CENTER for GENOME ENGINEERING

The Center for Genomic Engineering (CGE) consists of twelve constantly evolving, independent research teams. The core lab of the center is led by CGE Director Dr. Bon-Kyoung Koo and comprises the Koo Lab and the core facilities team. The other research teams are led by promising early-career scientists, including adjunct scholars from top-tier universities in South Korea, research fellows, and senior researchers.

CGE encourages its individual labs to set bold yet feasible goals and to actively cooperate with one another, creating a research-focused environment that is both friendly and professional. We aim to build a ‘research playground’ at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), which offers a firm and stable support system for both Korean and international junior scientists, allowing them to become highly successful academic leaders in basic research.

More specifically, our work consists of the following:

1. We are developing novel genome editing tools—such as Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), CRISPR/Cas-based nucleases, and base editors—for application across various species. Dr. Annie Kim leads CGE’s genetic engineering tools team. Additionally, research fellow Dr. Ji-Hye Yun leads the Structure team, which utilizes structural biology to advance the development of these gene editors.

2. Our diverse teams, led by our adjunct scholars, apply these genetic tools to a variety of organisms. Prof. Ho-Seok Lee (Kyunghee University),  Prof. Eunyu Kim (Kyunghee University), and Prof. Donghwan Shim (Chungnam National University) specialize in plant genetics. Dr. Jung-Hwa Choi, our resident fish expert, heads the fish genetics program. Furthermore, Dr. Bon-Kyoung Koo’s team studies a wide range of species by establishing an Organoid Zoo.

3. We are developing and actively employing conditional knock-out (SCON) and knock-in (ICON) platforms. These projects of the Koo lab aim to improve genetic tools to answer significant biological questions through research in mice and organoids. They also leverage the mosaic genetics developed by their lab to investigate the early stages of tumors and aging.

4. We are heavily invested in exploring stem cell biology, an effort spearheaded by our adjunct scholars. Prof. Jihoon Kim (Catholic University), D.D.S./Ph.D. Eunae Sandra Cho (Yonsei University), Prof. Hee Seung Lee (Yonsei University), and CGE research fellow Dr. Ji-Hyun Lee are conducting independent research projects to advance the stem cell field in various organs.

5. The bioinformatics team, led by Dr. Heetak Lee, provides computational insights for all the aforementioned projects. They pursue their own independent research goals while actively cooperating with other experimental teams to address complex biological questions.