Joongho Jo, Ph.D.

Instructor of Medicine; Assistant Scientist, James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Research Program
Tumor Immunobiology

Education
B.Sc., Biochemistry, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea; 1998
M.Sc., Biochemical Genetics, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea; 2000
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea, 2005

Research and Professional Experience

2000-2001

Teaching Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea

2001-2002

Research assistant, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Korea

2002-2005

Research Assistant, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea

2005-2005

Research Associate, Department of Applied Biochemistry, Konkuk University, ChungJu, Korea

2006-2008

Postdoctoral Fellow, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville

Research Interest

I have studied microbial genetics and biotechnology using advanced genetic engineering skills. Particularly, I have been working on mushroom genetics for more than ten years and have 10 peer-reviewed publications and a Korean patent for mushroom genetics and physiology. During my studies I managed a database that provides a wide range of genomic and transcriptional information about edible mushrooms. I also have studied animal genetics and proteomics for strain improvement and have one Korean patent and five published papers on related studies.

Since joining the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, under the direction of Dr. A. Bennett Jenson, my more recent projects have focused on the identification of new viruses and vaccine development against human and animal diseases. I have isolated seven different types of mouse parvoviruses (MPVs), a monkey papillomavirus (MfPV-1), a mouse papillomavirus (MusPV) and then developed vaccines against those viruses. From these vaccines, application has been made for an international patent for a horse vaccine, preventing BPV-1 and EcPV-1 infections that cause horse cancers. I am still working on preventing disease and finding cures for many animals including endangered species (snow leopard and manatee). I have been involved in cancer research and have detected oncogenic viruses (HPV, and Merkel cell polyomavirus) from human lung and head and neck cancers.

Expertise in the virology field led me to identify the first mouse PV that infects laboratory mice and induces basal cell carcinoma. I am currently performing animal studies using MusPV and many genetically modified mouse strains to investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of MusPV-induced BCC. Although I am a new investigator, this wide range of experience in animal and microbial genetics, virology, vaccinology, immunology, pathology, and cancer biology has provided me a unique breadth of experience to bring to my research.

Publications

Joh J, A. Jenson AB, King W, Proctor M, Ingle A, Sundberg JP, Ghim SJ. Genomic analysis of the only known laboratory mouse papillomavirus (MusPV). J Gen Virol 92(3):692-8, 2011