POST-DOCTORAL SCHOLAR PROFILE
NAME: Dong Suk Yoon, Ph.D.
EMAIL: YOOND15@ecu.edu
MENTOR: Myon-Hee Lee, Ph.D.
DEPARTMENT: Internal Medicine
EDUCATION: Diploma- Dental Technology, Kimcheon University College of Nursing and Health Science
B.S. – Molecular Biology, Sejong University
Ph.D. – Medical Science, Yonsei University
SUMMARY:
I have experienced many kinds of research projects related to mesenchymal stem cell aging. During my
Ph.D and postdoctoral courses in South Korea, I was involved in numerous publications relating to MSC
stemness, osteogenic differentiation, chondrogenic differentiation, and the effects of anti-inflammatory
drug on MSC differentiation. As PI, I conducted Basic Science Research Program through the National
Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (Title: The roles of resveratrol
and SIRT1 during aging process of human mesenchymal stem cells).
My studies directly address mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) aging is not overlooked for human
application because aged MSCs do not differentiate to any lineages, and they may generate an aberrant
tissue formation, such as a tumor. My research found SOX2 as one of the stemness maintenance genes of
MSCs. In addition, SIRT1, an upstream epigenetic regulator of SOX2, is very important for maintaining
MSC stemness. Recently, I found a key regulator of MSC stemness. NRF2 will be a very attractive target
for the stemness maintenance of adult stem cells, such as MSC and germline stem cells (GSCs).
I am very interested in homeostasis-related genes, such as SIRT1 and NRF2. It has been known that
SIRT1 and NRF2 play important roles in MSC aging, stemness, and differentiation. The related papers
have been published in stem cell fields, especially in stem cell fate decision. Because I have always
interested the mechanisms regulating stem cell fates, I have still studied the mechanisms of adult stem
cell fates up to now. However, in the previous laboratory, there were no experimental models available in
my research for an in vivo study. For this reason, I joined Dr. Lee’s laboratory because C. elegans used as
model system in his laboratory is very attractive to me. I think also that C. elegans is the best in vivo
model for my research. By providing these evidences, my work will be a very promising study for human
application of adult stem cells. Also, my past research experiences would exert synergistic effects on
current research project. I would very much like to learn more of his research fields and to pursue my
intensive study at ECU.