Will Humans Also Gain "Salamander-Like Regeneration"? "Rejuvenation Cell" Research Accelerates

Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Health and Welfare Launch Artificial Blastema Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy Development

Precise Control of Gene Expression via Electromagnetic Fields

"Potential for In Vivo Rejuvenation Demonstrated"

The development of "rejuvenation cell" technology, which enables damaged tissues to regenerate themselves like a salamander, is gaining momentum in Korea. Experts note that this marks the start of a new era in regenerative medicine, in which next-generation technologies are emerging that activate regeneration programs directly within the human body—moving beyond traditional therapies that rely on cultivating stem cells outside the body for transplantation.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 15th that they held the "2026 Research Outcome Exchange Meeting for the Artificial Blastema Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy Technology Development Project" at El Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Poster of the Research Achievement Exchange Meeting on Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy Technology Development. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The "Artificial Blastema Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy Technology Development Project" is a cross-ministerial, innovation-driven research and development (R&D) initiative that will invest a total of 37.471 billion won from 2024 to 2029. Its goal is to secure world-leading core technologies for regenerative therapy based on artificial blastema cells and to build a foundation for clinical applications.

Artificial blastema cells are modeled after the properties of "blastema" cells, which form when certain amphibians such as salamanders regenerate limbs. While conventional regenerative medicine focuses on stem cell transplantation, artificial blastema cell technology is drawing attention as a next-generation regenerative medicine approach because it activates the regeneration program directly inside the organism.

The event also featured awards for researchers who presented innovative research outcomes. Dr. Kim Junyeop received the individual "Artificial Blastema Cell Guide Penguin Award" for developing a novel gene switch technology that precisely controls gene expression at desired times and locations in response to specific electromagnetic fields. This research was published in the world-renowned journal Cell, with Professor Kim Jongpil as the corresponding author.

The research team explained that this technology demonstrates the potential for "rejuvenation reprogramming," in which cells are partially dedifferentiated to reverse aging. They assessed that it could serve as a core foundational technology for inducing artificial blastema cells in vivo and for developing next-generation regenerative therapies in the future.

Project leader Heo Jeongim stated, "Although artificial blastema cell research is a challenging field with a high risk of failure, if successful, it could drive a fundamental transformation in regenerative medicine. I hope this research outcome exchange meeting will help accelerate the future of regenerative medicine."

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