We would like to introduce our newest faculty member and researcher , Stephanie Si Lim , MD , MS , who joined the UH Cancer Center in August . Dr . Lim received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pepperdine University , attended medical school at Georgetown University , and received her training in pediatric hematology / oncology at the Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia .
As a practicing physician at Kapi ‘ olani Medical Center for Women and Children , Dr . Lim loves interacting with and treating her patients , but says there are many unanswered questions in the field of pediatric hematology / oncology . Her goal is to have her research in the lab translate into the clinical setting so that there may be a positive impact on patients , and continue to advance the field of pediatric oncology .
STEPHANIE SI LIM , MD , MS
Her research focuses on T cells , a type of white blood cell that protects the body against infection and may help fight cancer . She and her research team have discovered that one of the T cell markers , TIM-3 , is expressed in biopsy samples of patients diagnosed with Ewing ’ s sarcoma , a type of bone or soft tissue cancer most common in adolescents and young adults . This finding could potentially serve as a platform for clinical trials using anti-TIM-3 against pediatric solid tumors .
Dr . Lim also hopes to bring novel immunotherapies to our community , such as CAR T-cell therapy , a type of cancer immunotherapy that can find and fight cancer . She aims to build upon the UH Cancer Center ’ s Early Phase Clinical Research program , provide insight on ways to overcome current barriers in immunotherapies , and continue to offer cutting-edge cancer treatments for children and young adults in Hawai ‘ i .
WHEN I FEEL LIKE I ’ VE HIT A WALL IN RESEARCH , I ALWAYS FEEL REJUVENATED AFTER I SEE MY PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL . IT REMINDS ME WHY I AM DOING THE RESEARCH I AM DOING , AND IT PLACES MEANING BEHIND MY WORK .”
STEPHANIE SI LIM , MD , MS
Part of Dr . Lim ’ s research is funded by the Bert and Vonnie Turner Cancer Research Fund . Philanthropic gifts of any size from our community are essential to support research like Dr . Lim ’ s .
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