Prof. Ronald Evans and Koo Bon-kwon at the 14th Asan Medical Awards: Dong-A Science

Professor Jin-Hong Kim and Chang-Hoon Yoo were selected as the Young Medical Scientist

Prof. Ronald Evans and Koo Bon-kwon at the 14th Asan Medical Awards

Professor Jin-Hong Kim and Chang-Hoon Yoo were selected as the Young Medical Scientist

The Asan Social Welfare Foundation announced on the 25th that it has selected Ronald Evans (72), a professor at the Salk Institute in the United States, in the field of basic medicine, and Bon-kwon Koo (54), a professor in internal medicine at Seoul National University, as a recipient of the 14th Asan Medical Award.

In the young medical science category, Kim Jin-hong (39), professor of life science at Seoul National University, and Yoo Chang-hoon (39), professor of internal medicine at Ulsan University, were selected.

According to the foundation, Professor Ronald Evans was credited with clarifying the effects of nuclear receptors, a protein that regulates gene expression by binding to steroid hormones in cells, on metabolic diseases, cancer development, and treatment. In addition to his outstanding research achievements, he was also highly praised for nurturing many Korean medical scientists. Several medical scientists, such as Professor Jae-myeong Seo of KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Professor Seong-soon Hwang of Yonsei University Medical School, are actively conducting research activities for the development of basic medicine and new drugs through the laboratory of Professor Ronald Evans.

Prof. Koo, a winner in the clinical medicine category, was recognized for his contribution to leading the study of coronary heart disease by integrating imaging and physiological tests, and raising the diagnosis and treatment to a world-class level.

Prof. Kim, the winner of the young medical science category, was highly praised for his discovery of the mechanism of degenerative joint disease, suppressing the progression of osteoarthritis, and developing a treatment to regenerate cartilage.

Professor Yoo was recognized for his contribution to the research and clinical application of new drugs for liver, biliary tract, pancreatic cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors.

The Asan Medical Award was established in 2007 by the Asan Social Welfare Foundation to encourage medical scientists who have achieved outstanding achievements in the fields of basic medicine and clinical medicine. The prize money is KRW 300 million for the winners in basic medicine and clinical medicine, and KRW 50 million for the young medical scientist.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held on February 18 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

yunhap news