Researchers

nflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) is an intractable, immune-mediated disorder characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation of the gut, and its incidence has been rising rapidly in Korea. Our laboratory focuses on the gut microbiome as a central driver of this disease, pursuing translational research that connects fundamental discovery to the development of real therapeutics. At the core of our program is the National Research Foundation project "Development of Microbiome-Based Next-Generation Therapeutics for IBD through Multi-Omics Integration" (2023–2027). Led by Seoul National University Hospital, this multi-institutional consortium includes the University of Ulsan, POSTECH, Jeonbuk National University, and industry partners. The project received the highest grade in its mid-term stage evaluation and has advanced into its second phase. Through this work, we have established one of Korea's largest IBD and high-risk cohorts and assembled an integrated multi-omics resource spanning 16S and shotgun metagenomics, ITS mycobiome, metabolome, proteome, and single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. These data have allowed us to define IBD endotypes and prognosis-prediction models, and to demonstrate that mycobiome dysbiosis and anti-commensal antibodies are linked to epithelial barrier disruption and immune dysregulation. Using humanized germ-free colitis models derived from patient fecal transplantation, we have uncovered novel disease mechanisms and screened more than 29 candidate strains, identifying and validating lead pharmabiotic strains (Clostridium leptum and Bifidobacterium longum) with anti-inflammatory efficacy. We are also generating treatment-response prediction data through a fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) cohort in ulcerative colitis. Ultimately, our laboratory aims to realize patient-tailored precision medicine by integrating the microbiome with AI-based multi-omics analysis, working toward Korea's first

Dr. Hyunjae Shin’s laboratory at Seoul National University Hospital focuses on clinical and translational research in gastroenterology and hepatology, with a particular emphasis on chronic hepatitis B (CHB), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). A core pillar of our research addresses tumor immunology, specifically investigating the clinical efficacy of advanced cell therapies, including Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cells, and personalized immunotherapy strategies to optimize patient-specific responses in liver cancer. Concurrently, our group pioneers AI-driven prognostic software (such as the PLAN-B-DF model) utilizing multi-center large-scale cohorts and machine learning algorithms to precisely predict HCC development. Furthermore, through active international multi-center collaborations, we conduct rigorous clinical epidemiological studies employing sophisticated methodologies like Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) to evaluate early antiviral therapies. Our ultimate goal is to optimize therapeutic strategies and improve long-term clinical outcomes for patients with chronic liver diseases.