Professor, Head of SNU AI-Bio Research Center,Seoul National University/College of Natural Sciences/Dept. of Biological Sciences, South KoreaΒ
Dr. Hyunsook Lee is a distinguished professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Seoul National University (SNU) π©βπ¬π. As the Head of the AI-Bio Research Center at SNU π§ π¬, she is a leading figure in integrating artificial intelligence with molecular biology to advance personalized medicine and cancer research π§¬π€. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, where her research on cell cycle checkpoints and the BRCA2 gene significantly contributed to our understanding of breast cancer π¬. She has held esteemed positions at Harvard Medical School and the University of Washington during her postdoctoral studies and has received numerous awards, including the Wellcome Trust International Prize and the POSCO Chungam Science Award π. Beyond her research, Dr. Lee serves on multiple advisory committees for the Korean government and various scientific organizations πποΈ. Her dedication to science, education, and innovative research has established her as a highly respected leader in her field π.
Publication profile
Scopus
Education
Dr. Hyunsook Lee π embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Ewha Womans University (1986. Mar β 1990. Feb) π«. She then pursued a Master’s degree in
Biology at Seoul National University (1990. Mar -1992. Feb) π. Her passion for molecular biology led her to the University of Cambridge in the UK, where she earned her Ph.D. (1996. Oct – 1999. Sept) π¬π§. Her doctoral research focused on “Cell cycle checkpoints and the breast cancer susceptibility gene, Brca2” π, under the supervision of Prof. Ashok Venkitaraman and Dr. Michael Neuberger, FRS. Her thesis was examined by Sir Tim Hunt, a Nobel Laureate (2001), and Prof. Jonathan Pines π§¬. Following her Ph.D., she received the Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship (Wellcome Trust International Prize) π, working with Prof. Frank McKeon at Harvard Medical School (2000. Jan ~ 2000. Aug) π₯ and Prof. David Kimelman at the University of Washington, Seattle (2000. Aug ~ 2002. Sept) π§«.
Professional Experience
Dr. Hyunsook Lee has had a distinguished professional career in academia and research π©βπ¬. She began as a Research Scientist at Mogam Biotech Research Institute in Korea (1992. Mar – 1994. May) π¬ and was promoted to Senior Research Scientist (1994. May – 1996. Aug) π§¬. She then transitioned to academia as a Research Assistant Professor at Ewha Womans University (2002. Sept – 2003) π§ͺ. In 2004, she joined the Dept. of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University (SNU) as an Assistant Professor π, advancing to Associate Professor in 2008 and earning early tenure in 2010 π. By 2012, she became a full Professor at SNU π. Dr. Lee has also served in several key administrative roles, including Vice Dean of Planning for the College of Natural Sciences (2015 July – 2017 June) π
, and Dean for Research Affairs at SNU (2021. Feb – 2023. Feb) π. She has been the Head of the AI-Bio Research Center since 2023 π§ π¬ and co-founded Next & Bio in 2019, which later merged with Kolmar Holdings in 2022 πΌ. Her visiting scientist positions include stints at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (2010. Aug – 2011. July) 𧬠and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (2020. Aug – 2021. Feb) π₯.
Certificates
Dr. Hyunsook Lee holds prestigious certificates including the Wellcome Trust International Prize for her postdoctoral fellowship π, and recognition from the POSCO Bessemer Science Fellowship and POSCO Chungam Science Award π
. Her expertise and contributions to molecular biology and cancer research have been widely acknowledged through these esteemed honors ποΈ.
Research Interest
Dr. Hyunsook Lee’s research interests are centered on the intersection of molecular biology, cancer research, and artificial intelligence π§¬π€. She is particularly focused on cell cycle checkpoints and the roles of genes such as BRCA2 in breast cancer susceptibility π¬. Her work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment π₯. Additionally, as the Head of the AI-Bio Research Center at Seoul National University π§ π¬, Dr. Lee is at the forefront of integrating AI technologies with biological research to advance personalized medicine and enhance predictive models for disease outcomes π. Her innovative approach combines traditional molecular biology with cutting-edge AI, striving to push the boundaries of what is possible in biomedical research and healthcare innovation π.
Award and Honor
Dr. Hyunsook Lee has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout her illustrious career ποΈ. She was awarded the Wellcome Trust International Prize for her postdoctoral fellowship, recognizing her outstanding contributions to molecular biology π. Her groundbreaking research has earned her accolades from various scientific organizations, including the POSCO Chungam Science Award and the POSCO Bessemer Science Fellowship π
. In 2021, she was appointed to several high-profile advisory committees, such as the Advisor Committee for STEPI, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of SMEs & Startups in Korea ππ«. Additionally, Dr. Lee has been honored with leadership roles, including her tenure as Dean for Research Affairs at Seoul National University and her current position as Head of the AI-Bio Research Center π§ π¬. Her contributions to science and education have made her a highly respected figure in the academic and research communities π.
Research Skill
Dr. Hyunsook Lee possesses a diverse and robust skill set in research, particularly in molecular biology, cancer biology, and the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical research π§¬π€. She is adept in techniques such as cell cycle analysis, gene cloning, and protein expression and purification π¬. Her expertise extends to advanced genomic technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and next-generation sequencing (NGS) π§«. Dr. Lee is also skilled in bioinformatics and computational biology, employing AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze complex biological data and develop predictive models for disease outcomes π. Her proficiency in these areas enables her to conduct cutting-edge research that bridges traditional experimental biology with modern computational approaches, driving forward innovative solutions in cancer treatment and personalized medicine π₯π.
Publications
- Kim, H., Jang, J., Choi, J.H., … Lee, J.K., Park, J.K.
- Title: Establishment of a patient-specific avatar organoid model derived from EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy for timely clinical application in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (with video)
- Journal: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2024
- Volume: 100
- Issue: 1
- Pages: 85β96.e9
- Lee, J.J., Kim, H., Park, H., … Han, W., Lee, H.
- Title: Disruption of G-quadruplex dynamicity by BRCA2 abrogation instigates phase separation and break-induced replication at telomeres
- Journal: Nucleic Acids Research, 2024
- Volume: 52
- Issue: 10
- Pages: 5756β5773
- Youk, J., Kwon, H.W., Lim, J., … Son, T.G., Ju, Y.S.
- Title: Quantitative and qualitative mutational impact of ionizing radiation on normal cells
- Journal: Cell Genomics, 2024
- Volume: 4
- Issue: 2
- Article: 100499
- Koh, Y., Kim, H., Joo, S.Y., … Yoon, S.-S., Park, J.K.
- Title: Genetic assessment of pathogenic germline alterations in lysosomal genes among Asian patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine, 2023
- Volume: 21
- Issue: 1
- Page: 730
- Lee, J., Sung, K., Joo, S.Y., … Kim, S.K., Lee, H.
- Title: Dynamic interaction of BRCA2 with telomeric G-quadruplexes underlies telomere replication homeostasis
- Journal: Nature Communications, 2022
- Volume: 13
- Issue: 1
- Page: 3396
- Kim, Y., Park, J., Joo, S.Y., … Lee, H., Cho, Y.
- Title: Structure of the Human TELO2-TTI1-TTI2 Complex
- Journal: Journal of Molecular Biology, 2022
- Volume: 434
- Issue: 2
- Page: 167370
- Park, J., Yeu, S.Y., Paik, S., … Koh, Y., Lee, H.
- Title: Loss of BubR1 acetylation provokes replication stress and leads to complex chromosomal rearrangements
- Journal: FEBS Journal, 2021
- Volume: 288
- Issue: 20
- Pages: 5925β5942
- The, F., Lee, H.
- Title: Editor Profile: Hyunsook Lee
- Journal: FEBS Journal, 2021
- Volume: 288
- Issue: 15
- Pages: 4439β4441
- Lee, J.J., Lee, J., Lee, H.
- Title: Alternative paths to telomere elongation
- Journal: Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 2021
- Volume: 113
- Pages: 88β96
- Ma, X., Song, S., Kim, S., … Park, W., Sim, S.J.
- Title: Single gold-bridged nanoprobes for identification of single point DNA mutations
- Journal: Nature Communications, 2019
- Volume: 10
- Issue: 1
- Page: 836