[Newswire] Konkuk University’s Dr. Kyung Min Lim Receives Young Investigator Award at the Korean Society for Extracellular Vesicles Annual Meeting

Dr. Kyung Min Lim of Konkuk University

SEOUL — Dr. Kyung Min Lim of Konkuk University’s KU Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, received the Young Investigator Award at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Extracellular Vesicles, held from the 12th to the 14th at the International Convention Center Jeju.

Held under the theme “Exosomes, Global Communicators,” the annual meeting featured lectures by leading international extracellular vesicle researchers, including Dr. Edit Buzas, President of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV); Dr. Kenneth Witwer, President-Elect; Dr. Metka Lenassi, Executive Chair; and Dr. Hang Herbert Yin, Editor-in-Chief. Korean researchers also presented their latest findings in exosome research.

The Young Investigator Award recognizes researchers who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the exosome field within 10 years of receiving their doctoral degree. Dr. Lim, who has published numerous studies on stem cell-derived exosomes under the supervision of Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho, was selected as this year’s recipient.

Exosomes have attracted attention as promising bioactive materials because they retain many of the regenerative and immunomodulatory properties of stem cells while potentially overcoming limitations associated with conventional cell therapies, including safety concerns and other adverse effects. However, challenges such as large-scale production and product heterogeneity have remained major obstacles.

Dr. Lim has conducted research aimed at overcoming these limitations through the large-scale production of high-functionality exosomes using three-dimensional stem cell culture, as well as approaches incorporating human protein-derived peptides. His research achievements have also been selected three times for the Biological Research Information Center’s “Korean Scientists Who Shine (Hanbitsa)” program.

Some of the technologies resulting from this research have been transferred to StemExOne for commercialization. StemExOne is currently carrying out multiple government-funded projects related to the development of stem cell exosome therapeutics, including the Korea Regenerative Medicine Fund (KFRM) and TIPS programs.