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A-La Cho

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor A-La Cho's research lab specializes in computational and systems biology, with a focus on integrating multi-omics data to identify disease-associated genes and regulatory networks. The lab develops network-based bioinformatics methods—such as MUFFINN and WormNet v3—to prioritize cancer drivers and generate testable biological hypotheses from high-throughput data. Additionally, the lab explores enzyme engineering and functional materials, including thermophilic lipases and sol-gel-derived hybrid thin films for optical applications. The research integrates systems biology, synthetic biology, and biomedical data science to advance precision medicine and sustainable biotechnology.

systems biologycancer genomicsnetwork biologybioinformaticsfunctional materials

Research Overview

Papers
110
Total Citations
1,919
Papers (5y)
40
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
40total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
346total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|166 citations·2016
MUFFINN: cancer gene discovery via network analysis of somatic mutation data
A‐Ra Cho, Jung Eun Shim, Eiru Kim, Fran Supek, Ben Lehner, Insuk Lee
SJR Q1Genome biologyOA

A major challenge for distinguishing cancer-causing driver mutations from inconsequential passenger mutations is the long-tail of infrequently mutated genes in cancer genomes. Here, we present and evaluate a method for prioritizing cancer genes accounting not only for mutations in individual genes but also in their neighbors in functional networks, MUFFINN (MUtations For Functional Impact on Network Neighbors). This pathway-centric method shows high sensitivity compared with gene-centric analyse

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|109 citations·2012
Body dissatisfaction levels and gender differences in attentional biases toward idealized bodies
A‐Ra Cho, Jang-Han Lee
SJR Q1Body Image
Clinical PsychologyPsychology
3
Article|99 citations·2019
Effects of alternate day fasting and exercise on cholesterol metabolism in overweight or obese adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial
A‐Ra Cho, Ju‐Yeon Moon, Sue Kim, Ki‐Yong An, Minsuk Oh, Justin Y. Jeon, Dong‐Hyuk Jung, Man Ho Choi, Ji‐Won Lee
SJR Q1MetabolismOA
PhysiologyMedicine
4
Article|87 citations·2000
Cloning, sequencing and expression in Escherichia coli of a thermophilic lipase from Bacillus thermoleovorans ID-1
A‐Ra Cho, Seung‐Ku Yoo, Eui-Joong Kim
SJR Q3FEMS Microbiology Letters

A thermophilic lipase of Bacillus thermoleovorans ID-1 was cloned and sequenced. The lipase gene codes 416 amino acid residues and contains the conserved pentapeptide Ala-X-Ser-X-Gly as other Bacillus lipase genes. The optimum temperature of the lipase is 75 degrees C, which is higher than other known Bacillus lipases. For expression in Escherichia coli, the lipase gene was subcloned in pET-22b(+) vector with a strong T7 promoter. Lipase activity was approximately 1.4-fold greater than under the

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|81 citations·2014
WormNet v3: a network-assisted hypothesis-generating server for Caenorhabditis elegans
A‐Ra Cho, Junha Shin, Sohyun Hwang, Chanyoung Kim, Hongseok Shim, Hyojin Kim, Hanhae Kim, Insuk Lee
SJR Q1Nucleic Acids ResearchOA

High-throughput experimental technologies gradually shift the paradigm of biological research from hypothesis-validation toward hypothesis-generation science. Translating diverse types of large-scale experimental data into testable hypotheses, however, remains a daunting task. We previously demonstrated that heterogeneous genomics data can be integrated into a single genome-scale gene network with high prediction power for ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) phenotypes in Caenorhabditis elegans

AgingBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|64 citations·2017
Oxidative balance score and serum γ-glutamyltransferase level among Korean adults: a nationwide population-based study
A‐Ra Cho, Yu‐Jin Kwon, Hyoung-Ji Lim, Hye Sun Lee, Sinae Kim, Jae‐Yong Shim, Hye-Ree Lee, Yong‐Jae Lee
SJR Q1European Journal of NutritionOA
BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|38 citations·2023
Oxidative balance score is inversely associated with the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
A‐Ra Cho, Yu‐Jin Kwon, Jun‐Hyuk Lee
SJR Q1Clinical NutritionOA
EpidemiologyMedicine
8
Article|17 citations·2021
C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and 8‐year incidence of type 2 diabetes: the Korean genome and epidemiology study
A‐Ra Cho, Sung‐Bum Lee, Kyung‐Won Hong, Dong‐Hyuk Jung
SJR Q1Acta DiabetologicaOA
OncologyMedicine
9
Article|15 citations·2021
Pre-Metabolic Syndrome and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension: From the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study
A‐Ra Cho, Yu‐Jin Kwon, Jong-Koo Kim
SJR Q2Journal of Personalized MedicineOA

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of premetabolic syndrome (pre-MetSyn) and its components and to longitudinally examine their association with new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) or hypertension. A total of 4037 men and 4400 women aged 40 to 69 years were selected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, observed from 2001 to 2014. Pre-MetSyn was defined as the presence of one or two components of MetSyn (B, elevated blood pressure; G, elevated glucose; H, low HDL-choles

EpidemiologyMedicine
10
Article|13 citations·2015
Synthesis of titania- and silica-polymer hybrid materials and their application as refractive index-matched layers in touch screens
A‐Ra Cho, Soo‐Young Park
SJR Q2Optical Materials ExpressOA

Titania- and silica-polymer hybrid materials were prepared with an in situ sol-gel process for refractive index-matched, optical thin-film applications. A random copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MSMA) (poly(MMA-co-MSMA), MMA:MSMA = 78:22 molar ratio) capped with trialkoxysilane in MSMA units was used as a precursor. The precursor was further reacted with titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to synthesize the high

Surfaces, Coatings and FilmsMaterials Science
11
Article|13 citations·2022
Epoxide functionalization of a pentaethylenehexamine adsorbent supported on macroporous silica for post-combustion CO2 capture
A‐Ra Cho, Hana Kim, Yooseob Won, Yu‐Ri Lee, Jae‐Young Kim, Hyungseok Nam, Sung-Ho Jo, Young Cheol Park, Dong-Ho Lee
SJR Q1Fuel
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering
12
Article|12 citations·2013
Ethical Guidelines for Use of Experimental Animals in Biomedical Research
조아라, 석승혁
www.jbv.or.kr

Increasing concerns on animal welfare, the discussion about the necessity and the ethical acceptability of animalexperiments is getting important. In this article, we describe ethical issues between the benefits of the animal experimentsand the suffering of the animals. If there are no alternatives for animal experiments, the ethical guidelines, 3Rs (Reduction,Replacement, Refinement) by Russell and Burch for humane animal experiments should be considered. Moreover,Institutional Animal Care and

13
Article|11 citations·2012
Identifying Attentional Bias and Emotional Response After Appearance-Related Stimuli Exposure
A‐Ra Cho, Soo-Min Kwak, Jang-Han Lee
SJR Q1Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social NetworkingOA

The effect of media images has been regarded as a significant variable in the construction or in the activation of body images. Individuals who have a negative body image use avoidance coping strategies to minimize damage to their body image. We identified attentional biases and negative emotional responses following exposure to body stimuli. Female university students were divided into two groups based on their use of avoidance coping strategies (high-level group: high avoidance [HA]; low-group

Clinical PsychologyPsychology
14
Article|11 citations·2020
<p>Mediterranean Diet and Naltrexone/Bupropion Treatment for Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Breast Cancer Survivors and Non-Cancer Participants: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial</p>
A‐Ra Cho, Won‐Jun Choi, Yu‐Jin Kwon, Hye Sun Lee, Sung Gwe Ahn, Ji‐Won Lee
SJR Q2Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and ObesityOA

This trial was retrospectively registered on 10 July 2018 as NCT03581630 at ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03581630).

PhysiologyMedicine
15
Article|11 citations·2022
Correlations of MR Sialographic Gradings with the Clinical Measures of Sjögren's Syndrome
A‐Ra Cho, Yerin Lee, Yu Tae Jeon, S.-P. Chang, Young Min Park, Sung Jun Ahn, Jae‐Yol Lim
SJR Q1The LaryngoscopeOA

OBJECTIVES: Sjögren syndrome (SS) features salivary gland architectural changes such as ductal deformities and fat deposition secondary to inflammatory cell infiltrates; however, the anatomical and pathophysiological correlations of SS remain to be determined. This study aimed to determine the correlations of imaging findings based on the magnetic resonance (MR) sialography with the clinical and laboratory aspects of SS patients. METHODS: We evaluated the MR sialographic findings of two pairs of

PhysiologyMedicine

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyPhysiologySurgeryEpidemiologyCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineClinical Psychology

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