Professor Lee Yoon-sil of Seoul National University School of Dentistry, the May recipient of the Korea Science and Technology Award. Courtesy of the Ministry of Science and ICT
Professor Lee Yoon-sil of Seoul National University School of Dentistry has been chosen because the May recipient of the ‘Korea Science and Technology Award’ for securing a breakthrough in fixing bone ailments, that are quickly rising in an growing older society, and for contributing to the promotion of public well being. Professor Lee was the primary to determine the organic mechanism by which mitochondria inside osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) promote bone formation.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea introduced on the sixth that they’d chosen Professor Lee Yoon-sil because the May recipient of the Korea Science and Technology Award.
The Korea Science and Technology Award is an award given month-to-month to at least one researcher who has made important contributions to the development of science and expertise by producing unique analysis achievements within the final three years, receiving the Minister of Science and ICT’s award and a prize of 10 million received.
Since 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT has elevated the award’s title from the ‘Scientist of the Month Award’ to the ‘Korea Science and Technology Award’ to reinforce its status, branding it with ‘Korea’.
With the latest speedy growing older of the inhabitants, the variety of sufferers with bone ailments equivalent to osteoporosis, osteopenia, and fractures is rising, elevating curiosity in bone well being. However, current therapies largely work by inhibiting bone resorption, and issues about uncomfortable side effects from long-term use necessitate a drug vacation, a interval of discontinuing the remedy.
Professor Lee proposed a brand new mitochondria-based therapeutic strategy that regenerates broken bone whereas decreasing uncomfortable side effects and remedy gaps. First, she developed a genetically modified mouse through which inexperienced fluorescent protein is expressed solely within the mitochondria of osteoblasts. Through this mouse, she noticed in real-time the method the place mitochondria remodel right into a doughnut form when osteoblasts are activated, and are then secreted exterior the cell within the type of small vesicles.
When mitochondria secreted from osteoblasts had been transplanted right into a bone defect website, the differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells was promoted, accelerating the pace of bone regeneration. This achievement demonstrates that mitochondria are usually not merely intracellular organelles however act as ‘key promoters’ that transmit alerts between cells and induce tissue regeneration.
Professor Lee additionally established a technique for exactly extracting solely osteoblasts from the bones of genetically modified mice, enhancing the precision and reproducibility of bone regeneration analysis. She has additionally secured unique supply expertise by registering a complete of six patents and submitting for eleven extra, each domestically and internationally, associated to mitochondria-based therapeutic applied sciences.
Professor Lee acknowledged, “Ultimately, I want to present a new approach to treating musculoskeletal disorders.” She added, “My goal is to usher in an era where treatments that restore damaged tissue, going beyond simply slowing the progression of a disease, become commonplace.”
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