Dr. Kenji Lim joins the Department of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division as an Instructor as of August 2026.
Dr. Lim is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, where his research focuses on understanding the roles of the immune system in cardiac homeostasis and disease. With nearly a decade of research experience spanning cardiology, immunology, drug development, bioinformatics, genetics, molecular biology, and microbiology, Dr. Lim has developed a multidisciplinary scientific background that bridges basic, translational, and cardiovascular research.
During his undergraduate training, Dr. Lim participated in several foundational research projects that provided extensive experience in laboratory techniques, experimental design, scientific communication, and preclinical mouse models. He subsequently pursued his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Dr. Toshifumi Yokota at the University of Alberta, where he conducted translational research focused on developing novel genetic therapies for muscular dystrophy. Through collaborations with local and international experts, Dr. Lim developed highly promising antisense oligonucleotide therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. This work resulted in multiple first-author publications and presentations at international, national, and regional scientific conferences. In recognition of his academic and research achievements, he received numerous scholarships and awards throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies.
For his postdoctoral training, Dr. Lim pursued his interest in cardiac immunology by joining the laboratory of Dr. Douglas Mann at Washington University in St. Louis, an internationally recognized pioneer in the field. There, he contributed to the discovery of a novel mechanism of cardioprotection mediated through trained innate immunity and investigated how immune responses influence cardiac function following recurrent and acute adrenergic stress. Following the integration of the Mann laboratory with the laboratory of Dr. Abhinav Diwan, a leading expert in cardiac lysosomal biology, Dr. Lim expanded his research focus to examine how immune cells regulate cardiac function at the subcellular level.
Dr. Lim’s current research centers on understanding the role of lysosomes in dendritic cells, particularly in antigen processing and presentation. His work seeks to determine how alterations in these pathways contribute to immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis and, more broadly, to the breakdown of immune self-tolerance. Through these studies, he aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that connect immune cell biology with cardiovascular disease.
Looking ahead, Dr. Lim seeks to establish an independent research program dedicated to advancing the understanding of how immune cells shape cardiac structure and function. His long-term goal is to drive innovative discoveries that improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease through a deeper understanding of cardio-immunology.