Jeong Seok Lee, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator
      2022-, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering (GSMSE), KAIST (link)

2020-, Co-founder/Board member, Inocras Inc. (link)

2020, Ph.D. Immunology, KAIST

2018, Clinical fellow, Rheumatology, Seoul National Univ. Hospital

2017, Board, Internal Medicine, Seoul National Univ. Hospital

2015, M.S. Immunology, Seoul National Univ.

2008, M.D. Seoul National Univ.

2004, B.S. Chemistry, KAIST

Woogil Song, PharmD, Graduate Student (2022.3-)

Yi K*, Jo S*, and Song W*, et al. Analysis of Single-Cell Transcriptome and Surface Protein  Expression in Ankylosing Spondylitis Identifies OX40-Positive and Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Positive Pathogenic Th17 Cells. Arthritis Rheum. 2023 Jul;75(7):1176-1186. [IF=15.483][PMID: 36787119]

Seyoung Jung, Korean MD, Graduate Student (2022.9-)

Kim HD*, and Jung S*, et al. Regorafenib plus nivolumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: the phase 2 RENOBATE trial. Nat Med. 2024 Mar;30(3):699-707.         [IF=82.9][PMID: 38374347]

Yongjae Lee, MD, MS, Graduate Student (2023.3-)

Jeongho Joo, MD, MS, Graduate Student (2023.3-)

Jungyu Kim, MD, MS, Graduate Student (2023.3-)

Junghee Kim, BS, Graduate Student (2024.3-)

Jiseon Kim, Administrative Staff 

Our lab strives to tackle medical challenges through significant scientific breakthroughs

1. Clinically driven cohort-based immune profiling of human autoimmune disease 

• Disease: Spondyloarthropathy (SpA), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Systemic sclerosis (SSc), Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Interstitial lung disease (ILD)

• Design: Prospective cohort, Investigator-initiated clinical trial

• Major interests: 

- Impact of immunosuppression: Cytokine neutralization on human immune system, Glucocorticoid

- Prediction of clinical response and optimization of immune modulation

2. Multi-organ and multi-omics profiling of chronic inflammation in animal model and real-world patients

• T cell mosaicism and its pathologic roles

• Inflammation atlas using SKG mouse model: Single cell transcriptome and ATAC profiling

• Inflammation atlas of SpA: Eye (humor), Spine, Colon, Blood, SF from real-world patients

3. Constructing database of hetergenouse response to pathogen and immune suppression 

• Depicting heterogenous inflammatory response to pathogen including SARS-CoV-2 based on genetic background

• Designing strategy to optimize immune suppression in severely-ill patients with hyper-inflammation: Biomarker discover

First author/Corresponding author (*1st, #corresponding)

2024

25. Kim HD*, Jung S*, Lim HY, Ryoo BY, Ryu MH, Chuah S, Chon HJ, Kang B, Hong JY, Lee HC, Moon DB, Kim KH, Kim TW, Tal D, Chew V, Lee JS, Finn RS, Koh JY#, Yoo C#. Regorafenib plus nivolumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: the phase 2 RENOBATE trial. Nat Med. 2024 Mar;30(3):699-707. [PMID: 38374347]

2023

24. Kim CG*, Koh JY*, Shin SJ*, Shin JH*, Hong M, Chung HC, Rha SY, Kim HS, Lee CK, Lee JH, Han Y, Kim H, Che X, Yun UJ, Kim H, Kim JH, Lee SY, Park SK, Park S, Kim H, Ahn JY, Jeung HC#, Lee JS#, Nam YD#, Jung M#. Prior antibiotic administration disrupts outcomes of PD-1 blockade in advanced gastric cancer by altering gut microbiome and systemic immune response. Cell Rep Med. Sep 27; 2023 [IF=14.3][PMID: 37890486]

23. Yi K*, Jo S*, Song W*, Lee HI, Kim HJ, Kang JH, Kim SU, Lee SH, Park J, Kim TH, Lee JS#, Lee EY#, Kim TJ#. Analysis of Single-Cell Transcriptome and Surface Protein Expression in Ankylosing Spondylitis Identifies OX40-Positive and Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Positive Pathogenic Th17 Cells. Arthritis Rheum. 2023 Jul;75(7):1176-1186. [IF=15.483][PMID: 36787119]

22. Koh JY*, Ko JH*, Lim SY*, Bae S, Huh K, Cho SY, Kang CI, Chung DR, Chung CR, Kim SH#, Peck KR#, Lee JS#. Triple immune modulator therapy for aberrant hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID-19. Clin Immunol. 2023 Jun;251:109628. [IF=10.19][PMID: 37119951]

21. Jeong HW*, Lee JS*, JH Ko*, Hong S, Oh ST, Choi SK, Peck KR#, Yang JH#, Chung S#, Kim SH#, Kim YS#, Shin EC#. Corticosteroid reduces pathologic interferon responses by down-regulating STAT1 in patients with high risk COVID-19. Exp Mol Med. 2023 Mar;55(3):653-664. [IF= 12.153][PMID: 36941461]

20. Jung S*, Lee JS#. Single Cell Genomics for Investigating Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Diseases. Mol Cells. 2023 Feb 28;46(2):120-129. [IF=4.250][PMID: 36859476]

2022

19. Jo S*, Lee JS*, Nam B, Lee YL, Kim H, Lee EY, Park YS, Kim TH#. SOX9+ enthesis cells is associated with spinal ankylosis in ankylosing spondylitis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2022 Feb;30(2):280-290. [IF=6.576][PMID: 34826571]

2021

18. Lee JS*, Kim GHJ*, YJ Ha, Kang EH, Lee YJ, Goldin JG, Lee EY#. The Extent and Diverse Trajectories of Longitudinal Changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Diseases Using Quanti-tative HRCT Scores, J Clin Med. 2021 Aug 25;10:3812. [IF=4.241] [PMID: 34501260]

17. Lee JS*#, Ko JY*, YI K*, Kim YI*, Park SJ, Kim EH, Kim SM, Park SH, Ju YS, Choi YK#, Park SH#. Single-cell Transcriptome of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Reveals Sequential Change of Macrophages During SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Ferrets, Nat Commun. 2021 Jul 27;12(1):4567. [IF=14.919] [PMID: 34315893]

16. Kim T*, Lee JS*, Ju YS#. Experimental Models for SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Mol Cells. 2021 Jun 30;44(6):377-383. [IF=5.034][PMID: 34187969]

2020

15. Yun K*, Lee JS*, Kim EY, Chandra H, Oh BL#, Oh J#. Severe COVID-19 Illness: Risk Factors and Its Burden on Critical Care Resources. Front. Med., 2020 Nov 19;7:583060. [IF=5.091][PMID: 33330540]

14. Lee JS*, Shin EC#. The type I interferon response in COVID-19: implications for treatment. Nat Rev Immunol. 2020 Oct;20(10):585-586. [IF=53.106][PMID: 32788708]

13. Lee JS*, Park S*, Jeong HW*, Ahn JY*, Choi SJ, Lee H, Choi B, Nam SK, Sa M, Kwon JS, Jeong SJ, Lee HK, Park SH, Park SH, Choi JY#, Kim SH#, Jung I#, Shin EC#. Immunophenotyping of COVID-19 and influenza highlights the role of type I Interferons in development of severe COVID-19. Sci Immunol. 2020 July 10;5(49). [IF=17.727][PMID: 32651212]

12. Lee JS*, YI K*, Ju YS, Shin EC#. Effects of cryopreservation and thawing on single-cell transcriptomes of human T cells. Immune Netw. 2020 July 8. [IF=6.303][PMID: 32895621]

11. Lee JS*, An Y*, Yoon CJ*, Kim JY, Freeman AF, Yim JJ, Shin EC, Holland SM, Lee EY#, Ju YS#. Germline gain-of-function mutation of STAT1 rescued by somatic mosaicism in immune dysregulation-polyendocrinopathy-enteropathy-X-linked-like disorder. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 Mar;145(3):1017-1021. [IF=10.793][PMID: 31805313]

2019

10. Lee JS*, Ahmad H, Shim SC, Bae SC, Song YW, Lee EY#. High proportion of subjective component to the disease activity score is associated with favorable response to abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis. Patient. 2019 Jun;12(3):319-326. [IF=2.673] [PMID: 30484084]

9. Lee JS*, Im CH*, Lee SJ*, Choi JY, Han JM, Kim S, Kim DJ, Park T, Lee EY, Song YW#. Glycoprotein 96 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019 May;22(5):905-912. [IF=1.938] [PMID: 30860673]

8. Lee JS*, Kim H, Lee EB, Song YW, Park JK#. Nonthrombotic proliferative vasculopathy associated with antiphospholipid antibodies: A case report and literature review. Modern rheumatology. 2019 Mar;29(2):388-392. [IF=1.973] [PMID: 27535710]

7. Yang JA*, Lee JS*, Park JK, Lee EB, Song YW, Lee EY#, Clinical characteristics associated with occurrence and poor prognosis of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis. Korean J Intern Med. 2019 Mar;34(2):434-441. [IF=2.714] [PMID: 28352064]

6. Lee JS*, Lee EY, Ha YJ, Kang EH, Lee YJ, Song YW#. Serum KL-6 levels reflect the severity of interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease. Arthritis Res Ther. 2019 Feb 14;21(1):58. [IF=4.148] [PMID: 30764869]

2018

5. Lee JS*, Song YW, Kim TH, Jung WT, Lee SG, Park SH, Song GG, Yu DY, Xu S, Lee EY#, Baseline extent of damage predicts spinal radiographic progression in Korean ankylosing spondylitis patients treated with golimumab. Korean J Intern Med. 2018 May;33(3):622-628. [IF=2.714] [PMID: 28103433]

4. Lee JS*, Oh BL, Lee HY, Song YW, Lee EY#. Comorbidity, disability, and healthcare expenditure of ankylosing spondylitis in Korea: A population-based study. PLoS One. 2018 Feb 8;13(2):e0192524. [IF=2.776] [PMID: 29420599]

2016

3. Lee JS*, Lee EY#. Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Rheum Dis. 2016 Jun;23(3):139-140.

2. Lee JS*, Kim H#, Seo J, Lim W, Kang EG, Chung W, Kim S, Jo Z, Kim M. Re-mobilization of lost coronary stent from the axillary artery to the femoral artery. J Lipid Atheroscler 2016 June;5(1):87-92.

1. Lee JS*, Park JK, Kim HJ, Lee HK, Song YW, Lee EB#. Negatively-charged amino acids at the peptide-binding pocket of HLA-DPB1 alleles are associated with susceptibility to anti-topoisomerase I-positive systemic sclerosis. Human immunology. 2016;77(7):550-4. [IF=2.311] [PMID: 27208855]

Co-author

21. Yeo J, Yoon SH, Kim JY, Lee JS, Lee EY, Goo JM, Pourzand L, Goldin JG, Kim GJ, Ha YJ. Quantitative interstitial lung disease scores in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: longitudinal changes and clinical implications. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Mar 17;kead122. [PMID: 36929924]

20. Chang SH, Lee JS, Ha YJ, Kim MU, Park CH, Lee JS, Kim JW, Chung SW, Pyo JY, Lee SW, Kang EH, Lee YA, Park YB, Choe JY, Lee EY; KOrean Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung disease (KORAIL) Cohort Investigators. Lung function trajectory of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Jan 25:kead027. [PMID: 36702465]

19. Kim T, Min KI, Yang JS, Kim JW, Cho J, Kim YH, Lee JS, Kim YT, Kim KC, Kim JY, Na KJ, Lee JY, Ju YS. Relative infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in human alveolar cells. iScience. 2022 Dec 22;25(12):105571.

18. Kim JW, Chung SW, Pyo JY, Chang SH, Kim MU, Park CH, Lee JS, Lee JS, Ha YJ, Kang EH, Lee YA, Park YB, Lee EY, Choe JY; KORAIL cohort investigators. Methotrexate, leflunomide, and tacrolimus use and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 Nov 17:keac651. [PMID: 36394143]

17. Song U, Ryu YH, Hong K, Shin SY, Park S, Lee JS, Ju YS, Shin SH, Lee S. Severe protein C deficiency in a newborn caused by a homozygous pathogenic variant in the PROC gene: a case report. BMC Pediatr. 2021 Oct 16;21(1):453. [PMID: 34654403]

16. Moon J, Lee JS, Yoon YI, Chang SH, Lee YA, Ha YJ, Kang EH, Park YB, Lee H, Choe JY, Lee EY. Association of Serum Biomarkers With Pulmonary Involvement of Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease: From KORAIL Cohort Baseline Data. J Rheum Dis. 2021 Oct 1; 28(4): 234-241.

15. Choi IA, Kim JH, Chang SH, Song R, Ha YJ, Kim HW, Lee JS, Choi B, Oh YJ, Moon KW. Patient perspectives on biological treatments for inflammatory arthritis: A multi-center study in Korea. Arch Rheumatol. 2021 Jun 24; 36(4): 499-509.

14. Choi S, Ghang B, Jeong S, Choi D, Lee JS, Park SM, Lee EY. Association of first, second, and third-line bDMARDs and tsDMARD with drug survival among seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients: Cohort study in A real world setting. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2021 Jun 7;51(4):685-691. [PMID: 34139521]

13. Rha MS, Jeong HW, Ko JH, Choi SJ, Seo IH, Lee JS, Sa M, Kim AR, Joo EJ, Ahn JY, Kim JH, Song KH, Kim ES, Oh DH, Ahn MY, Choi HK, Jeon JH, Choi JP, Kim HB, Kim YK, Park SH, Choi WS, Choi JY, Peck KR, Shin EC. PD-1-expressing SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T Cells Are Not Exhausted, but Functional in Patients with COVID-19. Immunity, 2021 Jan 12;54(1):44-52.e3. [PMID: 33338412]

12. Kim HC, Lee JS, Lee EY, Ha YJ, Chae EJ, Han M, Cross G, Barnett J, Joseph J, Song JW. Risk prediction model in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Respirology. 2020 Dec;25(12):1257-1264. [PMID: 32441061]

11. Oh BL, Lee JS, Lee EY, Lee HY, Yu HG. Incidence and Risk Factors for Blindness in Uveitis: A Nationwide Cohort Study from 2002 to 2013. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2020 Apr 15:1-5. [PMID: 32293927]

10. Choi IA, Kim JH, Lee YJ, Kang EH, Ha YJ, Shin K, Lee JS, Lee EE, Park JK, Lee EY, Lee EB, Song YW. Performance of the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for Gout in Korean Patients with Acute Arthritis. J Korean Med Sci. 2019 Jun 10;34(22):e155. [PMID: 31172694]

9. Jung MK, Lee JS, Kwak JE, Shin EC. Tumor Necrosis Factor and Regulatory T Cells. Yonsei Med J. 2019 Feb;60(2):126-131. [PMID: 30666833]

8. Choi IA , Lee JS, Song YW, Lee EY. Mortality, disability, and healthcare expenditure of patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in Korea: A nationwide population-based study. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 8;14(1):e0210471. [PMID: 30620765]

7. Park JW, Kim M, Lee JS, Ha YJ, Park JK, Kang EH, Lee YJ, Song YW, Lee EY. Impact of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment on radiographic progression in early ankylosing spondylitis: Its relationship to inflammation control during treatment. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Jan;71(1):82-90. [PMID: 29984487]

6. Oh BL, Lee JS, Lee HY, Yu HG. Change in Nationwide Incidence of Post-Cataract Surgery Endophthalmitis: Korean Cohort Study from 2002 to 2013. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2018;27(5):756-761. [PMID: 29953316]

5. Oh BL, Lee JS, Lee EY, Lee HY, Yu HG. Recurrent anterior uveitis and subsequent incidence of ankylosing spondylitis: a nationwide cohort study from 2002 to 2013. Arthritis Res Ther. 2018 Feb 7;20(1):22. [PMID: 29415753]

4. Park J, Lee JM, Lee JS, Cho YJ. Pharmacological and Mechanical Thromboprophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients: a Network Meta-Analysis of 12 Trials. Journal of Korean medical science. 2016;31(11):1828-37. [PMID: 27709864]

3. Park JK, Lee JS, Song YW, Lee EB. Diffuse papules and skin tightening. Arthritis & rheumatology. 2014;66(5):1326. (case report) [PMID: 24782190]

2. Lee EY, Park JK, Lee W, Kim YK, Park CS, Giles JT, Park JW, Shin K, Lee JS, Song YW, Lee EB. Head-to-head comparison of udenafil vs amlodipine in the treatment of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon: a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. Rheumatology. 2014;53(4):658-64. [PMID: 24352340]

1. Wang XY, Kilgore PE, Lim KA, Wang SM, Lee J, Deng W, et al. Influenza and bacterial pathogen coinfections in the 20th century. Interdisciplinary perspectives on infectious diseases. 2011;2011:146376. [PMID: 21747847] 

2024

Apr: Seyoung has been selected as an outstanding graduate student by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea and will receive a Presidential Science Scholarship.

Apr: Jeong Seok was awarded 2024 NRF grant (Outstanding Junior Research Fund, 우수신진연구) for 4 years.

Apr: Jungyu Kim joined as a 2nd year PhD student.

Mar: All lab members gathered at KAIST for the 2024 Spring Workshop, where we spent a half day reviewing our research progress over the past 3 months, discussing future plans, and strategizing the lab's overall research portfolio.

Mar: Junghee Kim joined as a graduate student.

Feb: Woogil has been selected as an outstanding graduate student by the Asan Foundation and will receive a scholarship.

Feb: Seyoung published an article "Regorafenib plus nivolumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: the phase 2 RENOBATE trial" in Nature Medicine.

2023

Dec: All lab members gathered at KAIST for the 2023 Winter Workshop, where we spent a day reviewing our research progress over the past year, discussing future plans, and strategizing the lab's overall research portfolio.

Nov: Jeong Seok published an article "Prior antibiotic administration disrupts outcomes of PD-1 blockade in advanced gastric cancer by altering gut microbiome and systemic immune response" in Cell Reports Medicine.

Apr: Jeong Seok published an article "Triple immune modulator therapy for aberrant hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID-19" in Clinical Immunology.

Mar: Yongjae Lee and Jeongho Joo  joined as a graduate student.

Mar: Jeong Seok published an article "Corticosteroid reduces pathologic interferon responses by down-regulating STAT1 in patients with high risk COVID-19" in Experimental & Molecular Medicine.

Feb: Jeong Seok is appointed as Ewon endowed assistant professor at KAIST. 

Feb: Woogil & Jeong Seok published an article "Analysis of Single-Cell Transcriptome and Surface Protein Expression in Ankylosing Spondylitis Identifies OX40-Positive and Glucocorticoid-Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Positive Pathogenic Th17 Cells" in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

2022

Dec: Jeong Seok was  awarded 'Impact Research Award' from KAIST.

Sep : Seyoung Jung joined as a graduate student.

Aug : We have moved our lab to the third floor of building N28.

Mar: Woogil Song joined as a graduate student.

Mar: Ji Sun Kim joined as an administrative staff.

Mar: Jeong Seok was awarded 2022 NRF grant (Outstanding Junior Research Fund, 우수신진연구) for 2 years.

Feb: We have opened our lab on the third floor of building N26 (Center for High-Performance Integrated Syetems).

Jan: Started AIDL @ KAIST GSMSE