“Joonyoung Koh, Winner of Yuhan Medical Award Young Medical Scientist Award for Discovering New Cells Operating between Innate and Adaptive Immunity”

[젊은의학자상] Joonyoung Koh, Senior Researcher, Genome Insight Technology
Identification of new cells operating at the boundary between innate and adaptive immunity
“I will try to succeed as a scholar who shines light for my juniors”

“Every day as a basic researcher is like walking towards a lighthouse that is lit in the distance. I think the Yuhan Medicine Prize has become a flashlight for me as I walk the dark night road toward the lighthouse.”

Ko Jun-young, senior researcher at Genome Insight Technology, who was selected as the winner of the 56th Yuhan Medical Award Young Medical Scientist Award, expressed his impressions of the award.

Researcher Koh was recognized for his research achievements by publishing ‘Identification of a distinct NK-like hepatic T-cell population activated by NKG2C in a TCR-independent manner’ in the international journal ‘Journal of hepatology’.

Through this study, NK-like CD8 T cells, which have characteristics of both NK cells and T cells, were newly discovered. Instead of recognizing viral protein antigens through the T-cell receptor, these NK-like CD8 T cells recognize and eliminate abnormal cells through the NK cell receptor NKG2C.

Researcher Koh said, “In this study, we discovered and characterized a new type of NK-like T cell that operates at the boundary between innate and adaptive immunity, which had been binaryly divided in the field of immunology.” The significance of the study is that it made it possible to look at it from a perspective.”

Researcher Koh said, “When I decided to go to KAIST Graduate School of Medical Sciences, my colleagues dissuaded me by saying, ‘Why are you trying to go back the hard way? It was included,” he said, revealing the reason for starting the study.

“I am doing basic research after graduation, but every day as a basic researcher is like moving toward a distant lighthouse. Even now, I always feel uneasy,” he said. “One day I think I’m taking one step toward the light, but the next day I feel like I’m lost in the direction of the light, like a foggy or rainy day.”

“Winning the Yuhan Medicine Prize is like getting a flashlight. On days when I cannot see well, I will use a flashlight as my companion and move forward slowly and steadily.” .

Lastly, he said, “I am grateful to my graduate school colleagues who shared the joys and sorrows with my doctoral course advisor, and to my family who always support me.”

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