-
- Professor Taehyung Kim's Research Team Selected for NRF Individual Basic Research Program
- Professor Taehyung Kim's Research Team Selected for NRF Individual Basic Research Program - Professor Tae-Hyung Kim has been selected for the Mid-Career Researcher Support Program (Type 1 - Global Cooperation) with his research on the development of a 3D nanomaterial-based multi-layer platform technology, receiving approximately ₩300 million per year for five years. - Dr. Kyeong-Mo Koo, a research fellow, has been awarded the Sejong Science Fellowship (Domestic Track) for his research on the development of a platform technology for cellular rejuvenation monitoring, receiving approximately ₩130 million per year for five years. ▲(From left) Professor Tae-Hyung Kim, Dr. Kyeong-Mo Koo ◇ Professor Tae-Hyung Kim and Dr. Kyeong-Mo Koo Selected for NRF Mid-Career Researcher Support Program and Sejong Science Fellowship The research team of Professor Tae-Hyung Kim has been selected for the NRF Mid-Career Researcher Support Program (Type 1 - Global Cooperation Project) under the NRF Individual Basic Research Program. Additionally, Dr. Kyeong-Mo Koo, a research fellow from the same lab, has been chosen for the Sejong Science Fellowship (Domestic Track). ◇ Professor Tae-Hyung Kim Selected for the NRF Mid-Career Researcher Support Program – Development of a 3D Nanomaterial-Based Multi-Layer Platform for Trilineage Formation The Mid-Career Researcher Support Program is designed to enhance the fundamental research capabilities of mid-career researchers and foster them into leading scientists by supporting their innovative research endeavors. Professor Kim’s research focuses on ‘Development of a three-dimensional nanomaterial multi-layer platform for high-efficiency autonomous generation of trilineage structures in vitro’. His project aims to control the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) autonomously, facilitating the automatic formation and interaction of the three germ layers in a 3D environment. Expressing his gratitude, Professor Kim stated, “I am honored to be conducting this project among many outstanding researchers. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Sungkyunkwan University and the Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation for their tremendous support during the proposal preparation process.” ▲[Figure 1] Development of a three-dimensional nanomaterial multi-layer platform for high-efficiency autonomous generation of trilineage structures in vitro ▲[Figure 2] Development of a Label-Free and Non-Destructive Multiplexing Electrochemical Platform for Mitochondrial Function Evaluation in Cellular Rejuvenation Monitoring
-
- 작성일 2025-03-12
- 조회수 1278
-
- Turning Curiosity into Enlightenment: Science Talk Content "Between the Question Mark and Exclamation Mark"
- Episode 1 of "Between the Question Mark and Exclamation Mark" Hosts: Beom-Jun Kim, Dae-Han Lee Guests: Choong-Wan Woo, Won-Mok Shim → Watch Episode 1Source: Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
-
- 작성일 2024-12-23
- 조회수 948
-
- New Study Reveals How the Brain Integrates Pain Prediction and Stimuli
- New Study Reveals How the Brain Integrates Pain Prediction and Stimuli - Uncovering the neural mechanisms of pain processing using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) - A study led by Associate Director WOO Choong-Wan of the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), along with Michael YOO Seng Bum, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, has uncovered new insights into how the brain processes and integrates pain information. Their research goes beyond identifying brain areas that respond to pain, revealing the mechanisms behind the brain's integration of pain-related information. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they formalized how the brain combines pain expectations with the actual intensity of painful stimuli. Pain is a complex experience influenced not just by the intensity of a painful stimulus but also by the individual’s expectations. For instance, the pain one expects to feel can alter the perception of the actual pain experienced. While previous research has mapped out which brain regions handle these separate factors that contribute to our pain experience, this new study tackles the question of how these different factors come together to create a unified sensation of pain. KIM Jungwoo, the first author of the study, stated, “It’s not just about knowing which parts of the brain are important; ultimately, understanding how pain arises is key to figuring out how to eliminate unnecessary pain.” The researchers used fMRI to observe brain activity in participants exposed to varying levels of pain stimuli, while also manipulating their expectations about the level of pain they would feel. To fully understand how pain is processed in the brain, they separated the process into two stages: preservation (how the brain maintains information about pain expectations and stimulus intensity) and integration (how these elements combine to form a cohesive pain experience). They examined these processes across different levels of the brain’s cortical hierarchy*, expecting lower-level brain networks to preserve information without integrating it, and higher-level networks to preserve and integrate both. * Cortical Hierarchy: The brain processes information in a stepwise manner, with lower-level networks (like the sensory and motor networks) handling basic sensory input, and higher-level networks (such as the limbic system and default mode network) integrating more complex information. This study used this framework to understand how the brain processes and integrates pain information at different levels. Contrary to the researchers’ initial hypothesis, the results showed that all networks, regardless of level, preserved both types of information—pain expectations and stimulus intensity. However, only higher-level networks were able to integrate this information by simply adding the preserved expectation and stimulus information together. This suggests that while the entire brain stores pain information, only specific areas are responsible for integrating different pain-related signals into the experience of pain. This study represents a significant collaboration between two fields of neuroscience. Dr. Yoo, an expert in decision-making and electrophysiology, and Dr. Woo, a pain researcher specializing in fMRI, combined their expertise to explore how pain information is processed across the whole brain. Their innovative approach sheds light on the brain’s mechanisms for processing pain, providing valuable insights that could lead to new approaches to treating chronic pain. Michael YOO Seng Bum, the co-lead author said “It was a meaningful collaborative study that combined the strengths of each principal investigator to advance beyond merely reporting the activation of specific regions, allowing us to investigate principles of how information is integrated across the brain.” WOO Choong-Wan, another co-lead author, described the research as “an innovative study using geometric information encoded in brain activation patterns to reveal the integration mechanism of distinct types of pain information,” adding that “this discovery would not have been possible without a collaboration.” Figure 1. Hypothesis on the preservation and integration of pain information The left figure represents a three-dimensional space formed by fMRI voxels (volumetric activity unit captured by fMRI) within a network. The green two-dimensional plane (expectation subspace) represents the subspace preserving information about pain expectations, while the orange two-dimensional plane (stimulus subspace) represents the subspace preserving information about the stimulus intensity. The temporal activities of a network were projected onto these subspaces, and based on this information, the study examined whether each network preserved or integrated the two types of pain information. The initial hypothesis proposed that in lower-level networks (blue box), only one type of pain information would be well-preserved, leading to poor reconstruction of participants’ pain reports (indicating a lack of integration). In contrast, higher-level networks (red box) were hypothesized to preserve and integrate both types of pain information. Figure 2. Subspace patterns and comparison of reconstructed vs. actual pain reports Results are shown for the visual network (lower-level network) and the limbic system (higher-level network). The first row displays results from the visual network, while the second row shows results from the limbic system. From left to right, the columns represent brain patterns over time in the expectation subspace, brain patterns over time in the stimulus subspace, and a comparison between reconstructed pain ratings and actual pain ratings. The subspaces shown in the first and second columns preserved information related to each pain expectation and stimulus intensity. In the third column, the visual network primarily reconstructs differences in pain expectations, distinguished by different colors (red, gray, blue). In contrast, the limbic system successfully reconstructs both pain expectations and stimulus intensity information. Notes for editors - References Jungwoo Kim, Suhwan Gim, Seng Bum Michael Yoo, Choong-Wan Woo, A Computational Mechanism of Cue-Stimulus Integration for Pain in the Brain / Science Advances (2024) - Media Contact For further information or to request media assistance, please contact Choong-Wan Woo at the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS) or Seng Bum Michael Yoo (CNIR) or William I. Suh at the IBS Public Relations Team (willisuh@ibs.re.kr). - About the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) IBS was founded in 2011 by the government of the Republic of Korea with the sole purpose of driving forward the development of basic science in South Korea. IBS has 7 research institutes and 31 research centers as of June 2024. There are eight physics, three mathematics, five chemistry, seven life science, two earth science, and six interdisciplinary research centers. Source : IBS Research News Link
-
- 작성일 2024-12-05
- 조회수 1155
-
- HyungGoo Kim’s Joint Research Team Unveils Instinctive Behaviors in Living Organisms Using Artificial Intelligence
- Professor HyungGoo Kim's Team from the Global Biomedical Engineering Department Uncovers Principles of Instinctive Behaviors Using Artificial Intelligence Revealing the Mechanisms of "Hunger" and "Appetite" in Hypothalamic Neurons with AI-Based Models Researchers led by Professor HyungGoo Kim from Sungkyunkwan University’s Global Biomedical Engineering Department (co-first author: master’s student Jong Won Yun) and Professor Hyung Jin Choi from Seoul National University (co-first authors: Ph.D. student Kyu Sik Kim, Dr. Young Hee Lee, and Ph.D. candidate Yu-Been Kim) have presented a novel method for understanding instinctive psychological states in humans through the application of artificial intelligence (AI). Despite advancements in neuroscience enabling the observation of diverse animal behaviors, the connection between neural signals and instinctive psychological states remains insufficiently understood. Although prior studies have associated specific hypothalamic neurons with instinctive behaviors, the precise roles and mechanisms of these neurons were unclear. This collaborative research provides the first quantitative analysis of hypothalamic neural functions using AI, thereby clarifying the relationship between instinctive psychological states and behaviors. The team combined a novel homeostatic theory with AI-based neural models to reveal that Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in the hypothalamus represent "hunger," while leptin receptor (LH LepR) neurons represent "appetite." Experimental observations of hypothalamic neural activity patterns were meticulously analyzed, experimentally demonstrating how hunger and appetite are encoded through the activity patterns of specific neural populations. Professor Kim utilized a computational modeling approach, initially developed to distinguish the roles of dopamine, to devise a methodology for differentiating neural activations. This method successfully expressed Professor Choi’s novel homeostatic theory in mathematical terms. Fusing Traditional Homeostatic Theories with Cutting-Edge Neuroscientific Discoveries Professor Kim stated, “This study is the first to quantitatively analyze the activities of complex neural circuits by integrating AI with neuroscience. It marks a pivotal step toward numerically understanding instinctive behaviors in living organisms. Particularly, our elucidation of how hypothalamic neural activity regulates basic instincts like hunger and appetite holds significant implications.” Professor Choi added, “Neural responses observed in the hypothalamus during studies on feeding behavior were difficult to explain using existing theories. AgRP neurons were activated to promote feeding but decreased their activity upon food presentation. Conversely, LH LepR neurons not only promoted feeding upon activation but also increased activity when food was provided. To understand these paradoxical findings, we employed AI models, which led to the establishment of a new homeostatic theory.” Modeling Process Utilizing Artificial Intelligence The study provides crucial insights into how the brain regulates survival-essential behaviors such as feeding. It is anticipated to pave the way for new strategies in treating eating disorders, obesity, and appetite-related conditions. By integrating AI into neuroscience, the research opens possibilities for quantifying and understanding human instinctive behaviors, offering a versatile approach to investigating other instinctive behaviors and psychological states. Key Experimental Results The study includes computer modeling to demonstrate how neural activity correlates with specific psychological elements. (Gray line: neural signals; red line: optimal hunger model; green line: optimal appetite model; blue and orange lines: control models). The joint research by Professor Hyunggoo Kim and Professor Hyung Jin Choi was published in Science Advances on November 6. Paper Title: A Normative Framework Dissociates Need and Motivation in Hypothalamic Neurons Journal: Science Advances DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado1820
-
- 작성일 2024-11-15
- 조회수 1225
-
-
- 2024 Freshman Orientation
- After the entrance ceremony on February 27th, the “2024 Freshman Orientation” was held at Pine Resort in Yongin for 3 days. Named 'Orientation of SKKU Institute for Convergence', a newly established orientation was conducted with the Department of Energy unlike previous years. A total of 124 students from both departments participated in the orientation and enjoyed their time.
-
- 작성일 2024-05-20
- 조회수 1593
-
- IBS Neuroscience Imaging Research Center Director, Seong Gi Kim, Awarded ISMRM Gold Medal
- IBS Neuroscience Imaging Research Center Director, Seong Gi Kim, Awarded ISMRM Gold Medal - First Asian recipient in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)… Medal presentation on May 6 IBS Neuroscience Imaging Research Center Director, Seong Gi Kim (Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering), has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medal at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), the world's leading academic conference in the MRI field. He is the first Asian scientist to receive this honor. The ISMRM Gold Medal recognizes significant contributions to the field of magnetic resonance each year and is awarded to the top 2-4 researchers. Professor Kim is one of the first scientists to apply functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques* to humans since 1992. After holding a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh under Professor Paul Lauterbur, a recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to the invention of MRI, Kim returned to Korea to contribute to the advancement of neuroscience. He joined IBS in 2013. At this year's annual meeting, his contributions to understanding the basic physiological basis of fMRI signals through human and animal studies were recognized. *Functional magnetic resonance imaging measures changes in oxygen saturation due to brain activation. Professor Kim's research focuses on elucidating the correlation between phenomena occurring in brain cells and the signals captured by MRI. His notable achievements include developing new MRI methods to measure brain blood flow and volume, clarifying the relationship between brain cell activity and changes in blood flow and volume, elucidating the correlation between fMRI signals, and understanding the causality of information processing between activated brain areas. The Gold Medal was awarded to a total of three recipients: Professor Seong Gi Kim of Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Leon Axel of New York University (a medical scientist), and Professor Yi Wang of Cornell University (a physicist). In the field of medical science, Professor Kaori Togashi of Kyoto University in Japan received the award in 2020, while in the field of MR science, Director Seong Gi Kim is the first Asian recipient. Among the past recipients of the ISMRM Gold Medal, Richard Ernst, a Nobel laureate in Chemistry in 1991, and Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine in 2003, are notable. Director Kim said, "IBS Neuroscience Imaging Research Center possesses the world's highest-quality high-field MRI facilities for both humans (7 Tesla) and animals (15.2 Tesla)." He added, "Establishing the IBS-Sungkyunkwan University N Center, the top MRI research facility, in Korea and receiving this award are significant achievements." He also stated, "It is even more honorable to achieve such results through basic research rather than through the development of new imaging technologies or clinical research in the field of MRI." *Tesla (T): Unit of magnetic field strength, with 1 Tesla being approximately 20,000 times the strength of Earth's magnetic field. ISMRM has 8,000 professional members from 58 countries, and its annual conference is the largest event attended by researchers, clinicians, government agencies, academia, and industry leaders. The award ceremony took place on May 6 in Singapore. 2024 Gold Medal Award Winners - ISMRM
-
- 작성일 2024-05-08
- 조회수 1765
-
- BME Welcomes New Assistant Professor
- BME is pleased to introduce new faculty member, Professor Park Hangue, in the fall of 2022. After completing his bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering at Seoul National University, Professor Park Hangue gained experience in semiconductor integrated circuits during his master's and Samsung Electronics tenure and conducted research on capsule endoscopy. Later, he received a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology for research on improving cat gait using closed neural stimulation. After that, as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University for 5 years, he conducted interesting studies on neural signal control and neural prosthetic system design using electrical stimulation. The main purpose of the study is to supplement human incomplete motor skills and rehabilitate after trauma, and has recently expanded its scope of use to enhance human and improve motor skills. The focus of the research is on designing semiconductor integrated circuit-based biomimicry to efficiently communicate with the nervous system and have minimal power consumption & size, and its effectiveness is thoroughly verified through human and animal experiments. Welcome to BME!
-
- 작성일 2022-09-05
- 조회수 2355
-
- Researcher Lim Eun-Ji has won the Summa Cum Laude award at the ISMRM
- At the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in 2022, Lim Eun-ji, a GBME Ph.D. student (Professor Park Jae-seok) won the Summa Cum Laude, which is awarded in the top 5% of the total abstracts. This student had a presentation of her research titled "Self-calibrating aliasing-controlled simple multi-sliced image reconstruction from generalized 3D Fourier encoding perspective" as power pitch. This study uses variable density sampling and 3D Fourier signal models in multi-band MRI to accurately isolate and restore signals of multiple bands superimposed on the acquired data to each fault signal by simultaneously obtaining low resolution reference signal samples without additional image acquisition. Fig.1) Banner and Awards Page Fig.2) Main research contents Fig.3) Results Fig.4) Presentation moment at the conference
-
- 작성일 2022-06-15
- 조회수 2092
-
- Prof. Lee Joon Yeol has won the SKKU Teaching Award
- Our university selected a total of 20 professors as winners of the SKKU Teaching Award. The SKKU Teaching Award is an honorable award that rewards instructors who have led the improved quality of education. This award aims to raise the pride and honor of instructors with excellent educational capabilities and to promote and spread motivation for providing quality education. Professor Lee Joon-yeol won in the GBME department. The SKKU Teaching Award ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 13 in the first meeting room of the 600th Anniversary Hall. Contact: Office of Education's staff (02-760-1055/pleasemi@skku.edu)
-
- 작성일 2022-06-15
- 조회수 1960