MSCSLMetabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory

People

Students in the laboratory belong to the Department of Medical Science, Graduate School, Chungnam National University. Current as of October 2026.

Jongsun Park, PhD

Principal Investigator · Professor of Pharmacology

Jongsun Park received his doctoral degree at the University of Basel with Dr. Brian A. Hemmings and did his postdoctoral training at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, Switzerland. He joined the College of Medicine at Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea, in 2004 to investigate the roles of PI3K/PKB signaling in energy metabolism and oncogenic pathways using mouse models. Since then his work has focused on new members of the PI3K/PKB pathway (PHF20, CTMP, LETM1). During a sabbatical in the laboratory of Prof. George Thomas at the University of Cincinnati, he linked the concept of metabolic change in cancer cells to his work, especially mitochondria-mediated energy metabolism. In 2020 he founded Mitos Therapeutics Inc. to develop a sarcopenia drug.

Professional and academic experience

  • 2014– : Full Professor, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University
  • 2009–2013 : Associate Professor, Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University
  • 2008–2011 : Visiting Professor and Research Scientist, Laboratory of Prof. George Thomas, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
  • 2004–2008 : Assistant Professor, Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University
  • 2001–2004 : Postdoctoral research fellow, Laboratory for Molecular Aspects of Protein Phosphorylation, Friedrich Miescher Institute

Education

  • 2001 : PhD, Signal transduction, Biochemistry, University of Basel, Switzerland
  • 1997 : MS, Biochemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
  • 1995 : BS, Department of Genetic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea

Contact

Current members

  • Myung-A Jung, PhD

    Research ProfessorOct 2026 –

    Role of PHF20 in kidney fibrosis.

  • Beomwoo Lee

    PhD course, lab managerMar 2024 –

    Anticancer drug resistance in ovarian cancer.

  • Jaeseok Choi

    Integrated MS–PhD courseMar 2025 –

    Cathepsin A (CTSA) in glioblastoma; lysosomal biology and chaperone-mediated autophagy (LAMP2A).

  • Changgyu Son

    MS courseSep 2025 –

    Muscle-specific PHF20 knockout mice and the sarcopenia pathway.

  • Ayesha Bibi

    MS courseSep 2025 –

    CD14 and temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma.

  • Sumaiya Othuman Ibrahim

    MS courseMar 2026 –

    AKT signaling in ovarian cancer drug resistance.

Alumni

Carried over from the previous website (last updated around 2019–2021) and completed with thesis records through 2025. Positions may have changed.

Alumni by year of graduation
YearNameProgramCurrent affiliation
2025Soohyeon LeeMSResearcher at a company
2024Uijin JuangMSPhD student, Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Nguyen Huong GiangMSPhD student, Asan Medical Center, Seoul
Woohyeong JungMSWorking at a company (alternative military service)
2023Vo Thi Thuy TrangMS—
2021Gyeyeong KongMS 2014 · PhD 2021Manager, Cell Biotech Co., Korea
2020Quangdon TranMS 2015 · PhD 2020Hai Phong Hospital, Vietnam
Hyunji LeeMS 2017 · PhD 2020Postdoctoral associate, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, USA
Chaeyeong KimMSPublic health researcher, Chungcheongbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment, Korea
2019Minhee KimMSPhD student, Ajou University School of Medicine, Korea
2018Hyeonjeong ChoMSResearcher, Curocell, Korea
Yeongeon HongMSSenior researcher, ABL, Korea
Meiying JinVisiting 2016–2017 · MS 2018 (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)Plastic surgeon, hospital in China
Sungjin ParkPostdoctoral fellow 2016–2018Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
Jisoo ParkPhD 2014 · Postdoctoral fellow 2014–2018C.E.O., Oracle Cosmetics Co. and Derma Mall Co., Korea
2016Yongjin LeeResearch professor 2014–2016College of Pharmacy, Suncheon National University, Korea
Kisun MunMSSenior researcher, Insight-Plus Patent Office, Korea
Meiyou LiuVisiting researcher 2015–2016Clinical trial organizer
2014Robin ShresthaMSSenior physical therapist, hospital in Nepal
2011Yuwen LiMS 2008 · PhD 2011Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, China
2009Soyeon ShinMS (formerly Eulsoon Shin)Administrative and teaching assistant, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University
2008Longzhen PiaoPhDProfessor, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, China
2007Sanghee ShinMSAdministrative and teaching assistant, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University
Keum-Jin YangPhDInstitute for Medical Science, Catholic University Hospital Daejeon, Korea