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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 1340 -
KAIST Suppresses Side Effects of mRNA Therapeutics, Broadly Applicable Platform for Safer, Personalized Treatments
<(From Left) Professor Yong Woong Jun, Ph.D candidate Tae Ung Jeong, Ph.D candidate Jihun Choi>
mRNA, widely known from the COVID-19 vaccine, is not actually a “therapeutic agent,” but a technology that delivers the blueprint for functional proteins into the body so that induces therapeutic effects. Recently, its application has expanded to cancer and genetic disease treatments, but mRNA therapeutics have caused serious side effects such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, thrombosis, and autoimmune diseases because proteins are excessively produced all at once immediately after administration. Although technology to control the endogenous protein factory has been continuously needed, there had been no suitable solution.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 1st of December that Professor Yong Woong Jun’s research team in the Department of Chemistry has proposed a new strategy that can control the initiation timing and rate at which mRNA produces proteins. By using this method, the rate of protein production can be adjusted/personalized according to a patient’s condition, enabling safer treatment.
This technology is expected to serve as an important turning point in next-generation mRNA therapeutics, not only fundamentally reducing side effects of mRNA treatments but also enabling application to treatment areas requiring precise protein regulation such as stroke, cancer, and immune diseases.
For a protein to be produced, the cell’s “protein production machinery (ribosomes and initiation factors)” must attach to the mRNA blueprint and begin working. The research team focused on the fact that delaying this process even slightly can prevent the sudden surge of protein production.
Therefore, instead of using complex technologies, they developed a simple method in which intentionally slightly damaged DNA fragments are attached to mRNA. These DNA fragments act like a small “shield,” preventing the protein production machinery from immediately attaching to the mRNA and thereby gently slowing the initiation speed of protein production.
The damaged DNA used here is a safe biological material naturally recycled in the body and is very inexpensive. Because it only needs to be mixed with mRNA right before injection, it is suitable for real-world medical use.
As time passes, the body’s natural “repair enzymes” partially degrade the damaged DNA, and during this process, the structure attached to the mRNA is released, smoothly transitioning the protein production speed back to normal mode. As a result, the previous risk of proteins being explosively produced all at once is greatly reduced.
The research team confirmed that by adjusting the length and degree of damage of the DNA, they could precisely design when and how slowly protein production would begin. They also found that even when multiple types of mRNA are administered at once, the proteins can be produced sequentially in the desired order, meaning this method could innovate existing approaches that required multiple separate injections for complex treatments.
This technology was selected by KAIST as one of its “Future Promising Core Technologies” and was also introduced at the “2025 KAIST Techfair Technology Transfer Session.”
<A translation-control strategy based on DNA–mRNA hybrids. The damaged base (in red) is removed by a repair enzyme, after which the DNA and mRNA dissociate, allowing translation factors and ribosomes to bind and initiate protein translation>
Professor Yong Woong Jun said, “Biological phenomena are ultimately chemistry, so we were able to precisely control the protein production process through a chemical approach,” and added that “this technology not only enhances the safety of mRNA therapeutics but also provides a foundation for expanding into precision treatments tailored to various diseases such as cancer and genetic disorders.”
The results of this research, with Jihun Choi (KAIST, 3rd-year PhD student) and Tae Ung Jeong (KAIST, 1st-year PhD student) participating as co–first authors, were published on November 6 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, one of the most prestigious journals in the field of chemistry.
※ Paper title: “Harnessing Deaminated DNA to Modulate mRNA Translation for Controlled and Sequential Protein Expression,” Authors: Jihun Choi (KAIST, co–first author), Tae Ung Jeong (KAIST, co–first author), and Yong Woong Jun (KAIST, corresponding author), among a total of 10 authors, DOI: 10.1002/anie.202516389
This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Excellent Young Researcher Program.
2025.12.02 View 2249 -
A KAIST team develops the world's first modular co-culture platform for the one-pot production of rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose.
<(From Left) Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, Ph.D candidate Pingxin Lin, Ph.D candiate Zhou Hengrui>
The integration of systems metabolic engineering with co-culture strategies that couples bacterial cellulose production with natural colorant biosynthesis enabled the one-pot generation of rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose, establishing a sustainable biomanufacturing platform that can replace petroleum-based textiles and eliminate chemical dyeing processes.
A research group at KAIST has successfully developed a modular co-culture platform for the one-pot production of rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose. The team, led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, engineered Komagataeibacter xylinus for bacterial cellulose synthesis and Escherichia coli for natural colorants overproduction. A co-culture of these engineered strains enabled the in situ coloration of bacterial cellulose. This research offers a versatile platform for producing living materials in multiple colors, and provides new opportunities for sustainable textiles, wearable biomaterials, and functional living materials that combine optical and structural properties beyond the reach of conventional textile technologies.
Bacterial cellulose is an attractive and biodegradable alternative to petroleum-derived fabrics due to its high purity, mechanical strength, and water-retention properties. However, the limited color range of bacterial cellulose, which is typically white, has limited its broader application in the textile industry, where more vibrant colored fabrics are increasingly desired. Conventional dyeing methods rely on petroleum-based colorants and toxic reagents, creating environmental and processing challenges. These challenges have driven the demand for alternative production methods.
To address these issues, KAIST researchers, including Ph.D. Candidate Hengrui Zhou, Ph.D. Candidate Pingxin Lin, Professor Ki Jun Jeong, and Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, combined systems metabolic engineering with co-culture strategies to develop a bio-based route that integrates bacterial cellulose formation with natural pigment synthesis, enabling the production of colored living materials in a single step without additional chemical processing.
The team’s work, entitled “One-pot production of colored bacterial cellulose,” was published in Trends in Biotechnology on November 12,2025.
This research details the one-pot production of multicolored bacterial cellulose using a modular co-culture platform that integrates a bacterial cellulose-overproducing K. xylinus strain with natural colorant-producing E. coli strains. The team focused on addressing the limitations in bacterial cellulose coloration caused by environmental challenges and complex processing requirements. By employing vesicle engineering and optimizing co-culture parameters, the researchers achieved one-pot production of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple bacterial cellulose, eliminating the need for external dyes and toxic chemical treatments.
To enhance dyeing efficiency, E. coli strains were engineered for the overproduction and secretion of natural colorants. It was determined that the intracellular accumulation of these pigments disrupts cellular metabolism and physiology, thereby inhibiting their production. To overcome this limitation, vesicle engineering has emerged as a key strategy to mitigate these cytotoxic effects, including the induction of inner- and outer-membrane vesicles and the modulation of cell morphology, enabling the more efficient secretion of colorants and increased overall production. The engineered E. coli strains were optimized in fed-batch fermentation, achieving record-breaking production of 16.92 ± 0.10 g/L of deoxyviolacein, 8.09 ± 0.17 g/L of violacein, 1.82 ± 0.07 g/L of proviolacein, and 936.25 ± 9.70 mg/L of prodeoxyviolacein, the highest reported titers to date for all four violacein derivatives.
< Figure 1. Rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose (microbial fiber) with applied color >
A co-culture platform combining the K. xylinus with E. coli strains was further developed and optimized, enabling the in situ one-pot coloration of bacterial cellulose in vibrant green, blue, navy, and purple. Fed-batch fermentation further improved the performance of the platform, achieving the world-first one-pot production of multicolored bacterial cellulose on a larger scale. To expand the bacterial cellulose color palette, engineered carotenoid-producing E. coli strains were incorporated, enabling the successful synthesis of red, orange, and yellow bacterial cellulose. This milestone demonstrates the potential of microbial fermentation as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based textile processes.
“We can anticipate that this microbial cell factory-based one-pot production of rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose has the potential to replace current petroleum-based textile processes,” said Ph.D. Candidate Hengrui Zhou. “The systems metabolic engineering strategies developed in this study could be broadly applied for the production of diverse sustainable textiles, wearable biomaterials, and functional living materials that combine optical and structural properties beyond the capabilities of conventional textile technologies.” He added, “This platform reduces the environmental impact while greatly expanding design possibilities. Beyond serving as a proof-of-concept, this technology offers a promising route toward scalable, eco-friendly fabrics with in situ coloration. Its modular design allows the incorporation of diverse natural colorant pathways, enabling the creation of living materials in multiple colors.”
< Figure 2. Schematic of a microbe-based platform for one-step production of rainbow-colored bacterial cellulose >
“As demand for sustainable textiles and living materials continues to grow, we expect that the integrated biomanufacturing platform developed here will play a pivotal role in producing diverse functional biomaterials with additional design possibilities in a single step, without additional chemical processing,” explained Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee.
This work was supported by the Development of Next-generation Biorefinery Platform Technologies for Leading Bio-based Chemicals Industry project (2022M3J5A1056072) and the Development of Platform Technologies of Microbial Cell Factories for the Next-generation Biorefineries project (2022M3J5A1056117) from the National Research Foundation supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT.
Source:
Hengrui Zhou (1st), Pingxin Lin (2nd), Ki Jun Jeong (3rd), and Sang Yup Lee (Corresponding). “One-pot production of colored bacterial cellulose”. Trends in Biotechnology (Published) doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.09.019
2025.11.19 View 3076 -
KAIST Develops Ultrafast Photothermal Process Achieving 3,000 °C in 0.02 Seconds, Boosting Hydrogen Production Efficiency Sixfold
< (from left) Ph.D. candidate Seohak Park, Dr. Jaewan Ahn, Ph.D. candidate Dogyeong Jeon, Prof. Sung-Yool Choi, Prof. Il-Doo Kim, Dr. Chungseong Park, Ph.D. candidate Euichul Shin (top left) Dr. Hamin Shin, Dr. Jun-Hwe Cha i>
The rapid and energy-efficient synthesis of high-performance catalysts is a critical hurdle in advancing clean energy technologies like hydrogen production. Addressing this challenge, a research team at KAIST has now developed a novel platform technology that utilizes a 0.02-second flash of light to generate an ultrahigh temperature of 3,000 °C, enabling the highly efficient synthesis of catalysts. This breakthrough process reduces energy consumption by more than a thousandfold compared to conventional methods while increasing hydrogen production efficiency by up to six times, marking a significant step toward the commercialization of clean energy.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on October 20 that a joint research team, co-led by Professor Il-Doo Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor Sung-Yool Choi from the School of Electrical Engineering, has developed a “direct-contact photothermal annealing” platform. This technique synthesizes high-performance nanomaterials through brief exposure to intense light, generating a transient temperature of 3,000 °C in just 0.02 seconds.
Using this intense photothermal energy, the researchers successfully converted chemically inert nanodiamond (ND) precursors into highly conductive and catalytically active carbon nanoonions (CNOs).
More impressively, the method simultaneously functionalizes the surface of the newly formed CNOs with single atoms. This integrated, one-step process restructures the support material and embeds catalytic functionality in a single light pulse, representing a significant innovation in catalyst synthesis.
CNOs, composed of concentric graphitic shells, are ideal catalyst supports due to their high conductivity, large specific surface area, and chemical stability. However, traditional CNO synthesis has been hindered by complex, multi-step post-processing required to load metal catalysts and by reliance on energy-intensive, time-consuming thermal treatments that limit scalability.
< Schematic Illustration of the Limitations of Conventional Thermal-Radiation Synthesis and the Carbon Nano-Onion Conversion via Direct-Contact Photothermal Treatment >
To overcome these limitations, the KAIST team leveraged the photothermal effect. They devised a method of mixing ND precursors with light-absorbing carbon black (CB) and applying an intense pulse from a xenon lamp. This approach triggers the transformation of NDs into CNOs in just 0.02 seconds, a phenomenon validated by molecular dynamics simulations.
A key innovation of this platform is the simultaneous synthesis of CNOs and functionalization of single-atom catalysts (SACs). When metal precursors, such as platinum (Pt), are included in the mixture, they decompose and anchor onto the surface of the nascent CNOs as individual atoms. The subsequent rapid cooling prevents atomic aggregation, resulting in a perfectly integrated one-step process for both synthesis and functionalization. The team has successfully synthesized eight different high-density SACs, including platinum (Pt), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni). The resulting Pt-CNO demonstrated a sixfold enhancement in hydrogen evolution efficiency compared to conventional catalysts, achieving high performance with significantly smaller quantities of precious metals. This highlights the technology's potential for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production.
“We have developed, for the first time, a direct-contact photothermal annealing process that reaches 3,000°C in under 0.02 seconds,” said Professor Il-Doo Kim. “This ultrafast synthesis and single-atom functionalization platform reduces energy consumption by more than a thousandfold compared to traditional methods. We expect it to accelerate the commercialization of technologies in hydrogen energy, gas sensing, and environmental catalysis.”
The study’s first authors are Dogyeong Jeon (Ph.D. candidate, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KAIST), Dr. Hamin Shin (an alumnus of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and a current postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich), and Dr. Jun-Hwe Cha (an alumnus of the School of Electrical Engineering, now at SK hynix). Professors Sung-Yool Choi and Il-Doo Kim are the corresponding authors.\
< Inside Cover Image of the September Issue of ACS >
The research was published as a Supplementary Cover Article in the September issue of ACS Nano, a leading international journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
※ Paper title: “Photothermal Annealing-Enabled Millisecond Synthesis of Carbon Nanoonions and Simultaneous Single-Atom Functionalization,” DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c11229
This research was supported by the Global R&D Infrastructure Program and the Leading Research Center Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Nano Convergence Technology Center’s Semiconductor–Battery Interfacing Platform Development Project.
2025.10.21 View 2899 -
KAIST Launches Student Led ESG Research Platform with Brand Revenue
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 19th of October that it is launching a new action-oriented ESG program, 'PDSP (Problem Definition to Solution Program),' which returns brand revenue to students to support research aimed at solving social problems. Brand revenue refers to profits from the sale of branded products, such as 'Nubjuk-i,' and the brand shop that KAIST operates near the campus's duck pond.
This initiative is the first model to concretize KAIST's brand value and social responsibility through a student-centric approach, serving as an innovative starting point that connects 'research–startup–social contribution.'
The project is funded by dividends from Brand KAIST, a subsidiary of KAIST Holdings (CEO Hyunmin Bae), led by co-CEOs Hyun Jung Suk and Byeongjun Bok (CEO of KAI Patent Law Firm, and KAIST Industrial Design alumni).
By reinvesting brand revenue into student research activities, KAIST aims to implement a KAIST-style virtuous cycle ESG structure: 'Brand->Revenue->Student->Social Contribution.'
PDSP is a research program where KAIST undergraduate students voluntarily form teams to explore social and technological problems and propose solutions. The program name, 'Problem Definition to Solution Program,' signifies that students directly define the problem and design the solution, aiming to become a practical research platform that connects learned knowledge to solving social issues.
Through the PDSP, KAIST is expanding the concept of ESG beyond Environment, Society, and Governance to 'Practicing Social Responsibility through Education and Science.'
The process of students proactively defining social problems and proposing solutions is itself a form of ESG value realization, and KAIST seeks to build a science and technology-based, action-oriented ESG model through this.
The PDSP operates with two research tracks: Deep Tech and ESG. The 'Deep Tech Track' supports fundamental technology research that will lead future industries, leveraging KAIST's advanced science and technology capabilities in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, robotics, biotechnology, new materials, and energy. The 'ESG Track' focuses on research on social issues such as climate change, carbon neutrality, and aging, concentrating on realizing a sustainable society through science and technology.
<KAIST PDSP (Problem Definition to Solution Program) Poster>
This program is regarded not merely as an idea contest but as a 'student-led Deep Tech incubation program' that promotes substantial technological innovation originating from research labs.
Participation is open to approximately 20 teams, each composed of three to five undergraduate students. Each team can choose to apply for either the Deep Tech Track or the ESG Track. A maximum of 1.5 million KRW in research activity expenses will be provided per team for three months, with the funding executed according to KAIST's internal research project standards. Applications are accepted through the KAIST portal site from September 29 until midnight on November 5. Selected teams, after being reviewed by an evaluation committee, will go through stages including orientation, interim check, and performance presentation.
Hyeonmin Bae, CEO of KAIST Holdings (Professor of Electrical Engineering), stated, "The PDSP will be the starting point for KAIST-style autonomous research culture where students define problems and design solutions themselves," adding, "We plan to actively consider providing initial investments and commercialization support for outstanding research teams to develop their ideas into startups."
Hyeong-Jeong Suk, CEO of Brand KAIST (Professor of Industrial Design), said, "This program, where Brand KAIST's revenue is reinvested into student research, shows that the KAIST brand is evolving beyond a mere symbol to a platform for creating social value. I believe the true power of the KAIST brand lies in students creating new change that bridges technology and society through creative research."
A student who submitted an application for the program commented, "I wanted to explore social topics like environmental issues or technological inequality through research, and I am excited that this program offers such an opportunity," adding, "I feel a sense of pride as a KAIST student to be able to give back the knowledge I've gained to society."
KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee emphasized, "Creating a co-prosperity innovation model that returns the value generated by the KAIST brand to our students is also KAIST's strength," and "I hope that the problems defined by the students themselves will contribute to the progress of humanity, and that creative research will become the driving force for social change."
Since its establishment in 1971, leading South Korea's scientific and technological development and industrial innovation, KAIST is realizing the 'virtuous cycle of brand value' through its PDSP, presenting a new ESG paradigm that combines student-led social contribution and technological innovation.
2025.10.20 View 2123 -
Chemobiological Platform Enables Renewable Conversion of Sugars into Core Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Petroleum
<(From Left) Professor Sun Kyu Han, Ph.D candidate Tae Wan Kim, Professor Kyeong Rok Choi, Professor Sang Yup Lee>
With growing concerns over fossil fuel depletion and the environmental impacts of petrochemical production, scientists are actively exploring renewable strategies to produce essential industrial chemicals. A collaborative research team—led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, Senior Vice President for Research, from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, together with Professor Sunkyu Han from the Department of Chemistry at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)—has developed an integrated chemobiological platform that converts renewable carbon sources such as glucose and glycerol into oxygenated precursors, which are subsequently deoxygenated in the same solvent system to yield benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene (BTEX), which are fundamental aromatic hydrocarbons used in fuels, polymers, and consumer products.
<Figure 1. Schematic representation of the chemobiological synthesis of BTEX from glucose or glycerol in Escherichia coli>
From Sugars to Aromatic Hydrocarbons of Petroleum
The researchers designed four metabolically engineered strains of Escherichia coli, each programmed to produce a specific oxygenated precursor—phenol, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, or 2,5-xylenol. These intermediates are generated through tailored genetic modifications, such as deletion of feedback-regulated enzymes, overexpression of pathway-specific genes, and introduction of heterologous enzymes to expand metabolic capabilities.
During fermentation, the products were continuously extracted into the organic solvent isopropyl myristate (IPM). Acting as a dual-function solvent, IPM not only mitigated the toxic effects of aromatic compounds on cell growth but also served directly as the reaction medium for downstream chemical upgrading. By eliminating the need for intermediate purification, solvent exchange, or distillation, this solvent-integrated system streamlined the conversion of renewable feedstocks into valuable aromatics.
Overcoming Chemical Barriers in An Unconventional Solvent
A central innovation of this work lies in adapting chemical deoxygenation reactions to function efficiently within IPM—a solvent rarely used in organic synthesis. Traditional catalysts and reagents often proved ineffective under these conditions due to solubility limitations or incompatibility with biologically derived impurities.
Through systematic optimization, the team established mild and selective catalytic strategies compatible with IPM. For example, phenol was successfully deoxygenated to benzene in up to 85% yield using a palladium-based catalytic system, while benzyl alcohol was efficiently converted to toluene after activated charcoal pretreatment of the IPM extract. More challenging transformations, such as converting 2-phenylethanol to ethylbenzene, were achieved through a mesylation–reduction sequence adapted to the IPM phase. Likewise, 2,5-xylenol derived from glycerol was converted to p-xylene in 62% yield via a two-step reaction, completing the renewable synthesis of the full BTEX spectrum.
A Sustainable, Modular Framework
Beyond producing BTEX, the study establishes a generalizable framework for integrating microbial biosynthesis with chemical transformations in a continuous solvent environment. This modular approach reduces energy demand, minimizes solvent waste, and enables process intensification—key factors for scaling up renewable chemical production.
The high boiling point of IPM (>300 °C) simplifies product recovery, as BTEX compounds can be isolated by fractional distillation while the solvent is readily recycled. Such a design is consistent with the principles of green chemistry and the circular economy, providing a practical alternative to fossil-based petrochemical processes.
Toward A Carbon-Neutral Future
Dr. Xuan Zou, the first author of this paper, explaind, “By coupling the selectivity of microbial metabolism with the efficiency of chemical catalysis, this platform establishes a renewable pathway to some of the most widely used building blocks in the chemical industry. Future efforts will focus on optimizing metabolic fluxes, extending the platform to additional aromatic targets, and adopting greener catalytic systems.”
In addition, Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee noted “As the global demand for BTEX and related chemicals continues to grow, this innovation provides both a scientific and industrial foundation for reducing reliance on petroleum-based processes. It marks an important step toward lowering the carbon footprint of the fuel and chemical sectors while ensuring a sustainable supply of essential aromatic hydrocarbons.”
This research was supported by the Development of Platform Technologies of Microbial Cell Factories for the Next-Generation Biorefineries Project (2022M3J5A1056117) and the Development of Advanced Synthetic Biology Source Technologies for Leading the Biomanufacturing Industry Project (RS-2024-00399424), funded by the National Research Foundation supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. This study was published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).
2025.10.13 View 2835 -
KAIST Develops Bioelectrosynthesis Platform for Switch-Like Precision Control of Cell Signaling
<(From left)Professor Jimin Park, Ph.D candidate Myeongeun Lee, Ph.D cadidate Jaewoong Lee,Professor Jihan Kim>
Cells use various signaling molecules to regulate the nervous, immune, and vascular systems. Among these, nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH₃) play important roles, but their chemical instability and gaseous nature make them difficult to generate or control externally. A KAIST research team has developed a platform that generates specific signaling molecules in situ from a single precursor under an applied electrical signal, enabling switch-like, precise spatiotemporal control of cellular responses. This approach could provide a foundation for future medical technologies such as electroceuticals, electrogenetics, and personalized cell therapies.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on August 11 that a research team led by Professor Jimin Park from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Jihan Kim's group, has developed a 'Bioelectrosynthesis Platform' capable of producing either nitric oxide or ammonia on demand using only an electrical signal. The platform allows control over the timing, spatial range, and duration of cell responses.
Inspired by enzymes involved in nitrite reduction, the researchers implemented an electrochemical strategy that selectively produces nitric oxide or ammonia from a single precursor, nitrite (NO₂⁻). By changing the catalyst, the team generated ammonia or nitric oxide from nitrite using a copper-molybdenum-sulfur catalyst (Cu2MoS4) and an iron-incorporated catalyst (FeCuMS4), respectively.
Through electrochemical measurements and computer simulations, the team revealed that Fe sites in the FeCuMoS4 catalyst bind nitric oxide intermediates more strongly, shifting product selectivity toward nitric oxide. Under the same electrical conditions, the Fe-containing catalyst preferentially produces nitric oxide, whereas the Cu2MoS4 catalyst favors ammonia production.
<Figure 1. Schematic diagram of a bio-electrosynthesis platform that synthesizes a desired signaling substance with an electrical signal (left) and the results of precise cell control using it (right)>
The research team demonstrated biological functionality by using the platform to activate ion channels in human cells. Specifically, electrochemically produced nitric oxide activated TRPV1 channels (responsive to heat and chemical stimuli), while electrochemically produced ammonia induced intracellular alkalinization and activated OTOP1 proton channels. By tuning the applied voltage and electrolysis duration, the team modulated the onset time, spatial extent, and termination of cellular responses, which effectively turned cellular signaling on and off like a switch.
<Figure 2. Experimental results showing the change in the production ratio of nitric oxide and ammonia signaling substances according to the type of catalyst (left) and computational simulation results showing the strong bond between iron and nitric oxide (right)>
Professor Jimin Park said, "This work is significant because it enables precise cellular control by selectively producing signaling molecules with electricity. We believe it has strong potential for applications in electroceutical technologies targeting the nervous system or metabolic disorders."
Myeongeun Lee and Jaewoong Lee, Ph.D. students in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at KAIST, served as the co-first authors. Professor Jihan Kim is a co-author. The paper was published online in 'Angewandte Chemie International Edition' on July 8, 2025 (DOI: 10.1002/ange.202508192).
Reference: https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202508192
Authors: Myeongeun Lee†, Jaewoong Lee†, Yongha Kim, Changho Lee, Sang Yeon Oh, Prof. Jihan Kim, Prof. Jimin Park*
†These authors contributed equally. *Corresponding author.
2025.08.12 View 4010 -
Is 24-hour health monitoring possible with ambient light energy?
<(From left) Ph.D candidate Youngmin Sim, Ph.D candidate Do Yun Park, Dr. Chanho Park, Professor Kyeongha Kwon>
Miniaturization and weight reduction of medical wearable devices for continuous health monitoring such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sweat component analysis remain major challenges. In particular, optical sensors consume a significant amount of power for LED operation and wireless transmission, requiring heavy and bulky batteries. To overcome these limitations, KAIST researchers have developed a next-generation wearable platform that enables 24-hour continuous measurement by using ambient light as an energy source and optimizing power management according to the power environment.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 30th that Professor Kyeongha Kwon's team from the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Dr. Chanho Park’s team at Northwestern University in the U.S., has developed an adaptive wireless wearable platform that reduces battery load by utilizing ambient light.
To address the battery issue of medical wearable devices, Professor Kyeongha Kwon’s research team developed an innovative platform that utilizes ambient natural light as an energy source. This platform integrates three complementary light energy technologies.
<Figure1.The wireless wearable platform minimizes the energy required for light sources through i) Photometric system that directly utilizes ambient light passing through windows for measurements, ii) Photovoltaic system that receives power from high-efficiency photovoltaic cells and wireless power receiver coils, and iii) Photoluminescent system that stores light using photoluminescent materials and emits light in dark conditions to support the two aforementioned systems. In-sensor computing minimizes power consumption by wirelessly transmitting only essential data. The adaptive power management system efficiently manages power by automatically selecting the optimal mode among 11 different power modes through a power selector based on the power supply level from the photovoltaic system and battery charge status.>
The first core technology, the Photometric Method, is a technique that adaptively adjusts LED brightness depending on the intensity of the ambient light source. By combining ambient natural light with LED light to maintain a constant total illumination level, it automatically dims the LED when natural light is strong and brightens it when natural light is weak.
Whereas conventional sensors had to keep the LED on at a fixed brightness regardless of the environment, this technology optimizes LED power in real time according to the surrounding environment. Experimental results showed that it reduced power consumption by as much as 86.22% under sufficient lighting conditions.
The second is the Photovoltaic Method using high-efficiency multijunction solar cells. This goes beyond simple solar power generation to convert light in both indoor and outdoor environments into electricity. In particular, the adaptive power management system automatically switches among 11 different power configurations based on ambient conditions and battery status to achieve optimal energy efficiency.
The third innovative technology is the Photoluminescent Method. By mixing strontium aluminate microparticles* into the sensor’s silicone encapsulation structure, light from the surroundings is absorbed and stored during the day and slowly released in the dark. As a result, after being exposed to 500W/m² of sunlight for 10 minutes, continuous measurement is possible for 2.5 minutes even in complete darkness.
*Strontium aluminate microparticles: A photoluminescent material used in glow-in-the-dark paint or safety signs, which absorbs light and emits it in the dark for an extended time.
These three technologies work complementarily—during bright conditions, the first and second methods are active, and in dark conditions, the third method provides additional support—enabling 24-hour continuous operation.
The research team applied this platform to various medical sensors to verify its practicality. The photoplethysmography sensor monitors heart rate and blood oxygen saturation in real time, allowing early detection of cardiovascular diseases. The blue light dosimeter accurately measures blue light, which causes skin aging and damage, and provides personalized skin protection guidance. The sweat analysis sensor uses microfluidic technology to simultaneously analyze salt, glucose, and pH in sweat, enabling real-time detection of dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Additionally, introducing in-sensor data computing significantly reduced wireless communication power consumption. Previously, all raw data had to be transmitted externally, but now only the necessary results are calculated and transmitted within the sensor, reducing data transmission requirements from 400B/s to 4B/s—a 100-fold decrease.
To validate performance, the research tested the device on healthy adult subjects in four different environments: bright indoor lighting, dim lighting, infrared lighting, and complete darkness. The results showed measurement accuracy equivalent to that of commercial medical devices in all conditions A mouse model experiment confirmed accurate blood oxygen saturation measurement in hypoxic conditions.
<Frigure2.The multimodal device applying the energy harvesting and power management platform consists of i) photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, ii) blue light dosimeter, iii) photoluminescent microfluidic channel for sweat analysis and biomarker sensors (chloride ion, glucose, and pH), and iv) temperature sensor. This device was implemented with flexible printed circuit board (fPCB) to enable attachment to the skin. A silicon substrate with a window that allows ambient light and measurement light to pass through, along with photoluminescent encapsulation layer, encapsulates the PPG, blue light dosimeter, and temperature sensors, while the photoluminescent microfluidic channel is attached below the photoluminescent encapsulation layer to collect sweat>
Professor Kyeongha Kwon of KAIST, who led the research, stated, “This technology will enable 24-hour continuous health monitoring, shifting the medical paradigm from treatment-centered to prevention-centered shifting the medical paradigm from treatment-centered to prevention-centered,” further stating that “cost savings through early diagnosis as well as strengthened technological competitiveness in the next-generation wearable healthcare market are anticipated.”
This research was published on July 1 in the international journal Nature Communications, with Do Yun Park, a doctoral student in the AI Semiconductor Graduate Program, as co–first author.
※ Paper title: Adaptive Electronics for Photovoltaic, Photoluminescent and Photometric Methods in Power Harvesting for Wireless and Wearable Sensors ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60911-1 ※ URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60911-1
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Outstanding Young Researcher Program and Regional Innovation Leading Research Center Project), the Ministry of Science and ICT and Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) AI Semiconductor Graduate Program, and the BK FOUR Program (Connected AI Education & Research Program for Industry and Society Innovation, KAIST EE).
2025.07.30 View 4832 -
KAIST Team Develops Optogenetic Platform for Spatiotemporal Control of Protein and mRNA Storage and Release
<Dr. Chaeyeon Lee, Professor Won Do Heo from Department of Biological Sciences>
A KAIST research team led by Professor Won Do Heo (Department of Biological Sciences) has developed an optogenetic platform, RELISR (REversible LIght-induced Store and Release), that enables precise spatiotemporal control over the storage and release of proteins and mRNAs in living cells and animals.
Traditional optogenetic condensate systems have been limited by their reliance on non-specific multivalent interactions, which can lead to unintended sequestration or release of endogenous molecules. RELISR overcomes these limitations by employing highly specific protein–protein (nanobody–antigen) and protein–RNA (MCP–MS2) interactions, enabling the selective and reversible compartmentalization of target proteins or mRNAs within engineered, membrane-less condensates.
In the dark, RELISR stably sequesters target molecules within condensates, physically isolating them from the cellular environment. Upon blue light stimulation, the condensates rapidly dissolve, releasing the stored proteins or mRNAs, which immediately regain their cellular functions or translational competency. This allows for reversible and rapid modulation of molecular activities in response to optical cues.
< Figure 1. Overview of the Artificial Condensate System (RELISR). The artificial condensate system, RELISR, includes "Protein-RELISR" for storing proteins and "mRNA-RELISR" for storing mRNA. These artificial condensates can be disassembled by blue light irradiation and reassembled in a dark state>
The research team demonstrated that RELISR enables temporal and spatial regulation of protein activity and mRNA translation in various cell types, including cultured neurons and mouse liver tissue. Comparative studies showed that RELISR provides more robust and reversible control of translation than previous systems based on spatial translocation.
While previous optogenetic systems such as LARIAT (Lee et al., Nature Methods, 2014) and mRNA-LARIAT (Kim et al., Nat. Cell Biol., 2019) enabled the selective sequestration of proteins or mRNAs into membrane-less condensates in response to light, they were primarily limited to the trapping phase. The RELISR platform introduced in this study establishes a new paradigm by enabling both the targeted storage of proteins and mRNAs and their rapid, light-triggered release. This approach allows researchers to not only confine molecular function on demand, but also to restore activity with precise temporal control.
< Figure 2. Cell shape change using the artificial condensate system (RELISR). A target protein, Vav2, which contributes to cell shape, was stored within the artificial condensate and then released after light irradiation. This release activated the target protein Vav2, causing a change in cell shape. It was confirmed that the storage, release, and activation of various proteins were effectively achieved>
Professor Heo stated, “RELISR is a versatile optogenetic tool that enables the precise control of protein and mRNA function at defined times and locations in living systems. We anticipate this platform will be broadly applicable for studies of cell signaling, neural circuits, and therapeutic development. Furthermore, the combination of RELISR with genome editing or tissue-targeted delivery could further expand its utility for molecular medicine.”
< Figure 3. Expression of a target mRNA using the artificial condensate system (RELISR) in mice. The genetic material for the artificial condensate system, RELISR, was injected into a living mouse. Using this system, a target mRNA was stored within the mouse's liver. Upon light irradiation, the mRNA was released, which induced the translation of a luminescent protein>
This research was conducted by first author Dr. Chaeyeon Lee, under the supervision of Professor Heo, with contributions from Dr. Daseuli Yu (co-corresponding author) and Professor YongKeun Park (co-corresponding author, Department of Physics), whose group performed quantitative imaging analyses of biophysical changes induced by RELISR in cells.
The findings were published in Nature Communications (July 7, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61322-y). This work was supported by the Samsung Future Technology Foundation and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2025.07.23 View 4091 -
A KAIST Team Engineers a Microbial Platform for Efficient Lutein Production
<(From Left) Ph.D. Candidate Hyunmin Eun, Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, , Dr. Cindy Pricilia Surya Prabowo>
The application of systems metabolic engineering strategies, along with the construction of an electron channeling system, has enabled the first gram-per-liter scale production of lutein from Corynebacterium glutamicum, providing a viable alternative to plant-derived lutein production.
A research group at KAIST has successfully engineered a microbial strain capable of producing lutein at industrially relevant levels. The team, led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, developed a novel C. glutamicum strain using systems metabolic engineering strategies to overcome the limitations of previous microbial lutein production efforts. This research is expected to be beneficial for the efficient production of other industrially important natural products used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Lutein is a xanthophyll carotenoid found in egg yolk, fruits, and vegetables, known for its role in protecting our eyes from oxidative stress and reducing the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Currently, commercial lutein is predominantly extracted from marigold flowers; however, this approach has several drawbacks, including long cultivation times, high labor costs, and inefficient extraction yields, making it economically unfeasible for large-scale production. These challenges have driven the demand for alternative production methods.
To address these issues, KAIST researchers, including Ph.D. Candidate Hyunmin Eun, Dr. Cindy Pricilia Surya Prabowo, and Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, applied systems metabolic engineering strategies to engineer C. glutamicum, a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) microorganism widely used in industrial fermentation. Unlike Escherichia coli, which was previously explored for microbial lutein production, C. glutamicum lacks endotoxins, making it a safer and more viable option for food and pharmaceutical applications.
The team’s work, entitled “Gram-per-litre scale production of lutein by engineered Corynebacterium,” was published in Nature Synthesis on 04 July , 2025.
This research details the high-level production of lutein using glucose as a renewable carbon source via systems metabolic engineering. The team focused on eliminating metabolic bottlenecks that previously limited microbial lutein synthesis. By employing enzyme scaffold-based electron channeling strategies, the researchers improved metabolic flux towards lutein biosynthesis while minimizing unwanted byproducts.
<Lutein production metabolic pathway engineering>
To enhance productivity, bottleneck enzymes within the metabolic pathway were identified and optimized. It was determined that electron-requiring cytochrome P450 enzymes played a major role in limiting lutein biosynthesis. To overcome this limitation, an electron channeling strategy was implemented, where engineered cytochrome P450 enzymes and their reductase partners were spatially organized on synthetic scaffolds, allowing more efficient electron transfer and significantly increasing lutein production.
The engineered C. glutamicum strain was further optimized in fed-batch fermentation, achieving a record-breaking 1.78 g/L of lutein production within 54 hours, with a content of 19.51 mg/gDCW and a productivity of 32.88 mg/L/h—the highest lutein production performance in any host reported to date. This milestone demonstrates the feasibility of replacing plant-based lutein extraction with microbial fermentation technology.
“We can anticipate that this microbial cell factory-based mass production of lutein will be able to replace the current plant extraction-based process,” said Ph.D. Candidate Hyunmin Eun. He emphasized that the integrated metabolic engineering strategies developed in this study could be broadly applied for the efficient production of other valuable natural products used in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
<Schematic diagram of microbial-based lutein production platform>
“As maintaining good health in an aging society becomes increasingly important, we expect that the technology and strategies developed here will play pivotal roles in producing other medically and nutritionally significant natural products,” added Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee.
This work is supported by the Development of Next-generation Biorefinery Platform Technologies for Leading Bio-based Chemicals Industry project 2022M3J5A1056072 and the Development of Platform Technologies of Microbial Cell Factories for the Next-Generation Biorefineries project 2022M3J5A1056117 from the National Research Foundation supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT.
Source:
Hyunmin Eun (1st), Cindy Pricilia Surya Prabowo (co-1st), and Sang Yup Lee (Corresponding). “Gram-per-litre scale production of lutein by engineered Corynebacterium”. Nature Synthesis (Online published)
For further information:
Sang Yup Lee, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST (leesy@kaist.ac.kr, Tel: +82-42-350-3930)
2025.07.14 View 5374 -
Military Combatants Usher in an Era of Personalized Training with New Materials
< Photo 1. (From left) Professor Steve Park of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyusoon Pak, Ph.D. Candidate (Army Major) >
Traditional military training often relies on standardized methods, which has limited the provision of optimized training tailored to individual combatants' characteristics or specific combat situations. To address this, our research team developed an e-textile platform, securing core technology that can reflect the unique traits of individual combatants and various combat scenarios. This technology has proven robust enough for battlefield use and is economical enough for widespread distribution to a large number of troops.
On June 25th, Professor Steve Park's research team at KAIST's Department of Materials Science and Engineering announced the development of a flexible, wearable electronic textile (E-textile) platform using an innovative technology that 'draws' electronic circuits directly onto fabric.
The wearable e-textile platform developed by the research team combines 3D printing technology with new materials engineering design to directly print flexible and highly durable sensors and electrodes onto textile substrates. This enables the collection of precise movement and human body data from individual combatants, which can then be used to propose customized training models.
Existing e-textile fabrication methods were often complex or limited in their ability to provide personalized customization. To overcome these challenges, the research team adopted an additive manufacturing technology called 'Direct Ink Writing (DIW)' 3D printing.
< Figure 1. Schematic diagram of e-textile manufactured with Direct Ink Writing (DIW) printing technology on various textiles, including combat uniforms >
This technology involves directly dispensing and printing special ink, which functions as sensors and electrodes, onto textile substrates in desired patterns. This allows for flexible implementation of various designs without the complex process of mask fabrication. This is expected to be an effective technology that can be easily supplied to hundreds of thousands of military personnel.
The core of this technology lies in the development of high-performance functional inks based on advanced materials engineering design. The research team combined styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer, which provides flexibility, with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for electrical conductivity. They developed a tensile/bending sensor ink that can stretch up to 102% and maintain stable performance even after 10,000 repetitive tests. This means that accurate data can be consistently obtained even during the strenuous movements of combatants.
< Figure 2. Measurement of human movement and breathing patterns using e-textile >
Furthermore, new material technology was applied to implement 'interconnect electrodes' that electrically connect the upper and lower layers of the fabric. The team developed an electrode ink combining silver (Ag) flakes with rigid polystyrene (PS) polymer, precisely controlling the impregnation level (how much the ink penetrates the fabric) to effectively connect both sides or multiple layers of the fabric. This secures the technology for producing multi-layered wearable electronic systems integrating sensors and electrodes.
< Figure 3. Experimental results of recognizing unknown objects after machine learning six objects using a smart glove >
The research team proved the platform's performance through actual human movement monitoring experiments. They printed the developed e-textile on major joint areas of clothing (shoulders, elbows, knees) and measured movements and posture changes during various exercises such as running, jumping jacks, and push-ups in real-time.
Additionally, they demonstrated the potential for applications such as monitoring breathing patterns using a smart mask and recognizing objects through machine learning and perceiving complex tactile information by printing multiple sensors and electrodes on gloves. These results show that the developed e-textile platform is effective in precisely understanding the movement dynamics of combatants.
This research is an important example demonstrating how cutting-edge new material technology can contribute to the advancement of the defense sector. Major Kyusoon Pak of the Army, who participated in this research, considered required objectives such as military applicability and economic feasibility for practical distribution from the research design stage.
< Figure 4. Experimental results showing that a multi-layered e-textile glove connected with interconnect electrodes can measure tensile/bending signals and pressure signals at a single point >
Major Pak stated, "Our military is currently facing both a crisis and an opportunity due to the decrease in military personnel resources caused by the demographic cliff and the advancement of science and technology. Also, respect for life in the battlefield is emerging as a significant issue. This research aims to secure original technology that can provide customized training according to military branch/duty and type of combat, thereby enhancing the combat power and ensuring the survivability of our soldiers."
He added, "I hope this research will be evaluated as a case that achieved both scientific contribution and military applicability."
This research, where Kyusoon Pak, Ph.D. Candidate (Army Major) from KAIST's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, participated as the first author and Professor Steve Park supervised, was published on May 27, 2025, in `npj Flexible Electronics (top 1.8% in JCR field)', an international academic journal in the electrical, electronic, and materials engineering fields.
* Paper Title: Fabrication of Multifunctional Wearable Interconnect E-textile Platform Using Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D Printing
* DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00414-7
This research was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2025.06.25 View 7548 -
KAIST to Develop a Korean-style ChatGPT Platform Specifically Geared Toward Medical Diagnosis and Drug Discovery
On May 23rd, KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced that its Digital Bio-Health AI Research Center (Director: Professor JongChul Ye of KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI) has been selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'AI Top-Tier Young Researcher Support Program (AI Star Fellowship Project).' With a total investment of ₩11.5 billion from May 2025 to December 2030, the center will embark on the full-scale development of AI technology and a platform capable of independently inferring and determining the kinds of diseases, and discovering new drugs.
< Photo. On May 20th, a kick-off meeting for the AI Star Fellowship Project was held at KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI’s Yangjae Research Center with the KAIST research team and participating organizations of Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS. [From left to right in the front row] Professor Jaegul Joo (KAIST), Professor Yoonjae Choi (KAIST), Professor Woo Youn Kim (KAIST/HITS), Professor JongChul Ye (KAIST), Professor Sungsoo Ahn (KAIST), Dr. Haanju Yoo (NAVER Cloud), Yoonho Lee (KAIST), HyeYoon Moon (Samsung Medical Center), Dr. Su Min Kim (Samsung Medical Center) >
This project aims to foster an innovative AI research ecosystem centered on young researchers and develop an inferential AI agent that can utilize and automatically expand specialized knowledge systems in the bio and medical fields.
Professor JongChul Ye of the Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI will serve as the lead researcher, with young researchers from KAIST including Professors Yoonjae Choi, Kimin Lee, Sungsoo Ahn, and Chanyoung Park, along with mid-career researchers like Professors Jaegul Joo and Woo Youn Kim, jointly undertaking the project. They will collaborate with various laboratories within KAIST to conduct comprehensive research covering the entire cycle from the theoretical foundations of AI inference to its practical application.
Specifically, the main goals include: - Building high-performance inference models that integrate diverse medical knowledge systems to enhance the precision and reliability of diagnosis and treatment. - Developing a convergence inference platform that efficiently combines symbol-based inference with neural network models. - Securing AI technology for new drug development and biomarker discovery based on 'cell ontology.'
Furthermore, through close collaboration with industry and medical institutions such as Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS Co., Ltd., the project aims to achieve: - Clinical diagnostic AI utilizing medical knowledge systems. - AI-based molecular target exploration for new drug development. - Commercialization of an extendible AI inference platform.
Professor JongChul Ye, Director of KAIST's Digital Bio-Health AI Research Center, stated, "At a time when competition in AI inference model development is intensifying, it is a great honor for KAIST to lead the development of AI technology specialized in the bio and medical fields with world-class young researchers." He added, "We will do our best to ensure that the participating young researchers reach a world-leading level in terms of research achievements after the completion of this seven-year project starting in 2025."
The AI Star Fellowship is a newly established program where post-doctoral researchers and faculty members within seven years of appointment participate as project leaders (PLs) to independently lead research. Multiple laboratories within a university and demand-side companies form a consortium to operate the program.
Through this initiative, KAIST plans to nurture bio-medical convergence AI talent and simultaneously promote the commercialization of core technologies in collaboration with Samsung Medical Center, NAVER Cloud, and HITS.
2025.05.26 View 15048