Ki Jung Kim | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Ki Jung Kim | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Senior Researcher at Institute for Basic Science, South Korea

Ki Jung Kim, Ph.D., is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Cognition and Sociality at the Institute for Basic Science, located in Daejeon, South Korea. With a strong academic foundation in genetic engineering, neuropharmacology, and neurobiology, Dr. Kim has developed expertise in the dynamics of neuro-glial-vascular interactions, with a particular focus on the mechanisms underlying vascular cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. His research spans across diverse methodologies, including advanced animal models and in vitro approaches, to unravel the complex cellular communication between neurons, astrocytes, and blood vessels in the brain.

Profile

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Education

Dr. Kim earned his Bachelor of Science in Genetic Engineering from KyungHee University, South Korea, in 2000. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Neuropharmacology at the Catholic University of Korea’s College of Medicine, where he worked under the mentorship of Prof. Ki-Wug Sung. His doctoral research, also at the Catholic University of Korea, culminated in a Ph.D. in Neurobiology in 2009, where he continued under the guidance of Prof. Sung, further solidifying his expertise in brain function and neurovascular coupling.

Experience

Dr. Kim began his research career as a Research Assistant in the Department of Pharmacology at Catholic University of Korea, where he contributed to numerous projects exploring neuropharmacology. From 2009 to 2019, he served as a Postdoctoral Associate and later as a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, USA. During this time, Dr. Kim focused on vascular cognitive impairment and the neurovascular unit’s role in brain function. In 2021, he joined the Institute for Basic Science as a Senior Researcher, where he continues his investigation into brain function and vascular health, specifically looking at the impact of astrocyte activity in neurodegenerative diseases.

Research Interest

Dr. Kim’s research primarily investigates neurovascular coupling, focusing on how astrocytes contribute to the regulation of blood flow and neuronal activity in the brain. His work seeks to better understand the pathophysiology of vascular cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. By using mouse models and advanced imaging techniques, Dr. Kim aims to elucidate the role of astrocytes and endothelial cells in maintaining brain homeostasis and how their dysfunction contributes to disease. His research combines elements of neurobiology, pharmacology, and vascular biology to address key questions in neurodegenerative disease mechanisms.

Award

Dr. Kim has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including being part of pioneering teams recognized for their work in neurovascular coupling. He has been cited widely in the field and has contributed to several highly regarded publications, including those in journals such as Neuroglia, Exp Neurobiol, and GeroScience. Dr. Kim’s work has been acknowledged for advancing our understanding of vascular cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases, making him a respected leader in his field.

Publication

Dr. Kim’s research has led to several influential publications, including:

Kim, K.J., Lee, J.H., Lim, J., et al. (2025). Astrocyte‐Specific Phenotyping of FAD4T as an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. Glia.

Lee, Y., Reva, M., Kim, K.J., et al. (2025). Distinct modes of dopamine modulation on striatopallidal synaptic transmission. BioRxiv.

Kim, K.J., Patterson, R.E., Diaz, J.R., et al. (2024). Dynamic Neuro-Glial-Vascular Responses in a Mouse Model of Vascular Cognitive Impairment. Neuroglia.

Joo, J., Kim, K.J., Lim, J., et al. (2024). Generation of astrocyte-specific BEST1 conditional knockout mouse with reduced tonic GABA inhibition. Exp Neurobiol.

Nam, M.H., Ko, H.Y., Kim, D., et al. (2023). Visualizing reactive astrocyte-neuron interaction in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain.

Kim, K.J., Diaz, J.R., Presa, J.L., et al. (2021). Decreased parenchymal arteriole tone in a mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment. GeroScience.

Ramiro-Diaz, J.M., Kim, K.J., Brands, M., et al. (2019). Augmented astrocyte microdomain Ca2+ dynamics and parenchymal arteriole tone in angiotensin II-infused hypertensive mice. Glia.

Conclusion

Dr. Ki Jung Kim’s work at the Institute for Basic Science has significantly advanced our understanding of the neurovascular unit’s role in brain health and disease. His expertise in neurovascular coupling and its implications for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and vascular cognitive impairment has positioned him as a key contributor to the field. With numerous publications, international presentations, and ongoing research, Dr. Kim’s career continues to have a profound impact on the scientific community’s understanding of brain function and neurodegenerative diseases.

Jasmine Nguyen-Duc | Neurosciences | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Jasmine Nguyen-Duc | Neurosciences | Best Researcher Award

Jasmine Nguyen-Duc is a dedicated researcher in the field of computational neurosciences, focusing on advanced neuroimaging techniques and functional brain connectivity. With an extensive academic background and practical experience in both research and industry, she has contributed significantly to understanding brain function using diffusion MRI simulations. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans neuro engineering, machine learning, and biomechanics, making her a promising figure in neuroscience research.

Profile

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Education

Jasmine’s academic journey began with primary education at Hill View Primary School and Bournemouth Primary School from 2000 to 2004. She then attended Ecole de la Roseraie Primary School in Geneva from 2004 to 2008. Her secondary education was completed at Cycle des Voirets in Geneva from 2008 to 2011, where she studied sciences as her main subject. She pursued higher education at Collège Madame de Staël from 2011 to 2015, majoring in biology and chemistry and obtaining her Maturité diploma. Jasmine continued her studies at EPFL, earning a BSc in Life Sciences Engineering (2015-2019) and an MSc in Computational Neurosciences (2019-2022). Currently, she is undertaking a PhD at Lausanne University (UNIL/CHUV), specializing in diffusion MRI simulations and diffusion functional contrast in the brain.

Experience

Jasmine has gained valuable experience in various academic and professional settings. She started with summer jobs at Bank Pictet in Geneva (2011) and the Police Department in Geneva (2017). Her teaching experience includes roles as a Mechanical Physics Teaching Assistant at EPFL (2018-2020), Physiology Teaching Assistant (2020), and Analysis Teaching Assistant (2020). In 2019, she volunteered as an English and Maths Teacher at a refugee center in Malaysia through AIESEC. Her research experience includes a minor’s project on multi-animal pose tracking using SLEAP at the Neuroengineering Laboratory at EPFL (2020-2021). She also interned at Metadvice (2021), focusing on AI applications for cardiometabolic conditions with mental health issues. Jasmine completed her master’s project at the University Hospital and University of Tübingen (2021-2022), where she employed Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks to study motor task interactions in stroke patients. Since 2022, she has been working on her PhD research at CHUV Hospital, investigating diffusion MRI simulations and functional contrast in the brain.

Research Interests

Jasmine’s research interests are centered on computational neurosciences, neuroengineering, and AI-driven medical diagnostics. Her work emphasizes diffusion MRI simulations, functional connectivity analysis, and machine learning applications in neuroscience. She has also explored biomechanics, sensorimotor neuroprosthetics, and deep learning applications in biomedical research. Her multidisciplinary approach integrates computational methods with neuroimaging to advance the understanding of brain function and its clinical applications.

Awards

Jasmine has received recognition for her outstanding contributions to neuroscience research. Her academic achievements and research projects have led to various nominations and distinctions in computational neuroscience and biomedical engineering. Her innovative approaches in neuroimaging and AI applications in neuroscience have been acknowledged by her peers and academic institutions.

Publications

  1. 2025 – “Mapping Activity and Functional Organisation of the Motor and Visual Pathways Using ADC-fMRI in the Human Brain” – Published in Human Brain Mapping journal (DOI: 10.1002/hbm.70110)

Conclusion

Jasmine Nguyen-Duc is a committed researcher whose work in computational neuroscience and neuroimaging has made significant contributions to understanding brain connectivity. Her strong academic foundation, diverse research experiences, and innovative approach to integrating machine learning with neuroscience position her as an emerging leader in the field. With her continued efforts in neuroengineering and advanced MRI techniques, she is poised to drive forward the next generation of neuroscience research.