It starts with Curiochips – and goes beyond.
It proceeds with disease models – and goes beyond.
It grows with artificial intelligence – and goes beyond.
Because technologies alone do not produce impact.
It is the path created by integrating technologies that leads to new and effective therapeutics.
We are redefining path to drug discovery
Founded in 2020 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Qureator, Inc. is a forward-thinking biotech company transforming the drug discovery process. Our proprietary Curiochips platform, a state-of-the-art 3D organ-on-a-chip technology, empowers researchers to accurately replicate human biology, bridging the gap between preclinical models and real patient outcomes. This innovation accelerates the development of effective therapies for complex and underserved diseases.
Dr. Yung-Jue Bang, M.D., Ph.D., is a globally recognized oncologist and Emeritus Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine. With over three decades dedicated to advancing cancer therapeutics, particularly for gastric cancer, he has authored more than 500 publications in leading journals like The Lancet and NEJM. Dr. Bang has held pivotal roles including Director of the Cancer Research Institute and President of the Biomedical Research Institute at Seoul National University Hospital. Currently, he is CEO of Bang & Ock Consulting and chairs the Scientific Advisory Board at SK Biopharmaceuticals, guiding innovation in oncology and clinical development.
for Immunology
for Immunology
Dr. Hilde Cheroutre, Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists, is a Professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. She earned her Ph.D. from the State University of Ghent, discovering the antiviral protein gamma interferon. Following postdoctoral training at Caltech with Leroy Hood, she pioneered research on intestinal immune defenses. At LJI since 1997, Cheroutre investigates mucosal immunity, T cell education, autoimmune disease, cancer, and immune memory. Awarded the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, her discoveries regarding retinoic acid receptors and immune memory T cells significantly impact vaccine development and therapeutic strategies for autoimmune conditions and cancer.
Professor Junsang Doh is a distinguished faculty member at Seoul National University, specializing in immunoengineering and bio-microsystems. With a Ph.D. from MIT and postdoctoral training at UCSF, his research bridges micro/nanofabrication, live-cell imaging, and immune cell biomechanics to develop innovative platforms for studying T cell communication and cancer immunotherapy. Previously a professor at POSTECH and a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, he has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and serves on editorial boards of leading journals. Professor Doh’s interdisciplinary approach continues to advance the interface of immunology and bioengineering with translational applications in precision medicine.
Dr. Miguel Garcia-Guzman is a seasoned biotechnology executive and scientist with over two decades of experience in drug discovery and development. He is the co-founder and CEO of Valora Therapeutics, a San Diego-based company pioneering antibody-lectin chimeras (AbLecs) to modulate glyco-immune checkpoints for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Previously, he founded Aspyrian Therapeutics (now Rakuten Medical), serving as CEO and CSO, where he advanced photoimmunotherapy for solid tumors. Dr. Garcia-Guzman held leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Aurora Biosciences, focusing on GPCRs and pain therapeutics. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Alicante, with postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute and Sanford Burnham Institute.
Iambic Therapeutics
Iambic Therapeutics
Laurent Gomez is a seasoned drug discovery leader, currently serving as Senior Vice President and Head of Discovery at Iambic Therapeutics since March 2025. With over two decades of expertise in medicinal chemistry, chromatography, organic synthesis, and HPLC, he has guided multiple preclinical and clinical compound programs. Previously, he advanced from VP and Head of Chemistry (2021–2025) through roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson. Laurent earned a Ph.D. from Université Louis Pasteur (Strasbourg I), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois. Based in San Diego, he integrates AI-driven discovery with experimental chemistry to accelerate precision therapeutics.
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Dr. Mitchell Kronenberg is President Emeritus and Professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), having served as President from 2003 to 2021. He is renowned for his pioneering research on innate-like T lymphocytes, including natural killer T (NKT), mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT), and γδ T cells, as well as mucosal immunology and inflammatory bowel diseases. Kronenberg received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology, held a faculty position at UCLA, and joined LJI in 1997. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists.
Stanford University
Stanford University
Dr. Michael Z. Lin is Professor of Neurobiology and Bioengineering at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in Chemical and Systems Biology. He earned his A.B. summa cum laude in Biochemistry from Harvard, completed his PhD with Michael Greenberg at Harvard Medical School, and received his MD from UCLA. Dr. Lin trained in protein engineering with Nobel Laureate Roger Tsien at UCSD. A leader in translational synthetic biology, he has developed tools to control protein function, visualize neuronal activity, and rewire cancer signaling. He is a recipient of prestigious awards including the NIH Pioneer Award and the Burroughs Wellcome Career Award.
Dr. Gordon B. Mills, Director of Precision Oncology at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, holds an M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. Previously at MD Anderson Cancer Center, he founded the Systems Biology Department and co-directed personalized cancer therapy initiatives. His research focuses on translating cancer genomics, identifying therapeutic targets, overcoming treatment resistance, and integrating comprehensive molecular analysis to personalize patient care. With over 1,000 publications, 20 patents, and numerous awards—including the Brinker Award and Ziskin Prize for Mentoring—he’s recognized globally for pioneering precision oncology, mentoring future leaders, and driving innovative, patient-centered cancer research.
Professor Sun Young Rha is a renowned medical oncologist at Yonsei University College of Medicine and Director of the Songdang Institute for Cancer Research. She leads the Gastric Cancer Research Team and the Phase I/Early Clinical Trials Unit at Yonsei Cancer Center. Her research focuses on gastric, renal, and urothelial cancers, emphasizing immunotherapy, biomarker development, and translational oncology. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications, Professor Rha has played a pivotal role in global Phase I–III trials, including studies on pembrolizumab and trastuzumab. She holds leadership positions in several academic societies, such as the Korean Cancer Association and the Korean Cancer Study Group, and serves on the ESMO GI Education Committee.
Chair in Ophthalmology
Chair in Ophthalmology
Dr. Bärbel (Barb) Rohrer is Professor of Ophthalmology and SmartState Endowed Chair at MUSC, specializing in retinal degenerative diseases. A prolific inventor, she holds over 50 patents, with therapies forming the basis of three start-ups, including MitoChem Therapeutics. She has published 100+ papers, received 40+ grants, and mentored more than 50 trainees. Her achievements earned her honors including MUSC Inventor of the Year, NAI Fellow, and the Bárány Prize. Dr. Rohrer serves on the Foundation Fighting Blindness SAB and holds memberships in leading vision research societies. Her academic path spans Germany, Canada, and the U.S., with postdoctoral work at UCSF.
Dr. Kyu Baek is the CEO of Qureator, Inc., a biotech company revolutionizing drug discovery through its innovative organ-on-a-chip platform, Curiochips. With over 15 years of experience in R&D and product commercialization, he has driven advancements in biomedical engineering, including high-throughput protein analysis and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Dr. Baek previously held leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Hospira, contributing to cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic tools. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and is dedicated to advancing precision medicine through groundbreaking technology and global collaborations to improve healthcare outcomes.
Dr. Noo Li Jeon is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University and Co-founder of Qureator. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. An expert in microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip technologies, Dr. Jeon pioneered microfluidic neuron culture chambers and vascularized organ models. His research advances drug discovery and precision medicine by replicating complex tissue microenvironments. At Qureator, he leads the development of Microphysiological Systems (MPS) for precise disease modeling.
Tsung-li Liu, PhD, is an engineering scientist with a strong focus on optics, microscopy, and instrumentation design.
Before joining Qureator, he led instrumentation development in the bio-technology industry including spatial transcriptomics in Element Biosciences and ion-channel activity measurement in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Previously Dr Liu served as a researcher in Howard Hughes Medical Institute and worked with Nobel laureate Dr. Eric Betzig to innovate imaging instruments for biological tissues, including lattice light sheet microscope with adaptive optics published on the cover of the Science magazine.
Dr. Liu earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Science from Harvard University with a focus on quantum optics and photonic devices.
Dr. Mitrovic’s expertise spans 30 years and includes the discovery and development of therapeutics for genetic, autoimmune and neurological diseases. She had successfully led projects from target identification to IND filings and clinical proof-of-concept studies.
Prior to joining Qureator, Dr. Mitrovic held leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Healthcare, and Berlex Biosciences/Schering AG, where she managed large teams and directed cross-functional research projects. At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, she led the development of in vitro disease models for Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, AATD and other diseases. She also spearheaded therapeutic gene therapy programs for Pain, CF and other genetic diseases.
Paul is a seasoned biotechnology executive with over two decades of experience in strategy, partnerships, M&A, and financing across leading biopharma and healthcare technology companies.
Throughout his career at Amgen, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and Circle Pharma, Paul has helped shape multi-billion-dollar pipelines and execute high-impact transactions across co-development/co-commercialization partnerships, licensing, acquisitions, research collaborations, and venture financing. His experience spans the full business lifecycle — from platform validation to global commercialization — and includes overseeing more than 30 alliances with several of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Aneesh Sathe is a visionary data science executive and renowned innovator who has made significant contributions to artificial intelligence and biomedical innovation. In his current role as Vice President of Data Science at Qureator, he leads efforts to integrate AI with advanced biological platforms, accelerating discoveries in health and drug development. Dr. Sathe earned a Ph.D. in Mechanobiology from the National University of Singapore, where he specialized in applying machine learning to complex biological image analysis. He previously founded and led Qritive, an AI-driven diagnostics startup that secured international expansion and improved cancer diagnosis workflows for pathologists. With numerous publications to his name, Dr. Sathe is widely regarded as a thought leader in AI-driven discovey for his ability to translate cutting-edge research from lab to real-world solutions. His blend of scientific rigor and strategic leadership continues to influence the future of AI in healthcare and medicine globally.
Dr. Sanghee Yoo leads the Biology team at Qureator, advancing Organ-on-a-Chip technology to create disease-relevant models for drug discovery. During her 12-year tenure at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, she contributed to the development of in vitro human cystic fibrosis models using patient-derived lung epithelial cells, supporting multiple FDA-approved therapies. With more than two decades of R&D expertise, Dr. Yoo combines deep experience in preclinical modeling, product development, and regulatory strategy. She has held executive roles at Tachyon Therapeutics, ImmunoMet Therapeutics, and HanAll Biopharma. Dr. Yoo earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Utah and her M.S./B.S. from Seoul National University.
At Qureator, we prize nurturing argumentation. We don’t smooth over disagreement—we sharpen it into insight. Through debate, we build a shared language that pushes ideas further and makes better science possible.
- We build like makers
grounded in first principles, focused on outcomes. - We think like observers
curious, responsive, attuned to complexity. - We reason like modelers
seeking structure, clarity, and causality.
Qureator’s Microphysiological Systems (MPS) known as Curiochips , are designed for recapitulating the complexity of tissue microenvironments, thus providing ideal microscale 3D cell culture conditions for a variety of applications in biomedical research.
Qureator has offices in San Diego, CA and Seoul, South Korea.
3F, 159, Bongeunsa-ro
Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06122, South Korea
If you would like to get in touch please contact us.