Professor Chun, Jang Soo of Life Sciences wins Life Science Award from Korea Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 

     - In recognition of being the first in the world to identify development of degenerative arthritis caused by HIF-2α genes

     - Donated five million won to ‘THE GIST Campaign’, fund-raising for GIST

 

 

 

 

◯ Professor Chun, Jang Soo of Life Sciences at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology won Life Science Award of highest prestige at ‘International Conference KSBCB 2013’ hosted by Korea Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology at Seoul COEX during Oct. 9~11^th.

 

◯ Korea Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology is a Korea’s largest life science society joined by more than 3,000 scholars and researchers from around 30 countries. ‘Life Science Award’ is awarded to scientists who achieved remarkable feat in the area of life science. The award-winner is selected through recommendation, deliberation by the Life Science Award Committee and approval from Korea Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology.

 

◯ Professor Chun is acknowledged as one of the top experts in the pathogenesis of degeneration of articular cartilage and degenerative arthritis. He recently discovered for the first time in the world that HIF-2α gene adjusts activation of various factors that degenerate cartilage in the cartilage cells, which fundamentally and critically cause degenerative arthritis.

 

◯ Professor Chun’s follow-up studies on fundamental treatment and prevention of degenerative arthritis is drawing huge attention from the general public with hopes that they will identify the role of HIF-2α, the cause of many hard-to-cure arthritis including degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and treatment of those diseases.

 

◯ Professor Chun has built a solid research foundation in Korea who not only published high-quality research thesis but also actively engaged in external activities. He is also known as a big contributor to advancing life sciences in the international community. He made a 40-minute special lecture on ‘Molecular Mechanisms of Osteoarthritic Cartilage Degeneration’ after receiving the award.

 

◯ Meanwhile, he donated five million Won out of 20 million Won in prize money to GIST fund-raising known as ‘THE GIST Campaign’.