Cell Communication
in Aging & Disease Lab.
Current Members
Ji Eun Lee, PI
Since 2013
I have dedicated my life to understanding human being by studying life sciences in Korea and the United States. My areas of expertise are cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, and neurobiology. Recently, I have been focusing on aging research. As a scientist, I spend most of my time in the lab studying my research topics, but as a curious person, I feel happy when I go abroad and explore new people and environments.
The ultimate goal of my project is to understand the role of adipose in the pathogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and propose a new treatment approach. I hypothesize that the primary cilium of preadipocytes will play a key role in detecting external signals during the progression of NAFLD, and in particular, I have been uncovering the mechanism of how it acts on inflammatory response. Recently, I have hypothesized that proteins secreted through primary cilia of adipocytes could be potential treatment targets for NAFLD and are demonstrating this.
So Yeon Won, PhD
My main research project is to study ciliary functions in myoblast differentiation. The myoblasts are progenitor cells that develop into muscle tissue after differentiation process. Although the relationship between ciliogenesis and autophagy has been reported in myoblast differentiation, the detailed molecular mechanism is still unknown. Thus, I am working on understanding the mechanism interplaying between ciliogenesis and autophagy during muscle differentiation. I wish that my research can be helpful to many patients suffering with muscle dystrophy.
Hui Su Jeong, PhD
Primary cilia have been observed in Schwann cells, which play an important role in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but their function is not yet well known. Thus, I am studying to determine how primary cilia of Schwann cells are involved in the formation and regulation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), which is essential for the development and function of the PNS. In addition, I am studying whether several aging-related diseases can be treated by improving NMJ function.
Seonok Kim, PhD candidate
A potential relationship has been suggested between two major age-related diseases, Sarcopenia and Alzheimer's disease. Exosomes play an important role in intercellular signaling, and through exosome research, I am investigating how these two diseases are interconnected under inflammatory conditions. Additionally, I aim to explore potential therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease by investigating the mechanisms by which microglia regulate anti-inflammation.
Shin Ji Oh, PhD candidate
Ciliopathies are human disorders that result from dysfunction of the primary cilia and can affect most of major organs/tissues, including adipose tissue. However, little is known about the role of cilia in the adipocyte development and the related diseases. Given that the primary cilia are involved in cellular aging and aging-associated disorders, I am investigating the role of adipocyte cilia in the communication with surrounding cells, including myocytes and hepatocytes to understand the pathological mechanisms of Sarcopenia and Metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
Min Seon Kim, PhD candidate
I have been focused on Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease to investigate peripheral neuropathy pathogenic mechanism. CMT patients have defects including axonal loss and demyelination that may result in or from weakened synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). I am working on identifying a role of the primary cilia in Schwann cells to control NMK formation/function to treat CMT eventually.
Eun Kyong Bae, Researcher
I am managing our zebrafish room and general laboratory paper works. Because I help lots of things for our lab members to focus only their research, so I am absolutely an important person in the lab :) Please call me big mama in CCAD.
Alumni
-
Min Seon Kim, WBF Internship (2024)
-
Ka Hyun Kim, WBF Internship (2024)
-
Ji Won Shin, Summer Internship (2019)
-
Yoo Ri Choi, Summer Internship (2018)
-
Min Jeong Kim, Summer Internship (2017)
-
Eun Min Shon, Summer Internship (2017)
-
Min Jeong Kim, Summer Internship (2013)
-
Jeon Joo Kim, Summer Internship (2013)
-
Jeong Ri Kim, Researcher (2013-2016)