Faculty & Scientific Staff

Dr. Kwok earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Washington. Following postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, he joined the laboratory of Gerald Nepom, MD, PhD, at Virginia Mason Research Center (now Benaroya Research Institute) in 1986 and became a principal investigator two years later.

The Kwok Lab focuses on understanding antigen-specific helper T cells and the role they play in immune health and disease. Dr. Kwok and his team have pioneered the development and application of tetramer technology, helping transform the study of immune responses to infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and vaccines.

Through this work, Dr. Kwok has helped advance our understanding of how antigen-specific T cells recognize and respond to targets in the body, generating insights that support the development of improved vaccines, diagnostics, and precision therapies. His work continues to drive new approaches for studying human immune responses with greater precision and depth. 

In addition to his work at BRI, Dr. Kwok serves as an affiliate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington.