Dong-A University Graduate Students Park Sujeong and Park Nayoung Selected for Cheongnyeong Rare Disease Research Foundation Talent Development Project

Research on Degenerative Disease Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Development Supported by One-Year Scholarship

Dong-A University (President Lee Hae-woo) announced on the 2nd that graduate students Park Na-young and Park Su-jeong from the Department of Translational Medical Science (advised by Professor Hong Young-bin) have been selected for the Cheongnyeong Rare Disease Research Foundation Talent Development Project.

The Cheongnyeong Rare Disease Research Foundation (Chairman Jang Dae-il) was established with the purpose of overcoming rare and intractable diseases through research, providing hope to many patients suffering from rare incurable diseases without treatments. The foundation supports young life science researchers to focus on their studies through its talent development program.

As part of this talent development project, Park Na-young will receive a scholarship of 10 million KRW for one year to conduct research on "Elucidating the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases," while Park Su-jeong will receive 6 million KRW to carry out research on "Energy Metabolism in Degenerative Diseases."

Park Na-young, who has been selected for this project for three consecutive years since 2022, is researching treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), well known as Lou Gehrig's disease, during her doctoral studies. She has also published excellent research results in numerous international journals such as Nature Neuroscience (IF=21.3) and Brain (IF=11.9).

Park Su-jeong, who graduated from Dong-A University’s Department of Biomedical Science, entered the graduate program in Translational Medical Science in 2021. She researched "Metabolic Signaling in Tumors" during her master's program and is currently conducting research on "Metabolic Abnormalities in Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathies and the Development of Therapeutics to Control Them" in her doctoral studies.

Park Su-jeong expressed, "I am pleased to receive support for research on rare neurological diseases and will devote myself to research for patients suffering from rare diseases."

(From left) Jang Dae-il, Chairman of the Cheongnyeong Rare Disease Research Foundation, student Park Su-jeong, student Park Na-young. Courtesy of Dong-A University