research institutions, including serving as Vice President of R&D at Biocure Pharm, where he led the development and preclinical testing of anti-CD19 CAR-T therapies. His past roles also include senior technical consultant at Optipharm, director positions at the Korea Institute of Biohealth and the Korea Institute of Toxicology, and R&D positions at Samsung Medical Center and CJ CheilJedang. He is a long-standing member of the Institutional Review Board at Gyeongsang National University and has been recognized with multiple ministerial awards for his contributions to science and technology in Korea.

*Education:
- B.Sc. & M.Sc. in Microbiology, Seoul National University
- Ph.D. in Toxicology Genetics, Graduate School of Foreign Studies
*Career:
- Biocure Pharm: VP R&D - Developed anti-CD19 CAR-T
- Optipharm: VP R&D - Gene therapy via miniature pigs
- Korea Institute of Industrial Biohealth: Director
- Korea Institute of Toxicology: Director of Toxicology R&D center
- CJ CheilJedang: Biotech research for 7-ACA production
- Samsung Medical Center: General Manager of Planning Department, bio-seed projects review
*Awards:
- Member, IRB Gyeongsang Univ. (14 years)
- National Awards from MSIT, MOTIE, MOHW
- Grand Prize, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology