Prof. Dr. Yong-Soo Bae | Immunology Cellular Interactions | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Yong-Soo Bae | Sungkyunkwan University | South Korea

Dr. Yong-Soo Bae is a distinguished immunologist and professor at the Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea. He currently serves as the Director of the SRC Center for Immune Research on Non-lymphoid Organs (CIRNOS). With over three decades of academic, clinical, and industry experience, Dr. Bae is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in immunology, virology, and vaccine development. His multidisciplinary contributions span academia, biotech innovation (as CEO/CTO of JW Creagene Inc.), and scientific leadership, including organizing global conferences and serving as editor-in-chief and president in numerous societies. His work focuses on immune modulation, cancer immunotherapy, and mucosal vaccines, which has led to influential publications in prestigious journals like Nature Communications, Science Advances, and Advanced Materials. Dr. Bae’s career reflects a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and education, making him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Publication Profile:

Scopus

✅ Strengths for the Award

1. Pioneering Research Leadership
   Dr. Bae has led groundbreaking research in immunology, particularly in immune regulation of non-lymphoid organs, vaccine development, and cancer immunotherapy. His leadership of the Center for Immune Research on Non-lymphoid Organs (CIRNOS) demonstrates his national influence in immune research.

2. Extensive Scientific Contributions
   With over 18 high-impact publications in the past 3–4 years alone, including in top-tier journals like Nature Communications, Molecular Therapy, Science Advances, and Advanced Materials, Dr. Bae continues to push the boundaries of translational immunology and personalized medicine.

3. International & Interdisciplinary Experience
   His training at Harvard Medical School, his professorships across Korean institutions, and leadership at JW Creagene Inc. showcase both academic and industrial impact.

4. Scientific Community Engagement
   Roles such as Editor-in-Chief, society president, and organizer of global conferences (e.g., DC2012) reflect his commitment to advancing scientific dialogue and collaboration.

5. Mentorship and Institutional Development
   Dr. Bae has contributed significantly to capacity building in Korea’s biomedical research landscape, mentoring junior scientists and shaping departmental growth.

⚠️ Areas for Improvement:

1. Global Collaboration Visibility
   While his work is highly impactful in Korea and Asia, more joint publications with global institutions (e.g., NIH, Oxford, Karolinska) could further enhance international research influence.

2. Patent and Commercial Output Reporting
   As former CEO/CTO of JW Creagene, elaborating on patented innovations or therapeutic products brought to market would strengthen the case for translational impact.

3. Formal Recognition or Awards
   Inclusion of formal honors (e.g., national science medals, international society awards) would help quantify his recognition outside Korea.

4. Consistent Author Disambiguation
   In some publications, author names appear as “Y.S. Bae” or “Yong-soo Bae.” Consistent use of a standardized author name across indexing platforms would help centralize his citation metrics and scholarly footprint.

 

🎓 Education:

Dr. Yong-Soo Bae’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Microbiology from Seoul National University in 1981 and 1983, respectively. His foundational training in microbiology laid the groundwork for his research trajectory in infectious disease and immunology. He earned his Ph.D. in 1990 from the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the Virology Division of the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine. His doctoral research was crucial in shaping his interest in host-pathogen interactions and immune regulation. Dr. Bae’s international education experience has enabled him to blend Western and Eastern biomedical research paradigms, contributing to his ability to lead collaborative global projects and initiatives in immunotherapy and vaccine innovation.

💼 Experience:

Dr. Yong-Soo Bae’s professional career spans academia, research, and biotech leadership. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School (1991–1993), which enriched his expertise in cancer immunology. He held professorial roles at Hannam University (1993–2003) before joining Sungkyunkwan University in 2004, where he later became Department Chair and Distinguished Professor. Dr. Bae also served as Director of CIRNOS (2017–2024) and led JW Creagene Inc. as CEO/CTO (1998–2015), bridging science and industry. His editorial and leadership roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bacteriology and Virology, President of the Korean Society of Virology, and Vice President of the Korean Vaccine Society. His diverse roles demonstrate a unique blend of academic excellence, organizational leadership, and translational research expertise.

🔍 Research Focus:

Dr. Yong-Soo Bae’s research focuses on innate and adaptive immune regulation, tumor immunology, mucosal immunotherapy, and vaccine delivery. He investigates cellular interactions in the immune microenvironment, with particular attention to innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), neutrophils, and dendritic cells. His translational work includes novel vaccine platforms, epitranscriptomics, immune checkpoint modulation (e.g., CISH, PD-1), and cell therapy for diseases such as asthma, leukemia, and cancer. He also explores microbiome-immune crosstalk and inflammation-related organ damage (e.g., renal fibrosis, lung inflammation). His group has published extensively on m6A modifiers, microRNAs, and innovative delivery systems like gel-to-nanovaccines. His latest studies dive into immunometabolism and the interplay between immune cells and tissue repair, offering groundbreaking insights for future immunotherapies. Dr. Bae’s work is highly cited and remains at the forefront of immune system-based therapeutic innovation.

📚 Publications Top Notes:

1. 📘 Therapeutic Potential of microRNA Against Th2-associated Immune Disorders – Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (2021)

2. 💉 COVID-19 Vaccines and Oral-Mucosal Vector System as a Potential Vaccine Platform – Vaccines (2021)

3. 🧬 Immunotherapeutic Potential of m6A-Modifiers and microRNAs in AML – Biomedicines (2021)

4. 🎯 Epitranscriptomic Approach to Improve ICB Therapy by Targeting CISH – Cells (2021)

5. 🧫 TFH-B-TRM Dysregulation and Anti-PD-1 Responses in EGFR-mutant Lung Cancer – Nature Communications (2021)

6. 🧪 Adenoviral CD200R-Ig Enhances Antitumor Immunity via M2 Macrophage Inhibition – Molecular Therapy

7. 🌫 Air Pollutant-induced Neutrophils Worsen Airway Inflammation – JACI (2021)

8. 🦠 NCR+ILC3s and the Microbiome in Asthma Severity – Immune Network (2021)

9. 📖 Advances in Personalized Therapy for AML by Targeting Intracellular Checkpoints – eBook Chapter (2021)

10. 🧵 Siglec-F Neutrophils Drive Fibrosis in Renal Disease – JCI (2022)

🧾 Conclusion:

Dr. Yong-Soo Bae is an exceptional and highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His contributions over four decades span foundational research, translational innovation, academic leadership, and scientific diplomacy. The depth of his scientific output, particularly in immunology, epigenetics, and vaccine development, is matched by his long-term commitment to mentoring, editorial work, and building research institutions in Korea.While enhancing his global recognition and expanding international collaborative outputs could further elevate his status, Dr. Bae’s consistent high-impact contributions, research leadership, and policy involvement clearly position him as a top-tier researcher in the life sciences.