Faculty

Associate Professor
Jeong-Beom Kim
052-217-5201 jbkim@unist.ac.kr Rm 224, Bldg 105
  • Molecular Biomedicine Lab
  • Stem Cell l Cell therapy l Drug screening
Lab Faculty Research Profile

REHABILITATION & REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING
PRECISION NANOMEDICINE

Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL)

The Molecular Biomedicine Lab (MBL) is a stem cell research group with strong collaborative networks with world-leading institutes such as the Max Planck Institute. MBL is dedicated to developing novel stem cell technologies aimed at treating currently incurable diseases.

The lab primarily focuses on patient-specific stem cell generation using direct conversion (transdifferentiation) technology, which bypasses the pluripotent stage and directly produces target cells. This approach addresses the tumorigenic risks associated with pluripotent stem cells.

In addition, MBL is actively engaged in developing stem cell–based tissues using organoid technology and 3D bioprinting to discover innovative therapeutic strategies for repairing damaged tissues and restoring organ function. These engineered tissue constructs are also being applied to the development of alternative, animal-free testing methods for drug discovery and screening.

 

 

Achievements in Entrepreneurship

Jeong Beom Kim, while serving as a Professor at UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology), developed a hydrogel for spinal cord injury treatment and secured strong intellectual property with 28 patent applications and registrations (9 overseas, 6 domestic) along with an FTO report. In 2017, he founded Supine Therapeutics Co., Ltd. as a faculty startup and transferred the technology. Since then, the company has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award (2017, 2022), Excellence Award at Hyundai Heavy Industries Technology Contest, selection as one of the Top 3 Most Attractive Startups (Korea-Switzerland Global Biotech Startup Network), the Bugs Day Final IR Pitching Excellence Award, and was crowned World Champion at the SelectUSA World Finals hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The company was also selected for the TIPS Program by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

To promote the commercialization of its hydrogel-based spinal cord injury therapeutics, Supine Therapeutics actively engaged with investors through events, successfully attracting approximately 2.1 billion KRW (Pre-Series A) from domestic venture capital firms. The company also showcased its innovative technology to President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea.

Expanding its technology into the veterinary field, the company confirmed therapeutic efficacy in canine models of spinal cord injury caused by intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and verified its safety through GLP-certified toxicity studies, which demonstrated no adverse effects. In 2024, Supine Therapeutics was officially licensed as an Animal Medical Device Manufacturer, and obtained product approval (License No. 442-001) from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), successfully launching its first veterinary medical device product, “Supine Gel.” The company plans to expand indications, broaden its pipeline, and ultimately transition toward the development of human spinal cord injury therapies.

 

Curriculum Vitae

  • –2009 ~ 2016 : Assistant Professor, UNIST
  • –2017 ~ Present : Associate Professor, UNIST
  • –2010 ~ Present : Director, Hans Schöler Stem Cell Research Center
  • –2012 ~ 2016 : Group leader, Max Planck Partner Group-MBL
  • -2017 ~ Present : CEO, SuPine Therapeutics

Academic Credential

  • –1993 ~ 2001 : B.S., Biology, Dongguk University, Korea
  • –2001 ~ 2005 : M.S., Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea
  • –2005 ~ 2009 : Ph.D., Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Germany

Publications

  • -Nam, D.; Park, M.R.; Lee, H.; Bae, S.C.; Gerovska, D.; Araúzo-Bravo, M.J.; Zaehres, H.; Schöler, H.R.; Kim, JB*, “Induced Endothelial Cell-Integrated Liver Assembloids Promote Hepatic Maturation and Therapeutic Effect on Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis”. Cells 2022, 11, 2242.
  • –Kim, S, Park, MR, Choi, C, Kim, JB*, Cha, C*, “Synergistic control of mechanics and microarchitecture of 3D bioactive hydrogel platform to promote the regenerative potential of engineered hepatic tissue”, Biomaterials 2021, 270, pp. 120688
  • -Lee, H, Lee, HY, Lee, BE, Gerovska, D, Park, SY, Zaehres, H, Araúzo-Bravo, MJ, Kim, JI, Ha, Y, Schöler, HR, Kim, JB*, “Sequentially induced motor neurons from human fibroblasts facilitate locomotor recovery in a rodent spinal cord injury model”, eLIFE 2020,9, pp.e52069
  • -Park, SY, Kang, JY, Lee, T, Nam, D, Jeon, CJ, & Kim, JB*, “SPON1 Can Reduce Amyloid Beta and Reverse Cognitive Impairment and Memory Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model”. Cells 2020, 9(5), E1275, 2020.05;
  • -Kim, MK, Jeong, W, Lee, SM, Kim, JB, Jin, S, Kang, HW*, “Decellularized extracellular matrix-based bio-ink with enhanced 3D printability and mechanical properties”, Biofabrication 2020, vol.12, no.2, pp.025003,
  • -Park, SY, Lee, H, Kwon, YW, Park, MR, Kim, JH, Kim, JB*, “Etv2- and Fli1-Induced Vascular Progenitor Cells Enhance Functional Recovery in Ischemic Vascular Disease Model-Brief Report”, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2020, vol.40, no.4, pp.E105~E113
  • -Park, MR, Nam, D, Lee, H, Chang, YT, Zaehres, H, Kim, JB*, “Direct monitoring of live human pluripotent stem cells by a highly selective pluripotency sensor”, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2020, vol.30, no.16, pp.127347
  • -Park, MR, Wong, MS, Arauzo-Bravo, MJ, Lee, H, Nam, D, Park, SY, Seo, HD, Lee, SM, Zeilhofer, HF, Zaehres, H, Scholer, HR, Kim, JB*, “Oct4 and Hnf4 alpha-induced hepatic stem cells ameliorate chronic liver injury in liver fibrosis model”, PLOS ONE 2019, vol.14, no.8, pp.e0221085
  • -Jeon, S, Han, J, Jeong, W, Son, J, Kim, JB, Kang, HW*, “Flexibility Enhancement of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) for Fused Deposition Modeling Technology”, International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology 2019, vol.6, no.3, pp.465~475
  • -Oh, J, Kim, Y, Che, L, Kim, JB, Chang, GE, Cheong, E, Kang, SG, Ha, Y*, “Regulation of cAMP and GSK3 signaling pathways contributes to the neuronal conversion of glioma”, PLOS ONE 2017, vol.12, no.11, pp.e0178881

Awards/Honors/Memberships

  • –2008     Junior Investigator Award, ISSCR (International Society of Stem cell Research), USA
  • -2009     MTZ®-MPI-Award (MTZ foundation, Germany)
  • -2010     Otto-Hahn Award (Max Planck Society, Germany)
  • -2010     “The leaders of Korea after 10 years”, Dong-A News paper (National)
  • -2011     “The leaders of Korea after 10 years”, Dong-A News paper (National)
  • -2013     Hanrim Leading Scientist Award, KAST
  • -2017     Award, Minister of Small and Medium Business Administration
  • -2018     Award of HYUNDAI Heavy Industries
  • -2019     Top 3 Attractive Startup, Global Biotech Startup Net-workshop
  • -2022     Award, Minister of Small and Medium Business Administration

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