Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Je-Min Choi (Hanyang University)
Co-organizer & Co-chair Hong-Gyun Lee (Seoul National University)

This session highlights recent advances at the intersection of the nervous and immune systems, featuring research on glial cell diversity, neuroinflammation, and immune-driven mechanisms of neurological disease.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Heonseok Kim (Hanyang University)

Recent advances in genome editing technologies are revolutionizing functional genomics by enabling precise and scalable interrogation of gene function. This session will highlight cutting-edge technologies including bulk and single-cell CRISPR screens, saturation mutagenesis, and next-generation genome engineering tool development. By integrating these approaches with synthetic biology and multi-omics analyses, researchers are uncovering molecular mechanisms of genetic perturbations and accelerating the discovery of variant-specific therapeutics and engineered cells. Unlike the Genome Engineering II session, which emphasizes therapeutic delivery and clinical gene therapy, this session will focus on the technological and analytical advances that expand the frontiers of genome-scale functional genomics.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Jaechul Lim (Seoul National University)
Co-Chair Jin-Hong Kim (Seoul National University)

RNA provides a unifying bridge between basic biology and therapeutic innovation. mRNA enables programmable, transient protein expression for vaccines, while siRNA and ASO therapies achieve sequence‑specific, reversible gene silencing with ASOs also capable of modulating splicing. This session highlights recent advances in RNA biology, focusing on mRNA vaccines, RNA therapeutics, and their clinical applications.

Distinguished representatives of IUBMB and FEBS present their research, introduce their organizations, share perspectives on national research landscapes, and discuss future directions for global collaboration in the life sciences.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Kyu-Sun Lee (Director of Research Policy, KRIBB, Korea)

Recent advances in artificial intelligence, single-cell multi-omics, organoid technologies, and RNA therapeutics are rapidly transforming molecular bioscience and biomedical research. These emerging platforms are enabling unprecedented insights into biological systems while accelerating the discovery and development of novel therapeutic strategies.
This symposium will highlight four cutting-edge research directions identified among the key technologies of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). Topics will include the development of AI co-scientist systems for molecular bioscience, quasi-spatial single-cell transcriptomics revealing aging-associated cellular niches in liver tissues, next-generation New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) using liver organoid platforms for predictive toxicology and disease modeling, and recent advances in RNA-based therapeutics.
Together, these approaches illustrate how the integration of molecular biology, AI-driven data science, and advanced experimental platforms is reshaping life science research—from molecules to megabytes. The session aims to foster discussion on how these technologies can synergistically advance mechanistic understanding of biology and accelerate translational applications in medicine and biotechnology.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Hanseul Yang (KAIST)

Tissue homeostasis relies on the dynamic balance maintained by tissue-resident stem cells within their specialized microenvironments. These stem cells are uniquely programmed to meet the regenerative demands of each tissue, exhibiting distinct patterns of self-renewal and differentiation. As organisms age, tissue-resident stem cells face increasing challenges from accumulated mutations, microenvironmental remodeling, and systemic metabolic shifts. This session will explore how stem cell programs adapt to these age-associated changes, what happens when these adaptive mechanisms fail, and how emerging insights are paving the way toward innovative therapeutic strategies to rejuvenate aged tissues.

Co-organized by

Organizer Jae Yeon Hwang (Pusan National University)
Organizer & Chair Motohiro Nishida (Kyushu University)
Chair Ho Jeong Kwon (Yonsei University)

"Living droplets," known as biomolecular condensates, allow the cell to concentrate proteins and nucleic acids instantly, without the need for a physical enclosure. In this 2026 KSBMB-JBS joint session explores the life cycle of these droplets: how they form to manage the flow of genetic information, how they adapt to environmental stress, and how they serve as the physical substrate for long-term memory.

Co-organized by or Supported by

Organizer & Chair Seunghee Hong (Yonsei University)

Understanding biological systems requires integrative approaches that capture molecular complexity within spatial and functional contexts.
Recent advances in spatially resolved omics technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming how we investigate cells, tissues, and organ systems as interconnected networks rather than isolated components.
AI-driven analytical frameworks enable the integration of transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic, and imaging data, uncovering emergent properties, cellular interactions, and microenvironmental organization.
These approaches provide new opportunities to interrogate development, immunity, metabolism, neuroscience, and disease pathogenesis at systems-level resolution.
This session will highlight conceptual and technological advances in AI-enabled spatial multi-omics and welcomes broad contributions spanning methodological innovation, computational modeling, and diverse biological applications.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Ja Yil Lee (UNIST)

Genomic stability is continuously challenged by endogenous metabolic byproducts and environmental stresses that generate diverse forms of DNA damage. To counteract these threats, cells have evolved multiple DNA repair pathways that preserve genomic integrity and ensure accurate transmission of genetic information; defects in these systems lead to mutation accumulation, genomic instability, and malignant diseases such as cancer. This session highlights recent advances in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of DNA damage recognition, signaling, and repair, and discusses how their dysregulation contributes to human disease as well as how emerging therapeutic strategies exploit DNA repair for clinical benefit. By integrating perspectives from biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and translational medicine, the session aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue and inspire new approaches to understanding and targeting genomic instability in human disease.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Tae Jin Kim (Sungkyunkwan University) Chair Heeju Ryu (Sungkyunkwan University)

This session will examine how T and B lymphocytes adapt within the tumor microenvironment.
It will discuss cancer-specific B cell regulation, their antibody responses, and their stromal-like functions.
It will also highlight the distinct differentiation pathways that generate exhausted T cell states.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Ju-Hee Kang (Inha University), Soon-Sun Hong (Inha University)

This session, hosted by the Research Center for Controlling Intercellular Communication (MRC) at Inha University School of Medicine, covers the latest trends in communication between organs and cells in cancer and metabolic diseases.

Co-organized by

Organizer Ji-Hwan Park (Ajou University), Hyobin Jeong (Yonsei University)
Organizer & Chair Daehee Hwang (Seoul National University), Jinhyuk Bhin (Yonsei University of Medicine)

Precision medicine research has expanded rapidly due to dramatic advances in omics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This session demonstrates how such computational approaches combined with diverse omics and AI analytical techniques advance precision medicine, including diagnosis, prognosis, and drug discovery, as well as understanding underlying molecular mechanisms of disease.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Yun Ha Hur (Pohang University of Science and Technology)

Recent advances in regenerative medicine and organoid technology are collectively transforming our ability to understand, model, and repair tissues. Organoids, three-dimensional self-organizing structures derived from stem cells, provide powerful platforms to recapitulate key aspects of tissue architecture and function, while regenerative medicine encompasses broader strategies that integrate stem cell biology, biomaterials, and bioengineering to restore or replace damaged tissues. Together, these approaches are converging to drive new insights into human development, disease, and tissue repair. This session will bring together researchers from both organoid and regenerative medicine fields, highlighting complementary advances in modeling, engineering, and translational applications toward new therapeutic strategies.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Kyoungmi Kim (Seoul National University), Je Kyung Seong (Seoul National University)

Breakthroughs in genome editing are transforming biomedical research and enabling the design of next-generation therapeutic strategies. This session will focus on how genome engineering technologies are applied in medicine, covering gene and cell therapies, precise correction of genetic mutations, and delivery methods that enable safe and efficient in vivo editing. By linking these approaches with disease models and preclinical research, the session will highlight the progress from basic research toward medical application. Unlike Session I, which emphasizes technological and analytical innovations, Session II will focus on therapeutic translation and preclinical applications of genome engineering.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Donghyuk Shin (Yonsei University)

Proteins are essential molecular machines whose structures and dynamics determine their diverse biological functions. This session highlights recent advances in the study of protein structure, folding, dynamics, and function, integrating both experimental and computational approaches. Topics include new insights into structure–function relationships, conformational regulation, and folding mechanisms, as well as emerging methods for structure prediction and protein design.

Co-organized by

Organizer Ji Hoon Yu (K-MEDI hub)
Organizer & Chair Tae-Young Roh (Ewha Womans University)

This session explores the cutting-edge advancements in next-generation epigenome regulation and editing technologies. As we move beyond traditional genetic engineering, the ability to precisely modulate the epigenomic landscape without altering the underlying DNA sequence is revolutionizing our understanding of gene expression. We will discuss the latest tools, including CRISPR-based epigenome editors, base and prime editing, and novel delivery systems. Join us to examine how these innovations are shaping the future of functional genomics and precision medicine.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Chan Hee Lee (Hallym University)

Understanding physiology and disease from a systemic perspective is essential for deciphering complex biological regulation.
Organs function not as isolated units but as integrated networks that coordinate diverse signals to maintain whole-body homeostasis.
Organ-to-organ communication enables dynamic information exchange through neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways, regulating energy balance, inflammation, tissue remodeling, and stress responses.
Disruption of these networks contributes to the development of complex diseases.
This session will highlight recent advances in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying inter-organ communication and explore how these insights may inform innovative therapeutic strategies.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Tackhoon Kim (KIST)
Chair JaeHyung Koo (DGIST)

Chemical biology is a fundamental discipline that uses diverse chemical tools to understand biological processes and contributes to the development of new drug modalities and the identification of drug targets. In this session, four outstanding experts will present their recent advances in how various novel chemical biology approaches can help to understand pathophysiology and contribute to new therapeutic strategies.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Hyewon Seo (K-MEDI hub)
Co-chair Heon Yung Gee (Yonsei University)

Translational drug discovery, which bridges basic scientific discoveries to early stages of therapeutic development, often requires multidisciplinary expertise, advanced infrastructure, and close collaboration across different sectors. Increasingly, universities, research institutes, and industry partners are working together to accelerate this process by integrating complementary strengths in basic research, technology development, and drug development experience. In this session, speakers from academia, industry, and research organizations will present representative case studies demonstrating how collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches can help translate scientific discoveries into potential therapeutic opportunities and advance innovative drug discovery.

Co-organized by

Organizer & Chair Ja Wook Koo (KBRI), Heh-In Im (KIST)

Addictive behaviors trigger complex neurobiological changes that alter brain circuits and molecular pathways associated with reward and self-control. This session explores the fundamental mechanisms of addiction by examining how various substances and behaviors influence innate neural plasticity and gene expression at the cellular level. Leading experts in this session will discuss the latest research in neurocircuitry and molecular genetics to uncover the structural and functional principles governing the addicted brain.