MIT senior Sean Luk combines protein engineering and immunotherapy research to combat cancer, develops communication tools for children with Down syndrome, and champions global collaboration through her athletic and academic journey.

Sean Luk: Addressing the Urgent Need for Better Immunotherapy

At MIT, biological engineering major Sean Luk channels personal motivation into groundbreaking immunotherapy research. Having witnessed her grandparents' battles with cancer, Luk approaches her work with urgency: "The idea of creating something that actually improves human health drives me. Seeing loved ones suffer motivates me to excel," she explains.

Engineering Immune System Solutions

Luk's fascination with immunoengineering began in high school after attending a seminar on immune system components. Now in Professor Dane Wittrup's lab, she focuses on designing proteins to activate the immune system against diseases:

Stabilizing Therapeutic Peptides: Developing ultra-stable cyclic peptides for autoimmune diseases, potentially enabling oral administration instead of injections
Targeting Tumor Microenvironments: Engineering interferon gamma constructs to reprogram immunosuppressive myeloid cells surrounding tumors

"We're licensing T-cells to attack cancer by targeting myeloid cells," Luk explains. Image of a tumor (white dotted structure against a black background), with patches of pink and yellow dye shows the complex tumor environment where her designed proteins operate.

Beyond the Lab: Empowering Communication

Through her startup EasyComm (supported by MIT's Sandbox Innovation Fund), Luk addresses communication challenges for children with Down syndrome:

Created gamified platform to improve verbal communication skills
Developed through extensive consultation with parents and caregivers
Provisional patent filed; plans for wider accessibility underway

"Communication is crucial to everything. When people can't express themselves, it's isolating," says Luk, highlighting her commitment to inclusive technology.

Global Perspective Through Sports and Science

Sean Luk leans on stone wall on MIT campus

Luk's journey spans continents and soccer fields:

Represented Hong Kong in U20 Asian Football Championship Qualifiers
MIT varsity soccer captain balancing academics and athletics
Conducted lab research across Europe (Denmark, Germany, Italy)

Her multilingual fluency (English/Cantonese/Mandarin) informs her approach: "A global perspective is essential when collaborating across cultures. You need to learn from the world outside your bubble." Luk embodies MIT's ethos of merging technical excellence with human-centered impact.

Images: Featured hero image (1) shows Luk's scientific dedication; campus portrait (2) captures her MIT journey; tumor visualization (5) illustrates her immunotherapy targets.