Jiyoung Kim, PhD candidate
Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Republic of Korea
Jiyoung Kim is a graduate student in Prof. You-Me Kim’s laboratory at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Korea. She is interested in how the intestine maintains a state of homeostasis, even when constantly exposed to antigens from food and the microbiota.
Among intestinal immune cells, dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in balancing tolerogenic and inflammatory responses. Intestinal DCs possess unique functions not found in DCs from other organs, and these functions are critical for maintaining gut health. Jiyoung’s goal is to uncover the unique characteristics of intestinal DCs that extend beyond their role in maintaining adaptive immune balance. Additionally, she aims to identify the specific intestinal environmental factor that influences these features and functions of intestinal DCs. Her study is expected to provide crucial data for discovering the underlying causes of spontaneous intestinal inflammation and the development of therapeutics aimed at promoting intestinal health and maintenance.