Soo Jong Um

Professor Soo Jong Um is a faculty member in the Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology at Sejong University, where he has served since 1999. He also directs the Institute of Bioscience at the university since 2000.

• Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (1993) from Johns Hopkins University, M.S. (1986) and B.S. (1984) in Biological Sciences from Seoul National University.

His research focuses on epigenetic regulation through histone modifications, stem cell differentiation, nuclear receptor dynamics, and retinoid derivative development. Key contributions include elucidating ASXL1's role in neurodevelopment and cancer, and creating histological stains for cerebellar analysis.

Recent publications highlight ASXL1-SIX3 interactions in telencephalic development, optimized MGP staining for neuronal subtyping, and comprehensive reviews on ASXL family epigenetic mechanisms. Collaborations span biochemistry, neuroscience, and pharmacology disciplines.

His work contributes to understanding congenital brain malformations like holoprosencephaly and developing epigenetic therapies for cancer and metabolic disorders.

Labs/Teams: Leads research at Sejong University's Institute of Bioscience, focusing on chromatin biology and translational applications.