본문 바로가기 대메뉴 바로가기

KAIST

NEWS

홈페이지 통합검색

-
KOREAN

%42%49%4f

KAIST Enables DNA Synthesis Using Only Temperature Instead of Chemical Reagents "Complex chemical processes are essential for making DNA." This long-held assumption in the field of biotechnology has been overturned by a Korean research team. A KAIST research team has developed the world's first foundational technology that enables the synthesis of desired DNA using only temperature. Using this technology, the team also demonstrated a "DNA temperature black box" that records temperature changes during shipping without electricity. KAIST announced on the 7th of July that a research team led by Professor Yeongjae Choi of the Graduate School of Engineering Biology, in collaboration with ATG Lifetech Inc. (CEO Taehoon Ryu) and a research team led by Professor Hansol Choi from the Department of Life Science at Ewha Womans University, has developed this platform technology that synthesizes desired DNA sequences by controlling only temperature. DNA is the "blueprint" that contains the genetic information of humans and all other living organisms. Scientists use custom-made DNA in various biotechnology applications, such as diagnosing diseases, developing new drugs, and creating microorganisms with new functions. Until now, however, each time one of the four bases that make up DNA—A, T, G, and C—was connected, chemical reagents had to be added and washed out repeatedly. As a result, costly automated DNA synthesis equipment and specialized research facilities were essential. To overcome these limitations, the research team developed "hairpin DNA that reacts only at specific temperatures." This hairpin DNA is a special DNA structure that remains folded like a hairpin and unfolds only at a certain temperature. The team placed multiple types of hairpin DNA that operate at different temperatures into a single test tube and succeeded in synthesizing desired DNA step by step by changing only the temperature in the sequence. This opens the way for synthesizing DNA with only a general temperature control device, without the need for complex reagent replacement or large-scale equipment. As the technology advances, it is expected to greatly reduce the cost and time required to make DNA, lowering the entry barriers not only for synthetic biology and genetic research, but also for various bioindustries such as drug development and precision medicine. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the technology, the research team also implemented a power-free "DNA temperature black box." This device is normally stored in a freeze-dried state and begins operating when a single drop of water is added just before use. It then automatically records—directly into a DNA sequence—when, how long, and in what order the temperature changes during shipping. In addition, when exposed to temperatures above a certain level, the device changes color, allowing abnormalities to be checked visually on the spot. It is expected to be used for the quality control of products for which cold-chain distribution is important, such as vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, cell therapies, and fresh foods. KAIST researcher Jangho Choi and GIST doctoral student Jinho Kim participated in this research as co-first authors, and the research results were published in the international journal Nature Communications on July 2. ※ Paper title: Programmable one-pot polymerase-mediated DNA synthesis via temperature control ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74890-4 ※ Related Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUtzC83qIm1k-hNFKTb09yFPhfsD4iU-/view?usp=drive_lin ※ Authors: Jangho Choi (KAIST, co-first author), Jinho Kim (GIST, co-first author), Hansol Choi (Ewha Womans University, corresponding author), Yeongjae Choi (KAIST, corresponding author) This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT through the Future Promising Convergence Technology Pioneer Program, the Biofoundry-Based Technology Development Program, the Young Researcher Program, and the Global Basic Research Laboratory Program.
2026.07.07 View 287
Official Opening of the KAIST-FORMOSA Bio R&D Center A new initiative is officially underway to build a next-generation medical innovation platform. By combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced biotechnology, this project aims to overcome the "Death Valley" of the pre-clinical stage—a long-standing hurdle in drug discovery—and accurately predict human responses to replace animal testing. KAIST announced on June 17 that it held the opening ceremony for the "KAIST-FORMOSA BIO R&D CENTER" at the KAIST Meta-Convergence Building on June 16, jointly with the world-renowned Taiwanese company Formosa Group, and has officially commenced research operations. This research center is a follow-up project to the KAIST-Formosa Biomedical Cooperation Agreement signed last year and will operate centered around the "The FORM-K" project. Formosa Group will provide approximately 17 billion KRW in research funding over the next five years. Based on this financial backing, both institutions will develop and commercialize an organoid-based, next-generation animal alternative testing platform known as NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) on a global scale. NAMs are drawing significant attention as next-generation drug discovery evaluation technologies that utilize human cells, tissues, and artificial intelligence to replace animal experiments. The opening ceremony was attended by Formosa Group Chairman Ruey-Yu Wang, key executives, and faculty members from Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, who celebrated the launch of the research center and discussed plans to expand future cooperation. Under the shared goal of improving human health, both institutions further solidified their cooperative framework in the advanced biomedical field. The core objective of the research center is to bridge the "Death Valley" gap that occurs during the drug development process. Currently, even if drug candidates show excellent results in animal testing, about 90% of them fail during actual human clinical trials. This limitation stems from the biological differences between humans and animals. The research center plans to address this issue using "organoids," which are 3D human organ models derived from patient cells. In particular, the center will actively develop NAMs, which regulatory bodies like the US FDA and European agencies are pushing to adopt, to build a drug discovery platform that predicts human biological responses more accurately. This approach is expected to drastically reduce the time and cost required to develop new drugs for rare and incurable diseases. The greatest strength of this collaboration lies in the integration of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s vast patient tissue and clinical data—Taiwan's largest medical institution—with KAIST's world-class organoid, AI, and optical technologies. Boasting a medical infrastructure of 12,000 beds, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital possesses a massive repository of accumulated patient data. The research center will leverage this data to build disease-specific organoid models and utilize AI-based analysis to identify disease mechanisms and discover new drug candidates. Furthermore, by establishing a next-generation bio-R&D platform that utilizes organoids and AI, the KAIST-FORMOSA BIO R&D CENTER aims to enhance the efficiency of drug discovery, commercialize relevant technologies, and enter the global market. This initiative is expected to strengthen the bio-cooperation ecosystem and contribute to creating new industries and jobs. Professor Dae-Soo Kim from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST stated: "The KAIST-FORMOSA BIO R&D CENTER is a new model of international collaborative research where world-class clinical data meets cutting-edge biotechnology. We will develop it into a global research hub that reduces reliance on animal testing and accelerates patient-tailored precision medicine and drug discovery." Formosa Group Chairman Ruey-Yu Wang, remarked: "I find it highly meaningful to visit KAIST in person to join the opening of the KAIST-FORMOSA BIO R&D CENTER. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to President Kwang Hyung Lee, the KAIST research team, and all members for showing exceptional interest and leadership in laying the foundation for this cooperation and establishing the center. I hope this research center will establish itself as a symbolic collaborative platform leading future bio-innovation together." She further added, "Formosa Group will actively support the research outcomes so that they can translate into actual patient treatment and industrial innovation, and we will lead global biomedical innovation hand-in-hand with KAIST." Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, said: "The opening of this research center is a prime example showing the global expansion of KAIST's biotechnology. I extend my deepest gratitude to Chair Sandy Wang and the officials from Formosa Group for taking the time out of their busy schedules to visit KAIST and celebrate this opening. Through this collaboration, we expect that the integration of KAIST's advanced biotechnology with the rich clinical capabilities of Formosa Group and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital will serve as a catalyst for creating new growth engines in the future bio-industry." Meanwhile, Formosa Group is a global enterprise operating businesses across diverse industrial sectors, including petrochemicals, biotechnology, semiconductor materials, and energy. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is one of the largest medical institutions in Taiwan, leading global bio-research backed by rich clinical data and research infrastructure.
2026.06.17 View 1107
KAIST Produces Eco-Friendly Core Nylon Precursors Used from Clothing to Automobiles with Microbes <(From Left) Dr. Da-Hee Ahn, Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee> Nylon is a representative plastic material used throughout our daily lives, from clothing to automobiles. However, most of its raw materials have been produced through petrochemical processes, resulting in large carbon emissions. KAIST researchers have developed a technology that can produce key nylon precursors in an eco-friendly way using microbes. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 31st of May that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has developed an Escherichia coli-based modular platform capable of producing three key monomers (basic molecular units that make up polymers) of “nylon 6,6” and “nylon 6” — adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, and epsilon-caprolactam — from “glycerol (an eco-friendly bio-based byproduct generated during biodiesel production),” a renewable carbon source, using systems metabolic engineering (a technology that designs and optimizes microbial metabolic pathways to maximize the production of desired substances). “Nylon 6” is highly flexible and is used in clothing and films, while “nylon 6,6” has excellent strength and heat resistance and is used in automobiles and machinery parts. The numbers after the nylon name indicate the number of carbon atoms contained in the raw material molecules. The core of this study is that the biosynthetic pathway was divided into upstream and downstream modules, with E. coli strains assigned different roles. The upstream strain was designed to produce adipic acid from glycerol, while the downstream strain was designed to convert it into hexamethylenediamine or epsilon-caprolactam, respectively. Through this, the research team succeeded in producing adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, the key raw materials of nylon 6,6, and epsilon-caprolactam, the key raw material of nylon 6, within a single integrated platform. To improve production efficiency, the researchers compared and validated various enzymes (proteins that promote chemical reactions in living organisms), including carboxylic acid reductases and transaminases, and applied the optimal combination, thereby improving hexamethylenediamine titer. In addition, in the epsilon-caprolactam production process, they designed a flexible-linker fusion enzyme that enhances reaction efficiency through efficient cofactor regeneration.In the upstream module, the team reconstructed the biosynthetic pathway (a series of reaction processes through which compounds are produced in living organisms) and improved the performance of key enzymes using artificial intelligence (AI), increasing production titer. As a result, they succeeded in producing adipic acid at a level of 6 grams per liter (g/L) in a fed-batch fermentation process. The research team also applied a “delayed inoculation” strategy (time-staggered co-culture), in which the second strain is introduced later after sufficient adipic acid has first been produced, rather than adding the two types of E. coli simultaneously. This is a method of sequentially introducing microbes with different roles at different times. When this strategy was applied to a fed-batch fermentation process (a fermentation method that increases productivity by supplying nutrients step by step), the team produced 230 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of hexamethylenediamine and 808 micrograms per liter (μg/L) of epsilon-caprolactam using only glycerol. Although the production amounts are not yet high, the research team explained that these results represent world-class performance among cases of direct production from glycerol. <Schematic Diagram> This technology is significant in that it presents the possibility of producing nylon raw materials, which have relied on petrochemical processes, through bio-based methods. The research team plans to further improve titer by combining AI-based enzyme design with additional systems metabolic engineering, and to expand the platform to produce various polymer raw materials (substances formed by the repeated bonding of multiple monomers). Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee stated, “This study is meaningful in that it presents a modular microbial platform capable of producing key monomers required for nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 production from renewable carbon sources,” adding, “We will continue to advance enzyme and metabolic flux engineering to improve titer and develop this into a core platform for sustainably producing various bio-based polymer raw materials.” The results of this study were published on May 4 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), with Dr. Da-Hee Ahn of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as the first author. ※ Paper title: “Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the biosynthesis of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 monomers” Authors: Sang Yup Lee (KAIST, corresponding author), Da-Hee Ahn (KAIST, first author), Tong Un Chae (KAIST, second author), total of 3 authors DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2535786123 This research was supported by the “Development of Platform Technologies of Microbial Cell Factories for the Next-Generation Biorefineries” project under the Petroleum Replacement Eco-Friendly Chemical Technology Development Program supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and by the “Development of Advanced Synthetic Biology Source Technologies for Leading the Biomanufacturing Industry” project under the Core Synthetic Biology Technology Development Program.
2026.06.01 View 1017
European Academy of Microbiology welcomes 95 new Fellows <KAIST Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee> The European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) is pleased to announce the election of 95 new Fellows, recognising scientific excellence and long-standing contributions to microbiology. The newly elected Fellows represent a diverse range of expertise across microbiology and related disciplines, spanning institutions across Europe and beyond. Their work reflects the breadth and dynamism of the field, from fundamental microbial research to applied innovations addressing global challenges in health, environment, and biotechnology. Election to the EAM Fellowship recognises outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology. Fellows are selected through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process by existing members of the Academy. With the addition of these new Fellows in different areas of microbiology from Europe and beyond, the EAM continues to strengthen its network of leading microbiologists. As Fellows of the Academy, members are committed to advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and supporting the next generation of scientists. Together they promote the visibility, impact and rapid progress of microbiology across the world. Reflecting strength and diversity of microbiology Commenting on the election, the EAM President Prof. Cecília M. Arraiano said: “We are delighted to welcome this new group of Fellows to the European Academy of Microbiology. Their achievements and expertise reflect the strength and diversity of microbiology. The Academy thrives through the engagement of its Fellows, and we look forward to the perspectives and contributions they will bring to shape the future of microbial science.” See the full list of the newly elected Fellows. About the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) The European Academy of Microbiology, is part of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) network, and brings together eminent microbiologists whose work has significantly advanced the field. Through the collective expertise of its Fellows, the Academy contributes to scientific dialogue, supports emerging priorities in microbiology, and helps amplify the impact of microbiological research for society.
2026.03.20 View 1297
Longevity mediated by suppressing age-associated circRNA < (Back row from left) Prof. Yoon Ki Kim, Prof. Seung-Jae V. Lee, and Gwangrog Lee; (Front row from left) Dr. Sung Ho Boo, Sieun S. Kim, Seokjin Ham, and (top) Donghun Lee > Cells in our bodies produce RNA based on genetic information stored in DNA, and RNA serves as a blueprint for making proteins. Researchers at our university have discovered a new phenomenon: removing 'circular RNA' that accumulates in cells as we age can slow down aging and extend lifespan. This study provides crucial clues for uncovering the principles of aging and developing treatment strategies for related diseases. Professor Seung-Jae V. Lee’s research team (RNA-Mediated Healthspan and Longevity Research Center) from the Department of Biological Sciences, in collaboration with research teams led by Professors Yoon Ki Kim and Gwangrog Lee, announced on the 18th that they discovered the RNASEK protein—an enzyme that degrades circular RNA—plays a vital role in slowing aging and extending lifespan. Until now, circular RNA has been regarded mainly as an aging marker because of its stability, which allows it to accumulate over time. However, the molecular mechanism for removing this RNA and its direct link to aging had not been clearly identified. The research team conducted this study to determine how the accumulation of circular RNA affects aging and whether an intracellular management system exists to regulate it. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a short-lived roundworm widely used in aging research, the team first confirmed that the circular RNA-degrading enzyme RNASEK is essential for longevity. They also discovered that as aging progresses, the amount of RNASEK decreases, resulting in an abnormal accumulation of circular RNA within cells. Conversely, artificially increasing the levels of RNASEK (overexpression) extended the lifespan and allowed the organisms to survive longer in a healthy state. This implies that the process of appropriately removing cellular circular RNA is critical for maintaining health and longevity. The research team also found that RNASEK prevents the toxic aggregation of circular RNAs in aged organisms. . When RNASEK is deficient and circular RNA accumulates, "stress granules" form abnormally inside the cell, which can impair cellular functions and accelerate aging. RNASEK works alongside the chaperone protein HSP90 (which helps proteins avoid misfolding or clumping) to inhibit the formation of these stress granules and help cells maintain a normal state. Notably, this phenomenon was observed not only in C. elegans but also in human cells. In mammals, RNASEK also functions to directly degrade circular RNA; a deficiency of RNASEK in human cells and mouse models led to premature aging. < Diagram showing progress toward longevity or aging depending on circular RNA and the removal enzyme RNASEK > The researchers explained that this study is significant as it identifies a mechanism for regulating aging at the RNA level. They suggested that research using RNASEK to control circular RNA could lead to the development of treatment strategies for human aging and degenerative diseases. Professor Seung-Jae V. Lee of KAIST, who led the study, explained, "Until now, circular RNA was merely regarded as a marker of aging that accumulates over time due to its stability. This study proves that circular RNA accumulated during aging actually induces aging, and that RNASEK, which removes it, is a key regulator that slows aging and induces healthy longevity." < (AI-generated image) Longevity induced by the circular RNA-removing enzyme RNASEK > Drs. Sieun S. Kim, Seokjin Ham, Sung Ho Boo, and Donghun Lee from the KAIST Department of Biological Sciences participated as joint first authors. The research results were published on February 24 in the world-renowned scientific journal Molecular Cell. Paper Title: Ribonuclease $\kappa$ promotes longevity by preventing age-associated accumulation of circular RNA in stress granules DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.01.031 This research was conducted with support from the Leader Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2026.03.18 View 2661
KAIST Develops Self-Regenerating Catalyst That Restores Its Own Performance, Opening a Breakthrough for CO₂ Conversion Technology <(From Left) Professor Dong Young Chung, Ph.D Candidate Hongmin An, Hanjoo Kim> Technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted from factories and power plants into useful chemical feedstocks are considered key to achieving carbon neutrality. However, rapid degradation of catalyst performance has long hindered commercialization. KAIST researchers have now developed a “self-regenerating” catalyst that restores its activity during operation, offering a potential solution to this challenge. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 11th of March that a research team led by Professor Dong Young Chung from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has identified the fundamental cause of catalyst degradation in electrochemical reactions that convert CO₂ into useful materials and has developed a new design strategy that allows catalysts to maintain their active state during the reaction. <Schematic Illustration of Copper Catalyst Reconstruction> The research team focused particularly on copper (Cu) catalysts, which are widely used in CO₂ conversion reactions. Copper catalysts are known not to simply degrade during reactions but instead undergo a process called surface reconstruction, in which their surface structure continuously changes. The study revealed that the performance and lifetime of the catalyst vary significantly depending on how this reconstruction occurs. The researchers discovered that copper catalyst reconstruction occurs mainly through two different mechanisms. The first involves formation and reduction of oxide layers on the catalyst surface. While this temporarily increases catalytic activity, it ultimately leads to long-term degradation of catalyst performance. The second mechanism involves partial dissolution of the catalyst metal into the electrolyte followed by redeposition onto the catalyst surface. During this process, new reactive sites—known as active sites—are continuously created on the catalyst surface. Based on this mechanism, the team proposed a method that allows the catalyst to maintain its active state during the reaction. By introducing a trace amount of copper ions into the electrolyte, dissolution and redeposition of copper occur in a balanced cycle on the catalyst surface. This continuous cycle generates new active sites, enabling the catalyst to maintain stable performance over extended periods. Importantly, this technology can be implemented without complex additional processes or high-voltage conditions, significantly reducing energy consumption while enabling stable production of high-value C₂ compounds such as ethylene and ethanol. C₂ compounds are molecules containing two carbon atoms and are industrially important chemicals used as feedstocks for plastics, fuels, and other materials. This research is significant because it proposes a new design concept in which catalysts are not merely optimized at the initial stage but are engineered to maintain their optimal state throughout the reaction process. The concept is expected to be applicable not only to CO₂ conversion technologies but also to a wide range of electrochemical energy conversion systems. Professor Dong Young Chung stated, “This research approached catalyst degradation not as an inevitable phenomenon but as a controllable process,” adding, “We proposed a new strategy that allows catalysts to continuously maintain optimal activity during the reaction.” The study was led by Hanjoo Kim, a doctoral student at KAIST, and Hongmin An, a combined master’s-doctoral student, as co-first authors. The research was published online on February 5 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), one of the world’s most prestigious journals in chemistry. ※ Paper title: “Dynamic Interface Engineering via Mechanistic Understanding of Copper Reconstruction in Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Reaction” DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c16244 This research was supported by the Global Young Connect Program for Materials and the National Strategic Materials Technology Development Program funded through the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2026.03.11 View 2065
KAIST Develops mRNA Platform That Remains Effective Even in Aging and Obesity <(From Left) Dr. Subin Yoon, Ph.D candidate Hyeonggon Cho, Prof. Jae-Hwan Nam, Prof. Young-suk Lee> Since the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines have gained attention as a next-generation pharmaceutical technology. mRNA therapeutics work by delivering genetic instructions that enable cells to produce specific proteins for therapeutic effects. However, their efficacy has been reported to decline in elderly individuals or patients with obesity. To address this limitation, Korean researchers have newly designed a key regulatory region of mRNA that improves therapeutic protein production efficiency, developing a next-generation mRNA platform that maintains effectiveness even in aging and obesity conditions. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 10th of March that a joint research team led by Professor Young-suk Lee of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering and Professor Jae-Hwan Nam of The Catholic University of Korea (President Jun-Gyu Choi) has developed a new mRNA platform by precisely designing the sequence of the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR)*, a key regulatory region of mRNA.*5′ untranslated region (5′UTR): A region of mRNA that initiates and regulates protein production. The design of this region influences both the amount and speed of protein synthesis. The research team analyzed large-scale bioinformatics datasets to identify 5′UTR sequences that enable proteins to be produced more efficiently across diverse cellular environments. When applied, the designed sequences significantly enhanced protein production and immune responses even in preclinical models of aging and obesity. mRNA is a long single-stranded RNA molecule that serves as the blueprint for producing proteins required by the body. It consists of several components: the 5′UTR, which initiates and regulates the rate of protein production; the coding sequence (CDS), which contains the genetic information for a specific protein; the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), which helps maintain mRNA stability within cells; and the poly(A) tail, which further enhances stability and supports protein synthesis. Among these components, the 5′UTR and 3′UTR do not determine the type of protein produced, but they play a critical role in regulating how efficiently the protein is synthesized. For this reason, these regions are receiving increasing attention as key bioengineering platforms for improving the performance of various mRNA therapeutics, including vaccines and treatments. <Schematic Diagram of mRNA Therapeutic Design and Validation Using Bioinformatics> To identify highly efficient 5′UTR sequences capable of promoting protein production across multiple tissues and cellular environments, the team conducted an integrated analysis of large-scale biological datasets. This included multiple analytical approaches such as RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for analyzing gene activity across tissues, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) for examining gene expression at the individual cell level, and ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) for measuring actual protein translation efficiency. The researchers also focused on the fact that in aging or obesity conditions, cells often experience high levels of stress—particularly oxidative stress—which can reduce their ability to synthesize proteins. When the newly designed mRNA therapeutics were applied to preclinical models of aging and obesity, the results showed significantly improved protein production and immune responses compared with existing approaches. This research is expected to be applicable not only to mRNA vaccines but also to a wide range of biopharmaceutical technologies, including gene therapies and immunotherapies. <Multimodal Bio–Big Data Analysis–Based mRNA Therapeutic Design (AI-Generated Image)> Professor Young-suk Lee of KAIST Department of Bio and Brain Engineering stated, “This study identified a design strategy that enables mRNA to produce proteins more efficiently by analyzing large-scale biological data,” adding, “This technology will provide an important foundation for ensuring that mRNA vaccines and therapeutics remain effective even in environments where drug efficacy may decline, such as in elderly or obese patients.” In this study, Dr. Subin Yoon from The Catholic University of Korea and doctoral candidate Hyeonggon Cho from KAIST participated as co-first authors. The research findings were published online on January 2 in the internationally renowned journal Molecular Therapy (IF = 12.0), a leading journal in gene and cell therapy. (Paper title: ”Designing 5′UTR sequences improves the capacity of mRNA therapeutics in preclinical models of aging and obesity” DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.060) This research was supported by the Excellent Young Researcher Program and the Bio-Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Infectious Disease Response Innovative Technology Support Program of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Infectious Disease Prevention and Therapeutics Technology Development Program of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute.
2026.03.10 View 2119
Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, Senior Vice President for Research, to Lead Industry-Academic-Research Cooperation in Synthetic Biology < Sang Yup Lee, Senior Vice President for Research at KAIST (Inaugural Chairman of the Korea Synthetic Biology Association) > KAIST announced on February 27th that Sang Yup Lee, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Senior Vice President for Research, has been appointed as the inaugural chairman of the Korea Synthetic Biology Association (KSBA). This appointment was officially ratified during the association's 5th regular general meeting held on the 23rd. The KSBA is a specialized consultative body established to promote cooperation in policy, industry, and research within the field of synthetic biology. Based on a network spanning industry, academia, research institutes, and government, the association supports the creation of a synthetic biology ecosystem as a national strategic technology and strengthens industrial competitiveness. It has contributed to the expansion of the domestic synthetic biology foundation through multifaceted activities such as policy proposals, international cooperation, human resource development, and industrial vitalization. Through this appointment of the inaugural chairman, the association has established a unified leadership system and is set to formalize the operational foundation in line with the enforcement of the "Synthetic Biology Promotion Act." At the general meeting, the 2025 business performance report was presented, and agendas for the ratification of the next chairman and the appointment of executives were resolved. Officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT also attended, expressing expectations for the association’s political role and future direction. During the meeting, the ratification of Chairman Sang Yup Lee, who was elected by the Board of Directors in accordance with the articles of incorporation, was finally approved. Chairman Sang Yup Lee is a world-leading researcher who has pioneered the fields of synthetic biology and biotechnology. As the Senior Vice President for Research at KAIST, Head of the Metabolic Engineering National Research Laboratory, and Director of both the BioProcess Engineering Research Center and the Center for Synthetic Biology, he has led research innovation and the expansion of global cooperation. With this ratification, the KSBA has officially launched an integrated leadership system encompassing the establishment of mid-to-long-term strategies, strengthening industry-research links, and expanding global networks. < Group photo of the Korea Synthetic Biology Association General Meeting (Chairman Sang Yup Lee, 5th from the bottom left) > Chairman Sang Yup Lee stated, "Synthetic biology is a key strategic technology that will determine national competitiveness. We will ensure close cooperation between industry, academia, research, and government so that the purpose of laws and systems can lead to practical innovation in research and industrial fields." Furthermore, the Board of Directors approved the appointment of directors and external auditors to enhance the accountability and transparency of organizational management, including Steering Committee Secretary Lee Seung-koo (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), as well as Park Han-oh (Bioneer), Kim장성 (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), Kim Dong-myung (Chungnam National University), Oh Min-kyu (Korea University), Cho Byung-kwan (KAIST), Yoon Hye-sun (Hanyang University), and Lee Do-heon (KAIST). At this general meeting, the major contents of the "Synthetic Biology Promotion Act," scheduled for enforcement on April 23, and the corresponding legislative notice of the enforcement decree were shared. Prior to the enforcement of the law, the Ministry of Science and ICT prepared an enforcement decree specifying delegated matters and has been conducting a legislative notice for 40 days starting February 23. The enforcement decree includes: ▲Clarification of procedures for establishing the Basic Plan for Synthetic Biology Promotion and annual implementation plans ▲Establishment of standards for designating and operating research hubs and biofoundries ▲Materialization of safety management systems and inspection procedures. The KSBA plans to actively pursue implementation strategies for each division so that the legislative intent of the enforcement decree can be practically realized in industrial and research fields. The Policy and System Division will strengthen its policy advisory function to ensure that field opinions are reflected in the process of establishing basic and annual implementation plans. It will also continue to present directions for synthetic biology development and social infrastructure construction strategies through the ‘KSBA Policy Insight 2026’ report. The Convergence Division aims to advance research systems based on data, AI, and automation to simultaneously secure research reliability and efficiency. It will also support the strengthening of technology standardization and safety management capabilities through the publication of convergence technology trend reports and the operation of workshops. The Technology and Industry Division plans to specify industry-research linkage models that meet the standards for designating and operating research infrastructure such as biofoundries. It will also expand corporate cooperation networks to ensure that the implementation of the system leads to technology commercialization and manufacturing innovation. The Education and Network Division will prepare a competition (IDEA-B) to discover next-generation talent and strengthen safety and ethics education to increase the accountability and expertise of synthetic biology research. Additionally, it plans to expand international cooperation to ensure that domestic systems harmonize with global norms. The KSBA plans to further enhance the stability of organizational operations through this general meeting and expand its role as a hub institution connecting policy, industry, and research. In particular, under the unified leadership centered on Chairman Sang Yup Lee, it intends to serve as a bridge for private-public cooperation so that the intent of the "Synthetic Biology Promotion Act" can be practically implemented in the field. < KSBA Policy Insight 2026 Report of the Korea Synthetic Biology Association >
2026.02.27 View 2348
Opening of KAIST Bio Square in Osong, a Key Hub for K-Bio < Bird’s-Eye View of KAIST BioSquare > KAIST is embarking on a full-scale journey in Osong, Chungcheongbuk-do, to leap forward as a world-class bio-medical hub. The university announced that it will hold the opening ceremony for ‘KAIST Bio Square’ on the 6th at the Chungbuk Cosmetic Clinical Research Support Center, in collaboration with Chungcheongbuk-do Province and Cheongju City. KAIST Bio Square is a core hub for the creation of 'K-Bio Square' and serves as a convergence research and education platform that breaks down the boundaries between various disciplines such as AI, physics, and mechanical engineering, centered on bio-technology. Using this as a strategic outpost, KAIST plans to establish a cooperation system with Seoul National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University Hospital, the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation to create innovative achievements in the field of R&D for aging, including the development of treatments for Parkinson's disease and medical devices. Furthermore, it plans to attract startups that will lead innovation in the future bio-industry and develop the related industrial ecosystem, while fostering it as a bio-entrepreneurship outpost that concentrates KAIST's startup capabilities, which produce 120 venture companies annually. The opening ceremony will be attended by major figures from industry, academia, research, and hospitals, including Young Hwan Kim, Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do; Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST; Yeon Hee Lee, Member of the National Assembly; Daesoo Kim, Dean of the KAIST College of Life Science and Bioengineering; Yong Jin Kim, Vice President of Research at Seoul National University Hospital; Sang Bae Han, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Chungbuk National University; Kyu Sun Lee, Head of the Research Division at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; and Myung Soo Lee, Chairman of the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation. The building where KAIST Bio Square is located (formerly the Chungbuk Cosmetic Clinical Research Support Center) consists of one basement level and three floors above ground, with the first floor currently being used as a seminar room and networking space. Starting in June, the entire building will be remodeled to create a state-of-the-art research and education space equipped with lecture rooms, faculty research offices, graduate department offices, and open labs. Young Hwan Kim, Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do, stated, “K-Bio Square consists of three major pillars: the KAIST Osong Bio-Medical Campus Town, the Seoul National University Hospital R&D Clinical Hospital, and R&D involving the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation. KAIST Bio Square will be the strategic base for realizing this.” He added, “I am grateful to KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee and Dean Daesoo Kim of the College of Life Science and Bioengineering for their major decision.” Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, remarked, “K-Bio Square is an important project being promoted as part of the national bio-strategy and mid-to-long-term national tasks.” He stated, “We will focus all of KAIST’s capabilities to ensure that the Osong Bio-Medical Campus Town can settle in early.” He also plans to propose cooperation measures for future medical innovation, such as the establishment of an AI healthcare graduate school with Seoul National University Hospital and Chungbuk National University Hospital, and the joint development of physician-scientist training programs. Daesoo Kim, Dean of the KAIST College of Life Science and Bioengineering, said, “This opening is a practical fruition of the open innovation strategies that KAIST has been pursuing, such as R&D planning, the attraction of global bio-labs, and joint responses to innovative regulation-free zones.” He added, “We will lead drug development and brain/anti-aging research here to create an AI-bio innovation ecosystem where industry, academia, research, and hospitals coexist.”
2026.02.06 View 1373
Discovery of a Switch to Halt Adipocyte Generation < (From left) Dr. Ju-Gyeong Kang, Ph.D candidate TaeJun Seol, Professor Dae-Sik Lim > Metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance are rapidly increasing worldwide, but fundamental methods to regulate the process of fat formation remain limited. In particular, once adipocytes (fat cells) are formed, they are difficult to reduce, making treatment challenging. Amidst this, a research team from our university has discovered the existence of a ‘switch’ that prevents fat formation. This discovery elucidates how an ‘epigenetic switch’—which regulates gene activity without altering the DNA sequence itself—functions during the process of adipogenesis, presenting new possibilities for the precise control of obesity and metabolic diseases in the future. The research team, led by Professor Dae-Sik Lim and Professor Ju-Gyeong Kang from KAIST’s Department of Biological Sciences, announced on January 25th that they have identified ‘YAP/TAZ,’ key regulators of the Hippo signaling pathway*, as playing the role of an ‘epigenetic differentiation inhibition switch’ during the process of adipocyte differentiation**. The team proposed a new mechanism in which YAP/TAZ extensively inhibits the activation of genes responsible for adipocyte formation through its downstream target, ‘VGLL3.’ *Hippo signaling pathway: A cellular control system that regulates when cells grow, stop dividing, and differentiate. **Adipocyte differentiation: The process by which preadipocytes (or stem cells) transform into mature adipocytes. Cell differentiation is not a simple matter of a single gene turning on or off; it is a complex, organic process involving multiple genes and DNA regulatory regions. The research team tracked the entire process of preadipocytes* differentiating into adipocytes using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), which allows for the simultaneous analysis of gene expression changes and epigenetic modifications. *Preadipocyte: A developing intermediate-stage cell whose direction as to which cell it will become has already been determined. As a result, they confirmed that under conditions where YAP/TAZ is activated, the genetic program that establishes adipocyte identity fails to operate, and the overall adipocyte differentiation network—centered around PPARγ*—is suppressed. *PPARγ: The ‘metabolic master switch’ regulator that controls energy storage and utilization in the body. Specifically, through single-cell analysis of adipose tissue, the research team identified VGLL3 as a novel target gene of YAP/TAZ. While it was previously known that YAP/TAZ directly binds to and inhibits PPARγ, this study revealed that VGLL3 indirectly controls the entire adipocyte differentiation program by suppressing ‘enhancers,’ which are the DNA regulatory regions of adipocyte genes. This signifies that the Hippo signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the core timing that determines when and how robustly fat cells are created. Dysfunction of adipose tissue is deeply linked to various metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver. The research team expects that further studies on how the YAP/TAZ–VGLL3–PPARγ axis regulatory principle involves adipocyte formation and functional abnormalities will provide new clues for regulating or treating metabolic diseases. < Schematic Diagram of Adipocyte Gene Regulation > Professor Dae-Sik Lim stated, “This study is the first to establish that adipocyte differentiation is precisely controlled at the epigenetic level, beyond simple gene regulation. It has laid an important foundation for a more sophisticated understanding of the mechanisms behind adipocyte identity changes and, in the long term, for developing personalized treatment strategies for patients with metabolic diseases.” This research, with Ph.D. student TaeJun Seol and Dr. Ju-Gyeong Kang as co-first authors, was published on January 14th in the world-renowned international academic journal, Science Advances. ※ Paper Title: YAP/TAZ-VGLL3 governs adipocyte fate via epigenetic reprogramming of PPARγ and its target enhancers, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aea7235 Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the Leader Researcher Support Program and the Overseas Excellent Scientist Recruitment Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
2026.01.26 View 2298
KAIST Awakens dormant immune cells inside tumors to attack cancer <(From Left) Professor Ji-Ho Park, Dr. Jun-Hee Han from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering> Within tumors in the human body, there are immune cells (macrophages) capable of fighting cancer, but they have been unable to perform their roles properly due to suppression by the tumor. KAIST researchers have overcome this limitation by developing a new therapeutic approach that directly converts immune cells inside tumors into anticancer cell therapies. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 30th that a research team led by Professor Ji-Ho Park of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering has developed a therapy in which, when a drug is injected directly into a tumor, macrophages already present in the body absorb it, produce CAR (a cancer-recognizing device) proteins on their own, and are converted into anticancer immune cells known as “CAR-macrophages.” Solid tumors—such as gastric, lung, and liver cancers—grow as dense masses, making it difficult for immune cells to infiltrate tumors or maintain their function. As a result, the effectiveness of existing immune cell therapies has been limited. CAR-macrophages, which have recently attracted attention as a next-generation immunotherapy, have the advantage of directly engulfing cancer cells while simultaneously activating surrounding immune cells to amplify anticancer responses. However, conventional CAR-macrophage therapies require immune cells to be extracted from a patient’s blood, followed by cell culture and genetic modification. This process is time-consuming, costly, and has limited feasibility for real-world patient applications. To address this challenge, the research team focused on “tumor-associated macrophages” that are already accumulated around tumors. They developed a strategy to directly reprogram immune cells in the body by loading lipid nanoparticles—designed to be readily absorbed by macrophages—with both mRNA encoding cancer-recognition information and an immunostimulant that activates immune responses. In other words, in this study, CAR-macrophages were created by “directly converting the body’s own macrophages into anticancer cell therapies inside the body.” <Figure . Schematic illustration of the strategy for in vivo CAR-macrophage generation and cancer cell eradication via co-delivery of CAR mRNA and immunostimulants using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)> When this therapeutic agent was injected into tumors, macrophages rapidly absorbed it and began producing proteins that recognize cancer cells, while immune signaling was simultaneously activated. As a result, the generated “enhanced CAR-macrophages” showed markedly improved cancer cell–killing ability and activated surrounding immune cells, producing a powerful anticancer effect. In animal models of melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer), tumor growth was significantly suppressed, and the therapeutic effect was shown to have the potential to extend beyond the local tumor site to induce systemic immune responses. Professor Ji-Ho Park stated, “This study presents a new concept of immune cell therapy that generates anticancer immune cells directly inside the patient’s body,” adding that “it is particularly meaningful in that it simultaneously overcomes the key limitations of existing CAR-macrophage therapies—delivery efficiency and the immunosuppressive tumor environment.” This research was led by Jun-Hee Han, Ph.D., of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST as the first author, and the results were published on November 18 in ACS Nano, an international journal in the field of nanotechnology. ※ Paper title: “In Situ Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macrophage Therapy via Co-Delivery of mRNA and Immunostimulant,” Authors: Jun-Hee Han (first author), Erinn Fagan, Kyunghwan Yeom, Ji-Ho Park (corresponding author), DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c09138 This research was supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2025.12.31 View 4442
Mathematicians Solve Cellular Noise, a Long-standing Challenge in Biology < (From left) Researcher Dongju Lim, Researcher Seokhwan Moon, Professor Jae Kyoung Kim (KAIST), Professor Jinsu Kim (POSTECH), Professor Byung-Kwan Cho (KAIST) > Why does cancer sometimes recur even after successful treatment, or why do some bacteria survive despite the use of powerful antibiotics? One of the key culprits identified is "Biological Noise"—random fluctuations occurring inside cells. Even when cells share the same genes, the amount of protein varies in each, creating "outliers" that evade drug treatments and survive. Until now, scientists could only control the average values of cell populations; controlling the irregular variability of individual cells remained a long-standing challenge. A joint research team—led by Professor Jae Kyoung Kim (Department of Mathematical Sciences, KAIST), Professor Jinsu Kim (Department of Mathematics, POSTECH), and Professor Byung-Kwan Cho (Graduate School of Engineering Biology, KAIST)—has theoretically established a "Noise Control Principle." Through mathematical modeling, they have found a way to eliminate biological noise and precisely govern cellular destiny. This achievement in securing precision control technology at the single-cell level is expected to be a new milestone in solving challenges in cancer treatment and synthetic biology. While cells in our bodies strive to maintain homeostasis for survival, their internal environments are constantly changing. Existing genetic circuit technologies could regulate the average protein levels of a cell population but often ended up amplifying the "noise"—the variance between individual cells. The research team compared this to a "shower that fluctuates between boiling and freezing." Even if the average water temperature is set to 40°C, a normal shower is impossible if the water alternates between scalding and icy. Similarly, a small number of cells that escape control due to this "trap of the average" become the primary cause of cancer recurrence or antibiotic resistance. To solve this, the team devised a new mathematical model called the "Noise Controller (NC)." The researchers first investigated whether they could control the variance of outputs—which differs from cell to cell—using a "dimerization reaction," where the final products of a system bind together to form pairs. In the process, they confirmed that the dimerization reaction could act as a sensor to detect fluctuations (noise) in the cellular state. However, initial attempts showed that this method alone had limits in reducing differences between cells. Consequently, they determined that a device was needed to immediately reduce substances if they were overproduced. They combined this with a "degradation-based actuation" principle, which promptly breaks down proteins when they become excessive. As a result, they theoretically implemented "Noise Robust Perfect Adaptation (Noise RPA)," which maintains a constant noise level despite external environmental changes. Through this, they succeeded in suppressing cell-to-cell deviation to a Fano factor of 1—the minimum level achievable by universal biological systems. < Figure 1. Conceptual Diagram of Noise Controller (NC) Effects: When no control technology is used (top, gray), the average value of the cell population changes due to external stimuli. With existing control technology (middle, blue), the average value is maintained, but the deviation between individual cells (noise) remains large. In contrast, using the Noise Controller (bottom, green) maintains the average while also reducing the noise level of individual cells. > The research team proved the model's performance by virtually applying it to the DNA repair system of E. coli. In the existing system, the amount of DNA-repairing proteins varied so greatly between cells that approximately 20% of the cells failed to repair and died. However, by applying the Noise Controller (NC) to unify protein levels across all cells, the mortality rate was slashed to 7%. The team significantly boosted cell survival rates through sophisticated mathematical principles alone. This is highly significant as it moves beyond the "average control" paradigm to realize "single-cell control," dealing with each cell with precision. < Figure 2. Structure of the Noise Controller (NC).In the conventional control scheme (left), the final output (X2) produces one of the controller proteins (Z2), and this protein is degraded together with the other controller protein (Z1) that generates the system input (X1).In contrast, the noise controller (NC) established in this study (right) has a largely similar structure, but is characterized by the production of the controller protein (Z4) through a dimerization reaction of the final output. This protein directly degrades the system input (X1).Through this mechanism, mathematical expressions for the mean of the final output (lower left equation) and its noise (lower right equation) can be derived > Professor Jae Kyoung Kim, who led the research, stated, "The significance lies in bringing cellular noise—which was previously dismissed as luck or coincidence in biological phenomena—into the realm of controllable factors through mathematical design." He added, "It will play a vital role in fields requiring precise cellular control, such as overcoming cancer treatment resistance and developing high-efficiency smart microorganisms." Co-corresponding author Professor Jinsu Kim of POSTECH emphasized, "This research demonstrates the power of mathematical modeling, starting from theoretical formulas of intracellular noise using reaction network theory and leading to the design of actual biological mechanisms." < Figure 3. Actual Biological Circuit Structure of the Noise Controller (NC): A representation of the mathematical model established by the research team implemented as a genetic circuit, which is an actual biological system. The existing control technology (left) consists of a reaction where the final product produces an anti-sigma factor (RsiW), which then binds with the sigma factor (SigW) that generates the system’s input value. The Noise Controller (NC) (right) similarly utilizes the binding reaction between an anti-sigma factor (RseA) and a sigma factor (ECF); however, the primary differences are that the anti-sigma factor (RseA) is produced through the dimerization reaction of the final product , and that the anti-sigma factor (RseA) directly degrades the system’s input value > The results of this study were published on December 24 in the international academic journal Nature Communications (IF=15.7).
2025.12.29 View 2919