Research Centers

Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST is cultivating a culture of interdisciplinary and innovative research. Various research centers and clusters are actively working together to advance our mission of building a foundation for a better and healthy future.

Center for Human Data Science

Center for Human Data Science aims to deepen our understandings on human cognition and in turn, make human life better. We use multidisciplinary approach that integrates methods from Cognitive Science, Psychology, Decision-making, Biomechanics, and Computational Neuroscience. The broad goal of the Human Data Science center is to build a system that generates high quality human data, and to develop its application that makes daily lives better. Moreover, we expect our attempts would bridge the gaps between neurocognitive understandings of human information processes and engineering studies in developing human-like artificial intelligence systems.

PI and co-PIs: Sung-Phil Kim, Dongil Chung, Youngshin Kwak, Oh-Sang Kwon, Dooyoung Jung, Gwanseop Shin

KOGIC

Our lab performs research on genomes using bioinformatics. The lab is a part of KOGIC (KOrean GenomIcs Center). KOGIC is focused on the research and development (R&D) targeting all kinds of diseases and aging (Geromics). Here, we accompany data produced from wet lab experiments with bioinformatics technologies. We also perform multi-omics analyses. One major project of the lab is the Korean Genome Project (KGP).

PI and co-PIs: Jong Hwa Park, Seung Woo Cho, Semin Lee

Global R&D Center for Organ Mimetics

Global R&D Center for Organ Mimetics (GROM) at UNIST aim to develop a high-throughput drug-screening platform based on the organ-mimetic devices. We team up with two world-leading research groups in regenerative medicine and translational research, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and University of Basel based, respectively, in the US and Switzerland. This trilateral international collaboration works to apply the science of pharmaceutical chemistry, microfluidics, bioprinting, and related disciplines of regenerative medicine to achieve disruptive technological platform for drug development.

PI and co-PIs: Joo H. Kang, Sung Chul Bae, Woonggyu Jung, Hyun-Wook Kang, Tae-Eun Park

Stem Cell Research Center 

Hans Schöler Stem Cell Research Center (HSSCRC) at UNIST has a network with Max Planck Institute, Germany as a Max Planck Partner Group (MPPG). HSSCRC aims to develop novel stem cell technologies to treat incurable diseases. HSSCRC is mainly focused on the generation of patient-specific stem cells using direct conversion technology, which can directly generate target cells by bypassing the pluripotent stage thereby solving the tumorigenic risk of pluripotent stem cells. Additionally, HSSCRC focuses on developing stem cells-based tissue using organoid technology and 3D bio printing technology to investigate new treatments to repair impaired tissues or organ damage in Regenerative Medicine.

PI and co-PIs: Jeong-Beom Kim, Hyun-Wook Kang

Center for Cell to Cell
Communication in the Cancer (C5) Center

Because intracellular or intercellular signaling controls various physiological activities in the living organisms, the malfunction of these signaling systems is directly linked with cancer and other diseases. There are many attempts to identify molecular diagnostic and therapeutic targets by tracking abnormalities in these signal pathways inside cancer cells. However, studies of the cell-cell communication between cancer cells and surrounding healthy cells have not been studied sufficiently. The C5 center aims to present a new strategy to fight against cancer by understanding intercellular signaling communication that involves controlling the growth of cancer cells and metastasis.

PI and co-PIs: Semin Lee, HyungJoon Cho, Taejoon Kwon

IBS Center for Genomic Integrity

The Center for Genomic Integrity investigate multiple DNA repair pathways at the molecular level using molecular, cell biological and biochemical techniques, animal models and small molecules. Our research will uncover detailed molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, repair and recombination leading to a better understanding of cancer, aging, and evolution.

Prof. Kyungjae Myung is the director of Center for Genomic Integrity.

IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter

Understanding of soft and living matter underpins vital societal needs: health issues with ramifications from genetic development to nanomedicine, and environmental issues from climate change and water purity, to affordable energy. Numerous industries revolve around applying these principles: among them, liquid crystals, synthetic polymers, membrane systems, protein assays, and bioengineering. 

Prof. Yoon-Kyoung Cho, play major leading roles as a group leader. IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter