Pin-Kuang Lai Named a 2024 Top Scholar in Antibody Research

Pin-Kuang Lai, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Stevens Institute of Technology, has earned worldwide recognition as a ScholarGPS 2024 Top Scholar in antibody research. This distinction places Lai in the top 0.5% of more than 30 million scholars globally, honoring the quantity of his research publications and their impact through citations over the past five years.

Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight viruses, bacteria and other germs. Lai is developing therapeutic antibodies for subcutaneous (under-the-skin) delivery. Compared to traditional IV (intravenous) infusions, this is a more convenient, less invasive alternative, especially for patients with chronic conditions. His research could help make life-saving treatments more accessible, empowering patients to self-administer therapies with fewer clinic visits.

“I'm especially excited about how our efforts may be able to expand the therapeutic potential of next-generation biologics and enable more patient-friendly delivery,” Lai said.

“The monoclonal, or single-cell, antibody therapies we are working on in my lab are at the forefront of research and clinical innovation because of their unmatched ability to precisely target disease-specific molecules,” he explained. “This reduces side effects and improves treatment outcomes across conditions from cancer and autoimmune disorders to infectious diseases.”

As formats and delivery methods continue to evolve, monoclonal antibodies are increasingly vital in addressing chronic illnesses and emerging health threats. However, the high concentrations needed for subcutaneous delivery often make antibodies too thick or unstable to work effectively.

To ensure the therapies Lai and his team are envisioning will be viable, they are also creating computational tools to predict how the antibodies will behave at subcutaneous concentrations. By combining experimental data, molecular modeling and machine learning, they are aiming to predict which candidates are most likely to succeed. This, in turn, could streamline early development and speed the path to simple, self-administered treatments.

“I'm especially excited about how our efforts may be able to expand the therapeutic potential of next-generation biologics and enable more patient-friendly delivery,” Lai said.

Advancing next-gen antibody therapies

Lai has been fascinated with molecular modeling since his undergraduate research at National Taiwan University, where he was drawn to the question of how these fundamental insights could help improve human health. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota, he expanded his research interests to therapeutic antibody research, integrating his molecular modeling expertise with real-world drug development applications.

Since joining Stevens in 2021, he has collaborated with industry partners including AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson and national laboratories such as Brookhaven National Lab and NIST.

“One of the most exciting parts of my research journey has been seeing our tools, such as the DeepViscosity artificial intelligence model, integrated into the research pipelines of both large pharmaceutical companies and small biotech firms,” Lai said. “It’s rewarding and deeply motivating to know that our work is not only advancing scientific understanding but also making a real impact on therapeutic development.”

He presents this work at key scientific conferences and makes the computational tools publicly available. In addition, he serves as an assistant editor for mAbs, a leading antibody research journal, overseeing emerging developments in computational approaches for antibody design and therapeutic development. It’s all part of his commitment to amplifying the visibility and impact of this research, helping it become a cornerstone of modern and future healthcare strategies. 

“One of the most exciting parts of my research journey has been seeing our tools, such as the DeepViscosity artificial intelligence model, integrated into the research pipelines of both large pharmaceutical companies and small biotech firms,” Lai said.

He has also recruited Ph.D. and postdoctoral students and mentored high school and undergraduate students to nurture leaders to advance these goals. He encourages the next generation to develop patience in research, build strong core skills, stay curious and informed, connect with others in their chosen field and look for opportunities to create a unique niche by combining their strengths with new tools.

“Real impact comes from aligning your expertise with meaningful, unsolved needs,” he said. “Being named a Top Scholar is an honor, especially at this stage of my career,” Pin-Kuang Lai said. “It affirms our work’s impact and motivates me to keep pushing the boundaries of therapeutic antibody development to solve real-world challenges.”