'Physician Scientist' Ko Gyu-Young, KAIST Professor, Named Top Scientist of the Year

Breakthrough in Dementia and Cancer Treatment
Awards at the 1st World Korean Scientists and Engineers Convention on the 5th

This year, Korea's top scientist and technologist is Dr. Kyu-Young Ko (65), a distinguished professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), who has made a breakthrough in developing treatments for dementia and cancer as a 'physician-scientist.'

Ko Kyu-Young (65), recipient of the 2023 Korea's Top Scientist and Engineer Award, Distinguished Professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies announced on the 2nd that Dr. Ko was selected as the recipient of the '2023 Korea's Top Scientist and Technologist' award.

Dr. Ko was the first in the world to identify that the brain's meningeal lymphatic vessels, located at the base of the brain, are the main pathway through which waste products causing degenerative brain diseases such as dementia are expelled from the brain. Additionally, in the same study, he confirmed that the function of these meningeal lymphatic vessels declines with age, reducing their waste clearance ability. This research is regarded as providing a new direction for treating cognitive decline, dementia, and other degenerative brain diseases.

He also was the first to reveal that cancer cells metastasizing via lymphatic vessels to lymph nodes utilize fatty acids as a key fuel source. Conventional research has established that most cancer cells primarily use glucose as their main energy source. Dr. Ko applied a different approach from existing cancer studies to elucidate the survival strategy of cancer cells that metastasize and grow in immune organs such as lymph nodes. This research lays the foundation for new breakthroughs in future cancer treatments.

Furthermore, he has produced leading results in lymphatic vessel-related research by elucidating the characteristics of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in cancer growth and lymph node metastasis, as well as the homeostasis maintenance of Schlemm's canal (the lymphatic vessel around the cornea) and the causes of glaucoma.

As a research-focused physician-scientist, Professor Kyu-Young Ko serves as a professor at the KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, nurturing talented master's and doctoral students in medical science. He has served as president of the International Vascular Biology Meeting (IVBM) and was appointed director of the Vascular Research Center at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in July 2015.

The award ceremony will be held on the 5th at the Korea Science and Technology Center during the opening ceremony of the 1st World Korean Scientists and Engineers Convention. The Presidential Award and a prize of 300 million won will be presented.