Two rising scientists were designated by the Suh Kyungbae Foundation (Chairman Suh Kyungbae) as new recipients of its research funds in 2022.
The certificate ceremony was held at the Amorepacific headquarters at Yongsan-gu, Seoul, last Friday (26th).
SUHF is a public welfare foundation that President Suh Kyungbae of Amorepacific himself donated KRW 300 billion so as to help with its establishment in 2016. The Foundation, whose mission is to contribute to the welfare of humankind by supporting innovative discoveries by life science researchers, annually designates rising Korean scientists who pioneer new areas of research with funding. So far, a total of 22 scientists in the field of life science have been recipients of the funds since 2017, each of whom receives at most KRW 500 million every year over the course of 5 years. The research funds that have been used to support rising scientists ever since the Foundation was first established now amount to more than KRW 30 billion.
The rising scientists who were selected as final designees by SUHF this year as recipients of research funds were Professor Hwang Soo-Seok (Yonsei University, College of Medicine), who proposed a study on the mechanism of T cell quiescence, and Professor Kim Hak-Kyun (Chung-Ang University, Department of Life Sciences), who proposed a comprehensive study on the mechanism of gene expression increase by tRNA-derived non-coding RNA.
△The focus of the study led by Professor Hwang is the mechanism of T cell quiescence. T cells, despite being the body’s most powerful immune cells, remain in an action-suppressed “quiescence state” for most of their lives, during which time they do not cause false immune responses. Professor Hwang seeks to delve into the mechanism of T cell quiescence to apply newly discovered insights to the treatment of cancer and immune disorders. △Professor Kim discovered non-coding RNA that was derived from tRNA. Unlike most RNAs that are used to make proteins by copying genes from DNA, non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression. Understanding the regulation mechanism of the newly discovered non-coding RNAs may help extend its application to the treatment of diseases and the production of proteins.
“We earnestly ask that the newly designated scientists never cease to broaden their horizons. As the proverb goes, ‘there is another sky outside of the sky we see,’ our sincerest wish is that our researchers and their noble spirit contribute to building a better future for humankind,” remarked Chairman Suh Kyungbae at the certificate ceremony.
In other news, SUHF also hosted its academic conference SUHF Symposium 2022 at the Amorepacific headquarters on the 27th. Included in the agenda for this year’s event were the announcement of achievements by the recipients of the Foundation’s research funds as well as the discussion on the future course of direction for research. The event, which entailed a discourse among the designees from 2017, followed by the announcement of achievements by the designees from 2019, was available for viewing via live stream on SUHF YouTube channel as well.