"In the field of basic research, the gap between China's policy support and ours has already widened beyond what we can catch up with. Stable support is needed so that long-term basic research can continue."
Lee Yun-shil, a professor at Seoul National University's School of Dentistry (pictured), made these remarks Friday at the "Traveling Plaque Ceremony" held at the School of Dentistry in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. "It has been a long time since a dental college received such recognition for its achievements," Lee said. "Through my research, I ultimately want to present a new approach to treating musculoskeletal diseases."
The Korea Science and Technology Award is hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and jointly organized by the National Research Foundation of Korea and Seoul Economic Daily. Each month, it selects one researcher who has made significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology through original research achievements over the past three years. The winner receives an award from the deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, along with prize money of 10 million won.
The Traveling Plaque Ceremony is held each month at the laboratory of the Korea Science and Technology Award winner, co-sponsored by MSIT, Seoul Economic Daily, and the National Research Foundation of Korea. Its purpose is to publicize the achievements of outstanding researchers at their research sites and to commemorate the winner's research accomplishments together with their affiliated institution. By delivering the plaque to the university or research institution where the winner works, the ceremony aims to widely share the researcher's achievements and encourage follow-up research.
Lee was selected as the May winner for providing clues to solving bone diseases, which are rapidly increasing in an aging society, and for contributing to the improvement of public health. She was the first to identify the biological mechanism by which mitochondria in osteoblasts, the cells that create bone, promote bone formation.
Most existing treatments for bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteopenia, and fractures focus on preventing bone from being eroded. Because there are concerns about side effects with long-term use, a rest period requiring treatment to be halted for a certain time is sometimes necessary. Lee's research is credited with going beyond these limitations by presenting the possibility of a new bone regeneration treatment that restores damaged bone.
Lee developed genetically modified mice in which green fluorescent protein is expressed only in osteoblast mitochondria. She observed the process by which mitochondria change into a donut shape when osteoblasts are activated and are then secreted outside the cell in the form of small vesicles. She also confirmed that transplanting mitochondria into a bone defect site promotes the differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells, speeding up the rate of bone regeneration.
This achievement was derived through support from MSIT's Mid-Career Researcher Program and Basic Research Laboratory Program. The research results were selected as the cover paper for the February 2023 issue of Cell Metabolism, an international journal in the field of metabolic biology. Lee has registered six domestic and international patents and filed 11 applications with the related technology.
"My goal is to open an era in which treatments that restore damaged tissue, rather than simply slowing the progression of disease, become commonplace," Lee said. "Through my research, I ultimately want to present a new approach to treating musculoskeletal diseases."
