ソウル大学、KAIST、延世大学など韓国QSトップ10大学の研究室情報です。
Professor Sun Won Hong's research lab specializes in diagnostic and molecular pathology, with a focus on thyroid and salivary gland cancers. The lab investigates the immunohistochemical and clinicopathological features of rare and aggressive thyroid carcinoma variants, such as the diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSVPC), aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and classification. Additional research explores tumor microenvironment interactions, including eosinophil recruitment in gastric carcinoma and bacterial metabolism of furfural derivatives, highlighting a multidisciplinary approach to cancer biomarkers and pathogenesis. The lab also contributes to the development of reliable classification systems for salivary gland lesions based on molecular and clinical outcomes.
Professor Kyoung Un Park's research lab specializes in molecular diagnostics and genetic markers for gastrointestinal and hematological diseases, with a focus on identifying non-invasive biomarkers for early cancer detection. The lab investigates epigenetic and genetic alterations in gastric and colorectal cancers, including plasma-based markers like mSEPT9 and MYC/GAPDH ratios, as well as molecular genotyping strategies for RhD-negative blood donors. Their work also extends to microbial identification using 16S rRNA and tuf gene sequencing, particularly in coagulase-negative staphylococci, and explores host-microbe interactions in gastric carcinogenesis, such as the role of Lewis antigens and *H. pylori* virulence factors.
Professor Jong-Sook Park's research lab focuses on metabolic and cardiovascular health, with a primary emphasis on identifying and evaluating biomarkers for insulin resistance, arterial stiffness, and subclinical atherosclerosis in Korean adult populations. The lab investigates the role of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance and its associations with coronary artery calcification and arterial stiffness. Additional research explores the impact of long-term metformin use on vitamin B12 deficiency and the relationship between environmental exposures—such as mercury—and obesity-related metabolic risk factors. The lab employs advanced imaging techniques and biochemical assessments to understand early cardiovascular disease progression in asymptomatic individuals.
Professor Sung-Tak Yoon's research lab specializes in environmental geochemistry and hydrogeology, focusing on the fate and sources of contaminants in groundwater and urban sediments. The lab investigates nitrate pollution in alluvial aquifers, particularly in relation to agricultural and domestic water use, and examines heavy metal distribution in urban roadside environments. Using isotopic and multivariate statistical techniques, the lab identifies pollution sources and assesses environmental risks in urban and agricultural settings. Their work supports the development of science-based environmental policies and pollution mitigation strategies in Korea and similar regions.
Professor Seokhwan Hwang's research lab specializes in molecular microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology, focusing on the detection, quantification, and characterization of key microbial communities in anaerobic processes. The lab employs advanced molecular techniques such as TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR to study methanogens and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria at various taxonomic levels, particularly in waste treatment systems. Their work emphasizes the development of group-specific primer and probe sets for precise monitoring of microbial populations in complex environments like anaerobic digesters and swine wastewater systems. The lab also investigates microbial community dynamics in relation to process parameters such as hydraulic retention time and pH, aiming to optimize environmental bioprocesses.
Professor Jun Jeong's research lab focuses on translational oncology and patient-centered cancer care, with a strong emphasis on improving outcomes in breast and pancreatic cancers. The lab investigates biomarkers such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), p16, and p53 proteins to understand tumor biology and predict treatment response. It also explores clinical decision-making in oncology, including the safety of interrupting endocrine therapy for pregnancy and the role of metabolic imaging (e.g., FDG-PET/SUVmax) in predicting recurrence. The research integrates clinical pathology, molecular markers, and health services research to enhance personalized and safe cancer management.
Professor Han Woong Yeom's research lab specializes in the quantum engineering of low-dimensional electronic systems, focusing on strongly correlated electron phenomena, topological states, and charge density wave instabilities in atomic-scale heterostructures. The lab employs advanced scanning probe and spectroscopic techniques—particularly scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission—to explore exotic quantum phases such as topological edge states, Mott insulating behavior, and nanoscale electronic phase transitions. A central theme is the manipulation and control of electronic order at the atomic scale, with a strong emphasis on understanding and harnessing emergent quantum phenomena in 1D and 2D systems. The lab also investigates the interplay between electronic correlations, lattice distortions, and symmetry breaking in transition metal dichalcogenides and self-assembled atomic chains on semiconducting substrates.
Professor Balachandran Manavalan's research lab specializes in computational biology and bioinformatics, focusing on the in silico discovery and prediction of bioactive peptides with therapeutic potential. The lab develops advanced machine learning and data-driven approaches to identify peptides with anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and cell-penetrating properties, significantly reducing the need for costly and time-consuming wet-lab experiments. Their work emphasizes feature engineering, algorithm optimization, and the integration of diverse biological data to build accurate predictive models for peptide-based drug discovery.
Professor Kyung-Sup Kim's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic regulation in cancer and neurological disorders, with a particular emphasis on cellular energy metabolism, transcriptional control of metabolic enzymes, and mitochondrial function. The lab investigates how key regulators such as KLF4, Sirt3, PGC-1α, and leptin influence glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial dynamics in diseases like renal cell carcinoma and depression. Their work bridges molecular metabolism with pathophysiology, aiming to uncover novel therapeutic targets in cancer and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Professor Woo Yong Lee's research lab specializes in translational gastroenterology and colorectal cancer oncology, focusing on innovative regenerative therapies and personalized treatment strategies. The lab investigates the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) for refractory Crohn’s disease fistulas and explores molecular and pathological markers—such as thymidylate synthase polymorphisms and mucinous adenocarcinoma subtypes—that influence treatment response and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Utilizing advanced imaging techniques and clinical trial data, the lab aims to improve staging accuracy and develop targeted therapies for high-risk patients.
Professor Hyun-Jai Cho's research lab specializes in cardiovascular regeneration and stem cell therapy, focusing on the paracrine mechanisms of progenitor cells in myocardial repair. The lab investigates endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and cardiac progenitor cells, exploring their role in neovascularization, tissue repair, and functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction. A key research direction involves understanding the humoral factors secreted by transplanted cells and their systemic effects, even after cell engraftment has ceased. The lab also examines biomarkers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for predicting outcomes in acute heart failure, integrating clinical data with cellular and molecular mechanisms.
Professor Gwang-Chul Ko's research lab specializes in hepatology and gastroenterology, with a primary focus on chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, and the long-term outcomes of antiviral therapy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The lab investigates virological responses to nucleos(t)ide analogues, the clinical significance of low-level viremia, and the effectiveness of interventional therapies such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolization in small hepatocellular carcinomas. Additionally, the lab explores infectious complications like nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients, emphasizing microbiological and clinical outcomes in hospitalized populations.
Professor Dongsik Kim's research lab specializes in advanced biomaterials and nanotechnology with a focus on regenerative medicine, nanomaterial synthesis, and biomedical applications. The lab develops innovative strategies for liver tissue engineering using stem cells and hepatocytes, aiming to improve liver function and viability in 3D spheroid models. It also investigates the functionalization and individualization of carbon nanotubes and zinc oxide nanowires for applications in biomedicine and optoelectronics. Additionally, the lab explores the interface between nanomaterials and biological systems, including the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials and their use in sensing and therapeutic platforms.
Professor Insoo Lee's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of advanced nanomaterials with tailored surface and structural properties for biomedical, catalytic, and energy-related technologies. The lab focuses on developing functional nanomaterials such as magnetic nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, and layered double hydroxides for targeted protein purification, MRI contrast agents, and electrocatalysis. A key research direction involves nanospace-confined synthesis strategies to achieve atomic-level control over nanostructure interfaces, enabling enhanced catalytic activity and stability. The lab also pioneers multimodal nanoreactors that integrate multiple catalytic functions within a single nanoarchitecture for efficient multistep reactions.
Professor Soo-jeong Park's research lab specializes in environmental and climate science, with a focus on extreme weather event modeling, particularly intense rainfall and its climatic trends. The lab applies advanced statistical methods—such as non-stationary generalized extreme value (GEV) distributions and Wakeby distributions—combined with L-moments and bootstrap resampling techniques to analyze historical and projected precipitation extremes across South Korea. Their work supports the development of reliable design rainfall estimates for infrastructure planning and climate adaptation strategies. Additionally, the lab contributes to biomedical research, especially in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury and the pathophysiology of neurogenic bladder, as well as exploring therapeutic targets in aggressive cancers like triple-negative breast cancer.
Professor Hyoung-Sim Jang's research lab specializes in educational psychology, with a primary focus on self-determination theory (SDT) and its application in classroom settings. The lab investigates how autonomy-supportive teaching practices enhance students’ psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation, engagement, and academic achievement across diverse cultural contexts, particularly in East Asian education systems. Key research directions include the impact of perceived autonomy support, the role of instructional behaviors in fostering student motivation, and the longitudinal mechanisms linking autonomy support to learning outcomes. The lab also explores culturally sensitive teaching strategies, such as aligning instruction with students’ preferred learning ways, to promote autonomy and conceptual understanding.
Professor Sung-Woo Lee's research lab specializes in sustainable energy systems and smart transportation technologies, with a primary focus on inductive power transfer (IPT) systems for online electric vehicles (OLEV). The lab develops advanced wireless charging solutions, emphasizing efficiency, safety, and real-world applicability in urban electric mobility. Research also extends to building information modeling (BIM) for green building assessment and environmental impact evaluation, integrating digital design with life-cycle sustainability analysis. Additionally, the lab investigates environmental risks related to hazardous waste, particularly mercury in landfills, and their ecological implications.
Professor Suk Lee's research lab specializes in hematologic malignancies, with a primary focus on Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). The lab investigates innovative strategies to improve outcomes following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, particularly through the integration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib as bridging therapy. Key research directions include minimal residual disease monitoring using real-time quantitative RT-PCR, understanding graft-versus-leukemia effects, and evaluating conditioning regimens—both myeloablative and reduced-intensity—in relation to molecular response and long-term survival.
Professor Jiyeon Kim's research lab focuses on bioactive compounds from natural sources and their physiological effects, particularly in metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. The lab investigates the hypoglycemic and insulin-sensitizing properties of plant-derived extracts such as onion peel and mulberry leaf, as well as bioactive molecules like panaxytriol from ginseng, with an emphasis on mechanisms involving cell cycle regulation and metabolic pathways. Additionally, the lab explores the structural and functional properties of modified starches for food applications and develops rapid diagnostic tools for foodborne pathogens like E. coli O157:H7.
Professor Pyoeng Gyun Choe's research lab specializes in viral immunology and host immune responses to emerging respiratory viruses, with a primary focus on coronaviruses such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The lab investigates the kinetics, durability, and correlates of humoral immunity, including neutralizing antibodies and serological responses, across diverse clinical phenotypes—from asymptomatic to severe disease. Their work integrates serological assays, neutralization testing, and clinical virology to inform serosurveillance, vaccine evaluation, and long-term immunity assessment. The lab also contributes to understanding the impact of early clinical adherence on long-term outcomes in HIV patients, reflecting a broader interest in infectious disease immunopathogenesis and clinical management.
