Dong-A University Selected for Ministry of Science and ICT's Basic Research Lab Support Project

The ‘Peripheral Nerve Degeneration-Regeneration Coupling Laboratory’ team at Dong-A University has been selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s ‘2023 Basic Research Laboratory Support Project (Advanced Type).’

With this selection, the laboratory will receive approximately 1.5 billion KRW in funding over the next three years to conduct research on peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration.

The research team includes Principal Investigator Professor Park Hwan-tae of Dong-A University, Professors Shin Jeong-eun and Cho Young-rae, and Professor Jang Deok-jin of Kyungpook National University.

‘Peripheral nerves’ refer to the part of the nervous system excluding the brain and spinal cord. Although regeneration occurs more readily after injury compared to the central nervous system, genetic diseases, chemotherapy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and delayed regeneration after peripheral nerve injury remain significant clinical challenges.

Peripheral nerve injury involves sequential and interconnected processes of axonal degeneration, Schwann cell phenotypic transformation, and axonal regeneration.

(From left) Dong-A University Professors Park Hwan-tae, Shin Jeong-eun, Jo Young-rae, and Kyungpook National University Professor Jang Deok-jin.

Through this research, the team aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of Schwann cell phenotypic transformation that link peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration, and to jointly study the intercellular interaction methods that create an environment conducive to axonal regeneration.

The four professors will collaborate by focusing on their respective fields: ‘New mechanisms of Schwann cell phenotypic transformation (Professor Park Hwan-tae),’ ‘New mechanisms of extracellular vesicle secretion (Professor Jang Deok-jin),’ ‘New mechanisms of axonal regeneration (Professor Shin Jeong-eun),’ and ‘New mechanisms of tissue macrophage activation (Professor Cho Young-rae).’

Dong-A University explained that the research outcomes are expected to be utilized in developing treatment strategies for delayed peripheral nerve regeneration and peripheral neuropathy, and could also be applied to spinal cord injury regeneration research.

Professor Park Hwan-tae stated, “Despite the significant number of patients with peripheral nerve diseases in Korea, effective treatments have not yet been developed. We are very pleased to be able to promote technical support and joint research with experts who have excellent research capabilities through this project selection.”

He added, “We expect that identifying new causes of peripheral nerve diseases will contribute to developing treatment strategies that overcome the limitations of existing therapies.”

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