EWHA WOMANS UNIVERSITY | Research

158
Ewha Leads Innovative Convergence Research Through Global Collaboration

Ewha Leads Innovative Convergence Research Through Global Collaboration Seven research teams from Ewha Womans University have been selected for the Mid-Career Researcher Support Program (Type 1 – Global Cooperation), funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). The NRF operates diverse research support programs to strengthen creative and pioneering basic research and foster excellent researchers, thereby enhancing Korea’s future capabilities in science and technology. Ewha researchers across various fields, such as social sciences, natural sciences, and nursing, were selected for this program aimed at supporting leading convergence research in collaboration with global universities and research institutions, once again reaffirming Ewha’s excellent research capacity. Professor Soontae An from the Division of Communication & Media is collaborating with the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in the United Kingdom, Queensland University of Technology in Australia, and the International University of Japan to develop a positive self-talk-based digital mood management solution. The project aims to create a preventive mental health care solution in daily life using AI chatbots and conversational mood assistants. Professor Hye Eun Lee from the Division of Communication & Media is working with the Media Neuroscience Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the United States to analyze the mechanisms of mobile game addiction and to develop an addiction predictive model based on brain imaging and deep learning data. Professor Won Joonyeong from the Department of Mathematics is conducting a convergence study in algebraic geometry and number theory, in collaboration with Saitama University and Kyushu University in Japan, as well as the University of Edinburgh in the UK, aiming to verify the K-stability of Fano hypersurfaces and weighted hypersurfaces. Professor Hyun-seok Kim from the Department of Life Sciences (Graduate School) is partnering with Ghent University in Belgium to study the potential for controlling macrophage inflammatory diseases through the regulatory mechanism of protein N-terminal acetylation. Professor Roh Tae-Young from the Department of Life Sciences (Graduate School) is collaborating with Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands to identify epigenetic chromatin modulators through multi-omics analysis using breast cancer cells, contributing to the development of personalized precision medicine technologies. Professor Eunsoo Kim from the Division of EcoScience (Graduate School) is conducting research on the genomic and ecological characteristics of endogenous viral elements in protists in collaboration with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in the U.S., the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany, and Kyoto University in Japan. Professor Dukyoo Jung from the Division of Nursing is working with Duke University and Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. to analyze the correlation between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline, and to develop nursing intervention programs for hearing loss and dementia prevention. Under its vision of “Ewha leading the era of great transformation through inclusive innovation,” Ewha is making efforts to strengthen its global research competitiveness and establish a world-class environment for education and research. In addition to this program, the university will continue expanding its global network with universities and research institutions worldwide across various fields, reinforcing its role as a research-driven institution.
- No.157
- Writer
- Date2025.04.10
- Views19518
156
Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital Selected as a First-term Certified Research-driven Hospital for 2025

Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital Selected as a First-term Certified Research-driven Hospital for 2025 Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, affiliated with the College of Medicine, has been selected as a First-term Certified Research-driven Hospital for 2025 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as announced on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The certification will remain valid for three years, until March 31, 2028. Introduced in 2013, the Research-driven Hospital program designates hospitals to lead research and development as well as technology commercialization based on their clinical expertise. Following a revision of the relevant law in July last year, the program was restructured from a “designation-based system” to a “certification-based system,” under which certification is granted only to hospitals with proven research capabilities. In the recent certification evaluation, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital was recognized for its strong research capabilities, along with the following achievements: a global standard of research systems and personnel; sustainable research support governance; proven capacity to conduct translational and clinical research; competitiveness in specialized, priority research areas; and the establishment of an industry-academia-research-hospital network linked to M-Valley and G-Valley. As a result, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital is now eligible to apply for the Research-driven Hospital R&D Project and expected to play a leading role at the center of the bio-health research ecosystem. Since 2021, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital has laid the groundwork for its research-driven hospital certification by successfully securing a series of major national projects from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. In 2022, the hospital was selected for the ER Bio Core Facility Establishment Project led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. This was followed by its designation as the host institution for the UroGyn Efficacy Evaluation Center in 2023, the National Bio Integrated Big Data Establishment Project in 2024, and the Open Lab Operation Project in 2025, all sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Based on these achievements, the hospital successfully obtained the research-driven hospital certification this year. Building on the outstanding capabilities of Ewha Womans University Medical Center, including the Mokdong Hospital, the university is committed to further strengthening its efforts to establish a world-class research environment, enhance its competitiveness, and realize the vision of “Ewha leading the era of great transformation through inclusive innovation.”
- No.155
- Writer
- Date2025.03.28
- Views18147
154
Professor Dong Ha Kim Develops Light-driven Nanoparticle-based Innovative Cancer Therapy

Professor Dong Ha Kim Develops Light-driven Nanoparticle-based Innovative Cancer Therapy Dong Ha Kim | Luke P. Lee Professor Dong Ha Kim from the Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience and his team has developed optically tunable catalytic cancer therapy using enzyme-like chiral plasmonic nanoparticles (CPNs). Published in the online edition of Nature Communications on March 15, the research findings suggest an innovative way of effectively eliminating cancer cells by precisely adjusting the catalytic activity of the nanoparticles using circularized polarized light (CPL). The human body is home to complex biochemical reactions such as metabolism, signal transduction, and gene regulation that take place in a cascading manner. These reactions are regulated by enzymes and need to occur in a specific order under optimal conditions to achieve their full effectiveness. The research team mimicked these cascade reactions to develop cancer therapy that utilizes chiral nanoparticles. The research team created biomimetic chiral plasmonic nanoparticles with glucose oxidase and peroxidase activities, respectively, and suggested a method of separately regulating each reaction using CPL. In both cell studies and animal model experiments, the groups sequentially irradiated with CPL showed the highest radical generation and the most efficient cancer treatment outcomes compared to other groups, proving the excellence of this technology. This research is significant as it proposes a method to overcome the limitations of existing catalytic cancer therapies by integrating chirality into nanoparticles to enable them to mimic natural selective reactivity within living organisms and adding an optically tunable function. This technique not only has potential for medical applications, such as targeted drug delivery and regenerative medicine, but also is expected to shift the paradigm of medicine using nanotechnology. “Follow-up research is expected to examine this system’s broader applicability to diverse types of cancer, prove its effectiveness through clinical trials, and improve biocompatibility,” said Professor Kim. He added, “I hope that this new optical cancer therapy using nanoparticles is applied in real-life clinical settings.” Published as a paper titled “Optically tunable catalytic cancer therapy using enzyme-like chiral plasmonic nanoparticles,” the research was carried out in collaboration with Distinguished Visiting Professor Luke P. Lee, a leading scholar of bioengineering who was invited to Ewha under the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, with the participation of corresponding authors including Professor Ki Tae Nam and Professor Jeong Woo Han from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Seoul National University, as well as Dr. Sehoon Kim from the Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
- No.153
- Writer
- Date2025.03.24
- Views12820
152
Ewha Enters the Top 200 in 12 Subjects in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Ewha Enters the Top 200 in 12 Subjects in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 On Wednesday, March 12, the global university ranking organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. In the ranking, Ewha University achieved significant progress with 12 academic subjects placed among the world’s top 200. This marks the addition of seven subjects to the list compared to the previous year, showcasing Ewha's outstanding research capabilities and academic excellence on the international stage. Ewha demonstrated remarkable academic excellence in this year’s QS rankings, earning a spot within the global top 100 in four subjects. The university was ranked in the 51-100 range for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies, Nursing, and Library and Information; and Education and Training, in particular, achieved an impressive 63rd place, securing a strong standing within the top 100. In addition, Ewha made it into the 101-200 range for a total of eight subjects; the 101-150 range for five subjects, consisting of Art and Design, English Language and Literature, Linguistics, Modern Languages, and Social Policy and Administration; and the 151-200 range for three subjects, consisting of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Communication and Media Studies, and Sociology. The rankings signify a recognition of Ewha’s academic excellence across various disciplines. This achievement reflects the success of Ewha's strategic support policies for promising academic fields, further enhancing its international reputation as a research-intensive university. Based on its global recognition for such varied disciplines, Ewha has strengthened the foundation for fostering talented individuals with a global competitive edge. Building on this success, Ewha plans to strengthen its global competitiveness by creating a world-class research environment and establishing “first-mover research leadership.” Furthermore, the university aims to actively expand international joint research and academic collaborations, promote interdisciplinary and convergent research encompassing various academic fields at Ewha, and realize the vision of “Ewha Leading the Era of Great Transformation through Inclusive Innovation.” Through these efforts, Ewha will further solidify its position as a research-oriented university.
- No.151
- Writer
- Date2025.03.14
- Views52059
150
Thirteen Laboratories at Ewha Womans University Certified as Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management in 2024

Thirteen Laboratories at Ewha Womans University Certified as Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management in 2024 Ewha Womans University demonstrated its exemplary capability for laboratory safety management as 13 laboratories obtained certification from the Ministry of Science and ICT under the Certification of Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management program in 2024. The Certification of Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management program aims to improve the safety management level of laboratories at universities and research organizations based in Korea and to spread the model standards of laboratory safety management. The certification is available to approximately 83,000 laboratories and is granted to laboratories which pass an assessment by experts. The 2024 assessment took place in August and examined each laboratory’s compliance with 29 requirements in three fields such as a system for a safe laboratory environment, safety-related activities, and safety awareness. At Ewha Womans University, 13 laboratories—Bio & Nano Electro-mechanics Lab, Polymeric Biomaterials Lab, Sustainable Catalysis Lab, Laboratory of Integrative Organismal Protistology, Common Equipment Room, Environmental Electrochemistry Laboratory, Cell Biointerface Engineering Laboratory, NanoBio Engineering Lab, Center for Infectious Disease Treatment & Control, Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry, and Laboratory of Nano Imaging—obtained the certification. The number of certified laboratories has almost doubled from 2023. Ewha Womans University has constantly worked to improve laboratory safety through regular inspections, thorough safety assessment, self-inspections, and safety education. In addition, Ewha’s Exemplary Laboratory Safety program to reward outstanding laboratories in safety management has been in place since 2009 as part of the university’s continued efforts to establish an advanced research environment.
- No.149
- Writer
- Date2025.01.20
- Views64562
148
Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 Held to Showcase Innovative Growth Technologies

Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 Held to Showcase Innovative Growth Technologies The Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation (EUICF) hosted Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 at 2 p.m. on December 18, 2024 (Wed.) at Lee Sam-bong Hall of the ECC building, bringing together cutting-edge innovative growth technologies in one place. Tech-Biz EWHA has been held annually since 2021 under the auspices of the EUICF to facilitate the commercialization of promising future technologies possessed by Ewha and to provide a venue for networking between companies and researchers. This year’s event was held successfully and attracted about 200 participants, including Ewha professors and researchers, member companies, and technology-demanding companies, as well as officials from related organizations such as Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Seoul Business Agency, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, and Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. The event showcased major promising technologies held by Ewha’s faculty members in various fields such as biotechnology, medicine, new drugs, secondary batteries, data, security, and healthcare. Key technologies introduced include a communication-based language-cognitive diagnosis and rehabilitation program (Professor Jee Eun Sung of the Department of Communication Disorders); artificial intelligence (AI)-based image and video processing technology (Professor Jewon Kang of the Electronic & Electrical Engineering major); FMCW radar signal processing-based monitoring system and AI-based semiconductor vision inspection technology (Professor Jeong-Tae Kim of the Electronic & Electrical Engineering major); ultra-fast, ultra-compact respiratory monitoring and humidity sensing technology (Professor Jerome Kartham Hyun of the Chemistry & Nanoscience major); interface control technology for improving the performance and stability of next-generation secondary batteries (Assistant Professor Kwan Woo Nam of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science); BCI-sound-based sleep induction solution (Professor Eunju Jeong of the Department of Music Therapy); sensor and therapeutic technology using human receptor nanodiscs (Professor for Special Appointment Tai Hyun Park of the Department of Nutritional Science & Food Management); and therapeutic adjuvant development technology for breast cancer treatment (Clinical Assistant Professor An Jeongshin of the Ewha Womans University Medical Center). Additional presentations were given by external organizations, including the Scripps Korea Antibody Institute and University of Seoul. The event also featured a session showcasing key technologies from member companies of EWHA Tech-Net that have partnered with Ewha for industry-academia collaboration, subsidiaries of Ewha Womans University, and startups founded by alumnae. During the session, corporate support programs were introduced and a one-to-one technology partnering segment was conducted for participating companies. Furthermore, consultation booths for institutions and exhibition booths for alumnae-founded companies were set up to facilitate the vitalization of the industry-academia collaboration network. Ewha holds more than 3,000 outstanding patents across diverse fields, including advanced biotechnology, AI, semiconductors and displays, next-generation communications, hydrogen, and quantum, gradually expanding the scale of its patents with the establishment of 32 faculty-founded companies, more than 100 student-founded companies, as well as 13 subsidiaries. In particular, through the Tech-Biz EHWA event since 2021, the university has served as a platform for 200 companies to showcase 75 technologies, attracting investment funding of KRW 10.5 billion, two mid-to-large-scale technology transfers, one global technology transfer, and the creation of five technology-based startups.
- No.147
- Writer
- Date2024.12.27
- Views86259
146
Distinguished Professors Juyoung Yoon and Sue Goo Rhee Recognized as Korea’s Outstanding Scientists and Engineers in 20

Distinguished Professors Juyoung Yoon and Sue Goo Rhee Recognized as Korea’s Outstanding Scientists and Engineers in 2024 Distinguished Professor Juyoung Yoon of the Chemistry & Nanoscience major was awarded the Korea Science Award, which is presented to individuals who have produced world-class research achievements. Professor Yoon was honored with the Korea Science Award for his significant contributions to the development of phototherapeutic agents for intractable cancers, which can be selectively delivered to tumors, thereby enabling simultaneous imaging and treatment. These phototherapeutic agents are expected to pioneer new possibilities in cancer treatment, such as reducing side effects and maximizing treatment effects, thereby elevating cancer treatment research in Korea to a global level. Professor Yoon, a world-renowned scholar in fluorescent chemosensors and molecular recognition research, was named among the world’s top 1 percent of highly-cited researchers (HCR) for 11 consecutive years. He has also demonstrated his world-class research capabilities by ranking in the top 0.05 percent of scientists in the field of organic chemistry, as reflected in the world’s top 2 percent scientist rankings (based on 2023 citation data), jointly organized by Stanford University and Elsevier. To date, he has published over 500 SCI papers (h-index: 134) and has received the 16th Kyung-Ahm Prize (2020) and the Toray Science and Technology Prize (2019). Since 2024, he has also been selected as an Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society, further cementing his reputation as a scholar of global prestige. Distinguished Professor Sue Goo Rhee was recognized as a distinguished contributor to science and technology in recognition of his outstanding contributions to advancing research on cell signaling. The distinguished contributor to science and technology system is designed to designate scientists and engineers who have contributed to the advancement of science and technology in Korea and to provide them with honorable treatment and support, with the aim of fostering a social atmosphere of respect for scientists and engineers. A pioneer in the research of cell signaling, Professor Rhee was the first to isolate and purify phospholipase C (PLC), a key enzyme in signal transduction, and to identify its gene, thereby elucidating its role in cell signaling mechanisms. His groundbreaking work presented new directions for antioxidant research and led the way in the research on the role of reactive oxygen species in intracellular signaling. In recognition of these achievements, he was honored as Korea’s First National Scientist by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2006. From 1979 to 2004, as a principal investigator at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), he trained about 40 outstanding full-time faculty-level researchers through the postdoctoral research program, most of whom are now spearheading the life sciences field in Korea. Beyond advancing research at Ewha, he has played a pivotal role in elevating Korea’s advanced biotechnology sector to a globally competitive level. Ewha has endeavored to bolster its research competitiveness by launching the R&D Coordination and Planning Council and promoting the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, with the goal of establishing a world-class research ecosystem. These efforts have resulted in remarkable achievements by the university’s distinguished scholars and exceptional faculty members, both domestically and internationally. Notably, a total of 39 researchers from Ewha were included in the world’s top 2 percent scientists list (based on 2023 citation data), jointly published by Stanford University and the world-leading publisher Elsevier. Ewha’s outstanding researchers are expected to play a crucial role in solidifying its status as a research-oriented university by conducting innovative research in collaboration with globally renowned research institutes and expanding its International Research Network (IRN) through various international events, such as international academic conferences and special lectures.
- No.145
- Writer
- Date2024.12.24
- Views80418
144
A Total of 39 Researchers from Ewha Listed Among the World’s Top 2 Percent of Scientists

A Total of 39 Researchers from Ewha Listed Among the World’s Top 2 Percent of Scientists The Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, which has been promoted to facilitate world-class research outcomes, is greatly contributing to bolstering Ewha’s status as a research-intensive university. Ewha has been dedicated to building a creative research ecosystem and enhancing its research capabilities by formulating the development strategy of Ewha Vision 2030+, reinforcing its research vision and planning centered around the newly established R&D Coordination and Planning Council, and promoting the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project to actively foster leading fields with global competitiveness and future-oriented challenging fields. These initiatives have consistently yielded remarkable outcomes, including the selection for major government-funded projects and the publication of world-class international research papers. In addition, a total of 39 researchers from Ewha were listed in the world’s top 2 percent scientist rankings (based on 2023 citation data) jointly released by Stanford University in the U.S. and the leading global publisher Elsevier. This represents an increase of nine researchers compared to the previous year, and notably, Distinguished Visiting Professor Richard M. Ryan of the Department of Education was recognized as the most influential researcher in Korea for his top-tier research achievements, ranking in the world’s top 0.01 percent of researchers. The top 2 percent of scientists are selected based on the analysis of the paper citation impact of researchers who have published at least five papers across 22 major academic fields and 174 sub-fields using the Scopus academic research paper database. Remarkably, Professor Ryan, a world-renowned scholar in the fields of educational psychology and cognitive science, was among the top 0.01 percent of the most-cited researchers worldwide. Among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists, he secured the 16th place globally and ranked first among faculty members affiliated with universities in Korea. Also the Professor Emeritus of Psychology at University of Rochester in the U.S., he currently serves as Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Department of Education at Ewha under the Frontier 10-10 Project Team (led by Professor Anna Kim). Specifically, a total of 39 researchers from various majors at Ewha were named in the top 2 percent scientists list, including eight distinguished scholars invited as part of the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project: Distinguished Professor Yeomin Yoon (Environmental Science & Engineering), Distinguished Professor Kwangmeyung Kim (Pharmacy), Distinguished Visiting Professor Oliver Richmond (International Studies), Distinguished Visiting Professor Heejung Kim (Psychology), Distinguished Visiting Professor Eun-Ah Kim (Physics), Research Professor Shunichi Fukuzumi (Chemistry & Nanoscience), and Professor for Special Appointment Tai Hyun Park (Nutritional Science & Food Management). The list also features Distinguished Professor Juyoung Yoon (Chemistry & Nanoscience), a globally renowned scholar in fluorescent chemosensors and molecular recognition research, who has been named among the world’s top 1 percent of highly-cited researchers (HCR) for 11 consecutive years and Distinguished Professor Wonwoo Nam (Chemistry & Nanoscience), a world-renowned authority in oxygen chemistry research. The increase in global top-level researchers can be largely attributed to the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, which was introduced with the aim of creating a world-class research ecosystem. To lead changes in future society and propel Ewha’s innovative growth, the university selected a total of 15 project teams in five leading fields with global competitiveness and ten future-oriented challenging fields, respectively. Each project team has solidified Ewha’s status as a research-oriented university by recruiting distinguished scholars and competent faculty members from both home and abroad, conducting innovative research in collaboration with world-class research institutes, and expanding the International Research Network (IRN) through various international events, including international academic conferences and special lectures.
- No.143
- Writer
- Date2024.12.11
- Views53778
142
Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: The 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum

Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: The 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum The Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation (EUICF) hosted the 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum at the auditorium of the University-Industry Collaboration Building on November 26, 2024 (Tue.). As part of the Ewha-Asan UniverCT (University x Climate Tech) program, this forum was designed to raise awareness of climate tech and entrepreneurship, while identifying and supporting female climate-tech entrepreneurs. In March 2024, Ewha Womans University and the Asan Nanum Foundation signed an agreement to spread the culture of climate-tech startups and nurture climate-tech entrepreneurs. Based on this agreement, Ewha has worked to establish a climate-tech startup track in its undergraduate programs and organize various events, including boot camps and forums, with the aim of enhancing students’ awareness of the climate crisis and strengthening their capabilities in climate-tech entrepreneurship. In the first session of this forum, entitled “Challenges and Opportunities in the Climate Tech Era,” lectures were given by Shin-Young Ahn, CEO of A-Stone Ventures, on “Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs from the Perspective of a Venture Capital CEO,” and by Professor Ji Hun Park of the Department of Science Education on “From Lab to Market.” This was followed by a talk show focusing on venture capital and entrepreneurship. In the second session, Jae-Hong Park, CEO of Code of Nature, took the stage as a speaker to share his insights on climate-tech entrepreneurship. The EUICF discovered 15 climate-tech startup teams through the Ewha-Asan UniverCT program. Among them, “CarbonSings” introduced a retrofit solution for CO2 reduction devices based on artificial photosynthesis technology, while “Birna” developed eco-friendly antifouling paint made from protein-degrading enzymes and alginic acid derived from marine byproducts. Both teams advanced to the University Integrated Demo Day and were selected as alumni of the Asan Nanum Foundation, qualifying for follow-up support such as recommendations for venture capital investors and opportunities to participate in growth support programs. In addition, the Ewha-Asan UniverCT program team has been offering interdisciplinary courses, seminars, and forums to introduce climate-tech entrepreneurship to students who are unfamiliar with the field. To explore various approaches to tackling the climate crisis, the team has established a climate-tech startup track and launched a liberal arts course titled “Understanding Climate Tech and Entrepreneurship.” The EUICF plans to continue supporting students by lowering the barriers to climate-tech entrepreneurship and empowering them to take the lead in shaping their careers through various curricular and extracurricular programs. Additionally, it aims to expand the “Ewha-Asan UniverCT” brand further.
- No.141
- Writer
- Date2024.12.02
- Views38439
140
Research Team under Professors Yun-Sil Lee and So-Yeon Park of the College of Pharmacy Identifies Fibrosis Development

Research Team under Professors Yun-Sil Lee and So-Yeon Park of the College of Pharmacy Identifies Fibrosis Development Mechanism Mediated by GTSE1, a New Therapeutic Target The research team led by Professor Yun-Sil Lee from the Fibrosis Control Center (FCC) at the Ewha Womans University College of Pharmacy has identified a new therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis treatment, demonstrating both its efficacy and clinical applicability. The findings were published in the world-renowned journal Molecular Therapy on September 27, 2024, thereby drawing significant attention from the academic community. Pulmonary fibrosis is a type of fibrotic disease where the lungs become stiff and lose their function, which has a high incidence rate among the elderly. It can be triggered by various factors, including fine particulate matter, toxic substances, and COVID-19. Currently, no curative treatment is available. The research team identified G2 and S phase-expressed protein-1 (GTSE1) as a novel biomarker, whose expression is elevated specifically in lung tissues of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of GTSE1 in the disease. The research findings indicate that GTSE1 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and exacerbates the condition by inhibiting the protein degradation of zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), a key transcription factor of EMT. Furthermore, experimental evidence confirmed that removing GTSE1-expressing cells alleviates fibrosis symptoms. The academic value of this study was bolstered by the implication that GTSE1 may have the potential to selectively regulate disease-related EMT without affecting EMT in healthy tissues. The research team demonstrated that the GTSE1-ZEB1 axis plays a major role in the pathology of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby paving the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies based on these findings. This study implies that GTSE1-based therapeutic strategies may open new potential for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. It was conducted with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (Advanced Research Center Program, Creative and Challenging Research Project, STEAM Research Project) and the 2024 new faculty research grant from Ewha Womans University.
- No.139
- Writer
- Date2024.10.30
- Views29546

Research News