For Dr. Hugh Kim, having a career in research wasn’t something he had anticipated—he always planned on being a dentist. After finishing dental school, he enrolled in UBC Dentistry’s MSc in Craniofacial Science program to specialize in periodontics. Dr. Kim joined UBC Professor Emeritus and prolific researcher Dr. Donald Brunette’s laboratory, which sparked his interest in fundamental research.

He decided to carry on with a PhD at the University of Toronto, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at Harvard University, where he studied platelets, which formed the basis of his current research.

“I fell in love with basic research because you get to probe at questions in a lot of detail,” says Dr. Kim. “It’s looking at something in a pin-pointed way that helps you get to the crux of how things work.”

Dr. Kim’s laboratory focuses on the biochemistry of platelets—cells found in the blood that form clots to stop bleeding and help wounds heal. These small cells also play a key role in inflammation.

The Kim lab is looking to better understand how biochemical signals are interpreted by the platelet’s structural framework—also known as the cytoskeleton—and how these signals can affect platelet function. The team is especially interested in tiny particles within platelets called granules. In response to a cut, platelets change shape, and the molecules stored in the granules are released into the bloodstream. Understanding how these granules are secreted will help researchers develop new therapies for bleeding disorders, as well as other medical conditions including heart attacks and strokes that result from unwanted blood clots.

This research is also highly relevant for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and periodontitis.

“Periodontitis evolves through chronic inflammation, so by studying platelets, we can hopefully find better targets to treat this disease and move away from gum surgery and other invasive mechanical treatments,” says Dr. Kim. “My team is also looking at how platelets interact with other cells so we can fully understand diseases like periodontitis.”