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Exploring Innovative Research

Advancing Scientific Knowledge

Neural stem cells and Glioma

The brain is composed of differentiated neurons, but neural stem cells capable of continuous division even in adulthood are concentrated in the subventricular zone and hippocampus. Genetic replication errors that occur during cell division are one of the key mechanisms for acquiring tumor-inducing mutations, and the driver mutations responsible for brain tumors are known to originate from this process. We aim to investigate the process by which tumors arise from neural stem cells and, based on this understanding, develop therapeutic strategies to block the mechanisms of brain tumor formation.

Key questions:

  • ​How do neural stem cells migrate to the cortex and become brain tumors?

  • How does the microenvironment drive their malignancy?

  • How can targeting this process improve brain tumor treatment?

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Radiotherapy on the brain

Radiation therapy is an essential treatment for brain tumors, playing an indispensable role. However, its effect on tumors remains insufficient for a complete cure. To enhance its efficacy, it is crucial to investigate the mechanisms of radiation resistance in brain tumors. Based on this understanding, we aim to develop strategies to improve radiation sensitivity. Additionally, radiation causes various toxic effects on the brain, leading to cognitive impairment, mental disorders, and secondary cancers, posing significant challenges for cancer survivors. To mitigate these toxic effects on normal brain cells, we seek to understand radiation toxicity using various models (genome-wide screening, organoid, brain on chip, mouse model, patient tissue samples and images).

Key questions:

  • Why do tumor cells exhibit varying sensitivity to radiation, and what genetic traits contribute to resistance?

  • How does radiation sensitivity differ among normal brain cell types, and how does its impact vary across different stages of brain development?

  • What are the molecular and cellular effects of radiation-induced brain toxicity, and how do they translate into clinical symptoms?

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Collaboration, from bench to bed

Our lab collaborates weekly with the Seoul National University Hospital brain tumor care team, including neurosurgery, oncology, neurology, radiology, and pathology, to address clinical challenges and develop patient-centered strategies. We also work with basic science labs to explore molecular mechanisms and validate findings through clinical cohorts and biobanking. Committed to evidence-based science, we foster an open and collaborative environment for scientists at all levels.

Ongoing cohort studies and clinical trials led by our lab.:

  • Hippocampus-sparing radiotherapy in the primary CNS lymphoma, phase II study

  • Brain tumor tissue banking from Seoul National University Hospital

  • A nationwide program for monitoring cognitive and physical impairments in brain tumor survivors.

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