Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Hyung Seok Park's research lab specializes in breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and minimally invasive surgical techniques. The lab focuses on improving the accuracy of core needle biopsy in detecting invasive components in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), developing predictive models for axillary metastasis, and evaluating innovative surgical approaches such as robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. The lab also investigates molecular pathways, including the RANK/RANKL/OPG axis, to understand their role in disease progression and patient outcomes.
Professor Han-Mo Yang's research lab focuses on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular emphasis on mitochondrial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching, and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. The lab investigates molecular pathways involving key signaling molecules such as Akt/GSK and PKG in vascular repair and restenosis, while also exploring innovative drug delivery systems to overcome the blood-brain barrier in neurodegenerative disorders. Their work bridges basic molecular mechanisms with translational applications, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for conditions like heart failure, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Ji Hong Kim's research lab specializes in corporate finance and accounting, with a strong focus on earnings management, corporate governance, and financial reporting quality. The lab investigates real earnings management, asymmetric cost behavior, and the role of related-party transactions in earnings manipulation, particularly in the context of Korean firms and large conglomerates. Additionally, the lab explores the impact of corporate governance mechanisms and institutional investors on financial transparency and market efficiency.
Professor Hee-Sun Kim's research lab specializes in neuroinflammation and its role in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on identifying natural compounds with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The lab investigates bioactive molecules from traditional herbs and ginseng derivatives, such as compound K, morin, ginsenosides (Rg5, Rh3), and β-lapachone, to modulate microglial activation and inflammatory signaling pathways. Key research directions include the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators like iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and MMP-9, as well as the regulation of transcription factors such as NF-κB, Nrf2, and SIRT1. The lab employs both in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate therapeutic potential for Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, and other CNS disorders.
Professor Il Jeon's research lab specializes in developing advanced carbon-based nanomaterials for next-generation optoelectronic devices, with a primary focus on flexible and solution-processed perovskite and organic solar cells. The lab explores transparent conductive electrodes using single-walled, double-walled, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes, emphasizing their electrical, optical, and mechanical properties for sustainable and low-cost photovoltaics. Key research directions include interface engineering, such as using PSS as an electron-blocking layer, and optimizing device architectures to enhance power conversion efficiency and mechanical resilience. The lab also investigates eco-friendly alternatives to indium tin oxide, aiming to overcome limitations in flexibility, cost, and environmental impact.
Professor Il-Kwon Park's research lab specializes in the discovery and development of bioactive natural products from plants, with a primary focus on essential oils and their applications in pest and pathogen control. The lab investigates the insecticidal, nematicidal, and antifungal activities of plant-derived compounds against agricultural and public health pests, including termites, mosquitoes, nematodes, and fungal pathogens. Key research directions include the isolation and structural characterization of bioactive constituents using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, as well as structure-activity relationship studies to optimize efficacy. The lab emphasizes sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides through the use of natural plant extracts and their active principles.
Professor Kiwon Seong's research lab specializes in pediatric oncology and translational cancer research, with a focus on improving outcomes for children with high-risk and relapsed pediatric malignancies. The lab investigates novel therapeutic strategies, including immunomodulatory approaches using mesenchymal stem cells and targeted therapies such as MIBG and high-dose chemotherapy in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Key research directions include understanding the prognostic significance of molecular markers like MYCN, Livin, and Apollon in childhood leukemias and neuroblastomas, and optimizing treatment protocols to reduce toxicity while maintaining efficacy. The lab also explores mechanisms of therapy resistance and the role of apoptosis regulators in disease progression and treatment response.
Professor Joon Seong Park's research lab specializes in clinical and translational oncology, with a focus on gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers. The lab investigates treatment strategies, prognostic factors, and molecular mechanisms underlying diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and ampulla of Vater carcinoma. Key research directions include the impact of therapeutic modalities on metastatic disease, the role of biomarkers like LOXL2 in cancer progression, and surgical outcomes with innovative techniques such as TachoSil patch use in pancreatectomy. The lab also explores nutritional support strategies in postoperative recovery, particularly early enteral feeding after pancreatic surgery.
Professor Hyun-Wook Kang's research lab specializes in biomedical engineering and advanced manufacturing, with a primary focus on tissue engineering and bioprinting technologies. The lab develops innovative bio-inks—particularly decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and dentin matrix-based formulations—for patient-specific 3D bioprinting of regenerative tissues. Key research directions include optimizing scaffold fabrication using stereolithography and novel 3D spheroid printing techniques to enhance cell-cell interactions and tissue functionality. The lab also explores precision electronics, such as high-speed analog-to-digital converters with advanced calibration schemes, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach bridging biofabrication and microelectronics.
Professor Chang-Sun Choi's research lab specializes in the development of soft, ultrathin, and deformable optoelectronic devices inspired by biological vision systems. The lab focuses on advancing wearable and implantable bioelectronics, including high-resolution, flexible image sensors and light-emitting diodes, using novel materials such as colloidal quantum dots, 2D heterostructures (e.g., MoS₂/graphene), and perovskites. Key research directions include scalable fabrication techniques like intaglio transfer printing and spin-on-patterning for high-performance, miniaturized optoelectronic systems with applications in retinal prostheses, smart wearables, and next-generation imaging devices.
Professor Sae Byung Kang's research lab specializes in the design and engineering of protein-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications, with a focus on protein cage nanoparticles, viral capsids, and functionalized nanocarriers. The lab develops advanced platforms for targeted drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy, and biosensing by leveraging the structural precision and biocompatibility of natural protein assemblies. Key research directions include genetic and chemical engineering of nanocarriers for site-specific conjugation of therapeutic agents, targeting ligands, and imaging probes, as well as the application of these systems in real-time biomolecular interaction analysis using surface plasmon resonance technologies. The lab integrates structural biology, nanotechnology, and translational medicine to create multifunctional nanoplatforms with high stability and specificity.
Professor Sangyong Song's research lab specializes in molecular and pathological oncology, focusing on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying rare and aggressive epithelial cancers, including vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, and gastric neoplasms. The lab employs advanced genomic technologies such as whole-exome sequencing and copy number profiling to identify driver mutations and chromosomal alterations, particularly distinguishing between HPV-associated and HPV-negative subtypes. A key focus is also on tumor suppressor proteins like maspin and their role in carcinogenesis, as well as the pathological characterization of rare lesions such as bronchogenic cysts and mixed germ cell tumors. The lab integrates histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology to improve diagnostic accuracy and understand disease progression.
Professor Jin Ho Park's research lab specializes in theoretical and typological linguistics, with a focus on grammatical categories such as tense, aspect, mood, evidentiality, and anaphora in Korean and other languages. The lab investigates how meaning is structured and expressed through linguistic forms, particularly through the development and application of semantic map models to explore conceptual organization across various lexical and grammatical domains. Research also extends to historical linguistics, examining the evolution of grammatical systems from Middle Korean to modern Korean, especially in relation to verbal morphology and reference systems. Additionally, the lab engages in interdisciplinary work linking linguistic analysis with health outcomes, as seen in studies on body mass index and cardiovascular disease in large population cohorts.
Professor Min Kyong Moon's research lab focuses on the environmental health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, with a strong emphasis on their roles in metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The lab investigates the mechanisms linking low-dose, long-term exposure to environmental pollutants with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic metabolic dysregulation using both animal models and large-scale human epidemiological studies. A key research direction involves assessing the associations between urinary biomarkers of environmental chemical exposure and metabolic disease outcomes in the Korean population, employing advanced statistical methods to address confounding factors like urinary dilution.
Professor Joongyub Lee's research lab focuses on cerebrovascular diseases, particularly moyamoya disease (MMD), with an emphasis on surgical outcomes, long-term prognosis, and associated systemic conditions such as hypertension. The lab also investigates clinical management strategies in renal replacement therapy, especially incremental peritoneal dialysis for preserving residual renal function. Additionally, the lab contributes to clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine by evaluating study quality and bias in medical research. Their work bridges pediatric neurosurgery, nephrology, and health services research through rigorous retrospective and observational studies in single-center cohorts.
Professor Hee Jin Kim's research lab focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between Alzheimer’s pathology (amyloid-β) and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). The lab investigates how these vascular and neurodegenerative pathologies converge on brain network disruption—especially in the default mode network and central executive network—and drive cognitive decline. Using multimodal neuroimaging, genetic risk profiling (including polygenic risk scores), and longitudinal clinical data, the lab aims to identify early biomarkers and predictive models for dementia conversion in mild cognitive impairment subtypes.
Professor Eun Soo Hwang's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing cell lineage specification, particularly in immune cell differentiation and mesenchymal stem cell fate decisions. The lab investigates transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, with a central emphasis on the roles of T-bet and TAZ in directing T helper cell differentiation, osteoblastogenesis, and myoblast differentiation. Key research directions include the transcriptional control of cytokine genes (e.g., IL-2, IL-12, IL-10), the regulation of osteopontin expression, and the mechanotransduction pathways linking extracellular matrix stiffness to cell lineage commitment via signaling molecules like ERK, JNK, and TAZ. The lab also explores the pathophysiological links between metabolic disorders such as diabetes and bone metabolism, particularly in the context of osteoporosis and impaired bone formation.
Professor Jae-hong Seol's research lab specializes in molecular and cellular biology, with a focus on post-translational protein modifications, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like pathways, and the regulation of protein stability and function. The lab investigates the roles of E3 ubiquitin ligases, such as SPOP and SCF complexes, in targeting key regulatory proteins for proteasomal degradation, as well as the enzymatic machinery involved in ubiquitin-like modifications, including Ufm1 and its specific proteases. Additionally, the lab employs advanced proteomic techniques like MudPIT to identify novel protein interactions and regulatory networks in yeast and plants, contributing to understanding cellular homeostasis and developmental transitions.
Professor Byung-Chun Lee's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of redox regulation in aging, metabolic health, and stress responses, with a central emphasis on selenium biology and selenoproteins. The lab investigates how selenoproteins—particularly those with oxidoreductase functions—maintain cellular redox homeostasis and protect against oxidative damage in conditions such as osteoarthritis and age-related degeneration. Additional research explores the role of post-translational modifications, including methionine oxidation and reduction by selenoproteins like MsrB1, in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics and cellular signaling. The lab also examines the broader implications of micronutrient metabolism, such as selenium's role in mitigating trace element toxicity in plants and its potential in nutritional interventions for healthy aging.
Professor Kee Young Lee's research lab focuses on indoor and outdoor air quality, with a particular emphasis on atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and nitrous acid (HONO). The lab investigates the sources, transformation, and health impacts of these pollutants in residential environments, using passive sampling and field monitoring to assess exposure levels. Research also extends to environmental health, including the effects of indoor air quality on children and vulnerable populations, as well as the sociocultural dimensions of environmental representation in media. The lab integrates environmental science, atmospheric chemistry, and public health to understand and mitigate exposure risks in everyday living environments.
