Professor Kim Ki-pyo of The Catholic University of Korea Central Medical Center

• Leading work to promote stem cell-based regenerative medicine research -
  
  

Professor Kim Ki-pyo from the Advanced Cell Therapy Division, Basic Medical Science Project Group, The Catholic University of Korea Central Medical Center (Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) recently received the IJSC Outstanding Paper Award at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Stem Cell Research.

The IJSC Outstanding Paper Award is a prestigious award granted annually to only one researcher by the Korean Society for Stem Cell Research, established to encourage researchers who have demonstrated creative and outstanding achievements in the field of stem cells. Although many aspects of stem cell research remain unexplored, it is recognized as a key field for treating intractable diseases and advancing regenerative medicine, making this award especially significant.

Stem cells are often called “the seed of all cells”, as they have the ability to develop into various types of cells in the body, including muscle, nerve, blood, and bone cells. This ability offers immense potential for regenerating damaged organs or treating intractable diseases. However, research remains complex, and many scientific challenges must be overcome to fully utilize stem cells as therapeutic agents.

Professor Kim Ki-pyo has led efforts to expand the potential of stem cell research. He has published over 50 international academic papers, including the notable work “Inducing Pluripotency in Somatic Cells: Historical Perspective and Recent Advances”. SCI-level publications refer to papers published in highly influential international journals, and producing such consistent achievements places him among the top researchers in Korea.

Most of Professor Kim’s publications involve international collaborations, contributing significantly to expanding The Catholic University of Korea’s global research network.

Currently, Professor Kim is researching key factors and molecular mechanisms related to stem cell differentiation at the Advanced Cell Therapy Division, Basic Medical Science Project Group, The Catholic University of Korea Central Medical Center. He actively participates in national projects including the Multi-Ministry Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project, Research-Centered Hospital R&D Project, and Biomedical Technology Development Project, conducting research on gene-editing and organoid-based therapies for intractable neurological diseases. These studies are expected to provide new therapeutic paradigms in the field of neurological disorders.

The Advanced Cell Therapy Division of The Catholic University of Korea Central Medical Center, established in 2023, aims to overcome intractable diseases and improve patients’ lives through advanced cell therapy technology development, GMP-based infrastructure, and clinical research. The division is pioneering new horizons in stem cell-based patient-specific therapeutic technology development.

Professor Kim Ki-pyo stated, “It is a great honor to receive the IJSC Outstanding Paper Award in the Korean stem cell research field. I will continue to conduct research and education diligently to broaden opportunities for future scholars entering the stem cell and regenerative medicine fields.”

The Basic Medical Science Project Group at The Catholic University of Korea Central Medical Center plans to further strengthen its leadership role in cell therapy and realize social value through continued research and education based on this achievement.