- The research team led by Professor Na Gun, “intends to develop materials that induce secretion of paracrine factors that allow prediction of side effects of stem cell treatments”

- Selected ‘Interministerial regenerative medicine technology development project,’... Funded KRW 2.146 billion. CUK’s research team led by Professor Na Gun set out to develop stem cell activation technologies that may be applicable to treating intractable conditions. This research project was selected as “interministerial regenerative medicine technology development project,’ and will be funded with KRW 2.146 billion from the government.

Professor Na, Gun, at the biomedical chemical engineering department of CUK began the research to develop materials to induce the secretion of paracrine factors that aid the prediction of side effects of the stem cell treatment with the research team comprised of Professor Jeon, Sin-Soo (Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital), Professor Park, Wooram (Catholic University of Korea) Professor Jung, Hyun-Do (Catholic University of Korea), and Professor Park, Chun Kwon (Sungkyunkwan University).

Research on several forms of stem cell treatments has been pursued to address rare or intractable diseases with unknown cause of onset, including brain tumor, inflammatory bowel disease, and septicemia. However, there was insufficient research on paracrine factors (factors secreted by stem cells due to external stimulation) that may arise in transplanting stem cells, which led to the difficulty in predicting the side effects caused by paracrine factors.

As such, the research team began the development of materials that may induce the secretion of paracrine factors from stem cells. Materials the research team intends to develop aim to induce the secretion of paracrine factors from stem cells upon receiving the light under particular spectrum and generating free radicals. The team plans to analyze the types and the mechanism of paracrine factors with the materials, and assess the applicability to intractable disease treatment in animal models.

Professor Na, Gun at the biomedical chemical engineering department who is leading the research effort said, “The inducing material for stem cell paracrine factors which we expect to newly develop is anticipated to improve the efficacy of treatments for intractable diseases significantly. We also expect that this research would lead Korea to secure an original technology in stem cell activation, which would lead to direct and indirect economic synergy such as creation of new industry and new businesses.”