The Jong-Il Kim Lab is an interdisciplinary group that incorporates single-cell genomics, population genetics, and organoid stem-cell technologies to address and understand fundamental questions in the field of cancer biology, development, and genetic diseases. Our researchers are excited to apply up-to-date sequencing technologies, develop state-of-the-art data analysis pipeline, and conduct bench-to-bedside research. With close collaboration with Seoul National University Hospital, we aim to add new perspectives in understanding of a disease and extrapolate to clinical applications. Do browse around to learn more about our members and our research.
Due to the remarkable resolution of insight that single cell sequence data can offer, we utilize a wide range of single cell genomics techniques to identify genetic differences between cells. We intend that integration of multiple forms of single cell genomic data shall allow us to understand the complex genomic process of individual cells in the context of cancer, genetic diseases, organoid development, stem-cell differentiation, and more.
Since publishing the first whole-genome sequence of a South Korean individual in Nature in 2009, we have been focusing on deciphering the genomic traits of the Asian population and on uncovering Asian-specific links to diseases. We have built our own database and research platform that targets Asian genomic variations and their associations with diseases such as diabetes.
To understand the changes that drive cancer, a disease of the genome, we devise multiple forms of omics data to identify diverse genomic abnormalities, including point mutations, deletions, amplifications, rearrangements, and epigenomic alterations. With access to cancer samples directly isolated from patients, we study the mechanism of the individual cancers by sequencing genetic information, by growing cancer organoids, and/or by creating xenograft models. Thus, insights gained from our research are likely to be directly applicable to the design of improved therapies for patients.
We are giving great focus on growing organoids from human patients. We are interested in investigating to what extent the adult stem-cell derived organoids can represent the human donor in various experimental settings such as gene editing and pathogen exposure. We have built human organoid biobanks of various organs and cancers including lung, stomach, and breast.
