Research focus
Organoids form three-dimensional structures with characteristics similar to the corresponding organs through self-organization, serving as a in vitro culture system that can replicate the processes of molecular, cellular, and tissue-level development and disease progression, attracting considerable interest among researchers. Furthermore, organoids derived from adult stem cells are considered the most optimized cell source for developing personalized therapies and diagnostic methods. Despite this active research, most liver organoids consist of single-layered cells in cystic form, lacking the recapitulation of liver structure such as bile canaliculi structure. This limitation poses challenges for studying intra-hepatic bile duct-related diseases. The human hepatocyte organoids, developed by prof. Kim with Dr. Meritxell Huch, confirm the reproducibility of various hepatocyte characteristics, including bile canaliculi structures. Therefore, STAR Lab interests in utilizing human hepatocyte organoids capable of reproducing the structure and function of the liver for research applications across various fields.
Research Focus I
Recently, research on MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) has been actively pursued as a new term, replacing the previous term NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), which was deemed insufficient in clearly expressing the fundamental cause of the condition. However, biomarkers for diagnosing MASH and the precise disease mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Additionally, research models capable of reproducing MASH exist only in mouse models, posing significant challenges for studying MASH in humans. Therefore, the STAR Lab aims to utilize human liver cell organoids to model MASH and investigate its mechanisms, with the goal of finding diagnostic and treatment methods.
Research Focus II
Prof. Kim previously conducted research on ex vivo cellular gene therapy for hereditary disorders by generating disease hepatic progenitor/stem cells, correcting mutation sites using gene editing techniques (base editing and prime editing), selecting corrected cells without off-target, and transplanting them into models of hereditary disorders for treatment (Kim et al. Cell Stem Cell. 2021. Cover Article). For further studies, the STAR Lab aim to establish gene correction techniques for hepatocyte organoids based on the expertise in stem cells and gene editing technology convergence research, and to provide a platform for modeling and mechanistic research on intractable diseases.
