Professor Jang-Soo Chun"s research identified the cause of degenerative arthritis

Selected as a top 100 research professor for the 2015 National R&D Excellence Program

The role of zinc ions to induce cartilage degeneration was published last February in Cell.

□ GIST (Gwangju Institute of science and technology - President Seung Hyeon Moon) Professor Jang-Soo Chun from the School of Life Science was selected as a top 100 research professor for the 2015 National R&D Excellence Program.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning began the National R&D Excellence Program in 2006 to promote the public awareness—and the importance—of national research and development projects.

The government sponsors about 50,000 research projects per year, and selection to National R&D Excellence program requires substantial research performance over the previous year. This year 600 research projects were recommended for review and screening for inclusion into the top 100 for research excellence.

Professor Jang-Soo Chun"s research team received high praise for the results of their study identifying the cause for the onset of degenerative arthritis, which was published in the prestigious journal Cell. The researchers found that abnormally high concentrations of zinc ions within cartilage cells would activate proteins that would then cause cellular degeneration of the cartilage.

Professor Chun"s research investigated the signaling pathways of zinc ions as a medium in cartridge cells and found the genes responsible for controlling the expression of cartilage degeneration. This research was recognized by scientists from around the world as offering new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of degenerative arthritis.

In special recognition of his research efforts, Professor Jang-Soo Chun was honored with the 10th Annual Carcinoma Research Award (School of Life Sciences) and was also given a special commemorative award from the Korean government by the Prime Minister on the 48th Annual Science Day celebration on April 21.