Hee Jung Chung

Hee Jung Chung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with affiliations in the Neuroscience Program and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Her research focuses on understanding mechanisms underlying homeostatic plasticity and epilepsy, particularly the role of ion channels like KCNQ/Kv7 in neuronal excitability. She holds a B.S. from Cornell University (1995), a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002), and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco (2002-2009).

Her work combines interdisciplinary approaches—neuronal culture, microscopy, biochemistry, and mouse genetics—to investigate how ion channel mutations contribute to epilepsy and how homeostatic plasticity regulates neuronal activity. Key projects include studying Kv7 channel localization and function in axons, and the role of STEP61 in synaptic plasticity and disease. Her lab develops novel tools, such as in vitro platforms for neuronal interfacing and advanced imaging techniques like artificial confocal microscopy.

Dr. Chung’s research has been recognized with awards including the James E. Heath Award for teaching excellence (2014) and grants from the Epilepsy Foundation and March of Dimes. Her recent publications span topics like exosome-mediated brain-muscle communication, STEP61’s role in hyperexcitability disorders, and Kv7 channel dysfunction in epileptic encephalopathy.

Her lab’s future directions include developing transgenic models to study homeostatic plasticity in vivo and exploring therapeutic strategies for epilepsy mutations. Collaborations extend to imaging technology, neuroengineering, and translational medicine.