Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, a Hub for Medical and Life Science Research in the Western Gyeongnam Aging Belt

Published Over 10 Major Papers in the Last 3 Years, Active in Research and Clinical Practice

Professors and researchers of the Innovative Rheumatology Research Institute.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Innovative Rheumatology Research Laboratory at Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine Hospital is actively serving as a hub for the anti-aging belt in western Gyeongnam by consecutively announcing outstanding research achievements.

The Innovative Rheumatology Research Laboratory published a paper titled “Lymph node-fibroblastic reticular cells regulate differentiation and function of CD4 T cells via CD25” in the Journal of Experimental Medicine in March this year.

This paper was conducted in collaboration with Professor Lee Seung-hyo’s team at KAIST. The study is recognized for overcoming the limitations of existing therapies targeting immune cells. It provides a core theory for new treatments that regulate stromal cells in lymph nodes to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

The Innovative Rheumatology Research Laboratory (Principal Investigator Professor Lee Sang-il, Co-investigators Professors Kim Hyun-ok, Cheon Yun-hong, Seo Young-sun, Kim Min-gyo, Lee Han-na) has published over ten significant papers in internationally renowned journals such as Nature Immunology and Rheumatic Disease Annual Report over the past three years.

The laboratory has collaborated with bio companies in the Gyeongnam region including Jinju?such as Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Bifido, Cellatoz, CEN Medi?and metropolitan area bio firms, as well as academia including Gyeongsang National University College of Veterinary Medicine, KAIST, and Jeonbuk National University Department of Microbiology. They have been striving to develop cell therapies and pharmabiotic treatments for pulmonary fibrosis, osteoarthritis, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, and are preparing for clinical trials involving patients.

Professor Lee Sang-il, the principal investigator of the laboratory and a clinical physician in the Department of Rheumatology at the College of Medicine, directly treats patients suffering from various rheumatic diseases.

In addition to clinical practice, Professor Lee has served as director of the Medical and Life Sciences Research Institute at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, head of the research-oriented hospital project group, and director of the open laboratory. He is fostering Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine and Hospital as a medical and life sciences research hub in the western Gyeongnam anti-aging belt, working to promote the bioindustry and regional economic development.

The Innovative Rheumatology Research Laboratory was established in 2012 when Professor Lee Sang-il returned from his training in the United States. For over ten years, it has focused on developing new treatments for various rheumatic and joint diseases based on interactions between stromal and immune cells, gene and cell therapies, and the microbiome.

Currently, more than 20 clinical professors, research professors, and researchers are actively conducting research by securing numerous national projects including the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s research-oriented hospital project, translational research, rare disease drug development, Korea Research Foundation’s excellent young researcher program, excellent regional university projects, general research, and creative challenge research.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.