World-renowned experts in genomic integrity convened on May 27 at the Low Dimensional Carbon Materials Building of UNIST to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in genomic research and medicine.
The 1st CGI International Symposium on “Genomic Integrity,” organized by Dr. Kyungjae Myung, Director of the Center for Genomic Integrity (CGI) at UNIST featured a host of presentations on Genomic Integrity by 21 pioneering scientists, as well as welcome remarks by Dr. Myung and congratulatory addresses by IBS President, Dr. Doochul Kim and UNIST President, Dr. Moo Je Cho.
Prof. Roger Woodgate, Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Integrity in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stry (NIH) during his presentation at the 1st CGI International Symposium.
This special event was attended by approximately 100 participants and 21 speakers from 5 countries worldwide, including, China, Italy, United States, Japan, and South Korea to exchange research results, methods, and creative ideas to genome research, thereby stimulating further progress in this exciting research field. The symposium focused on the exploration of the causes and effects of genomic instability, mechanisms of DNA replication and recombination.
Speakers of symposium and UNIST President MooJe Cho (center) are posing for a group photo at the 1st CGI International Symposium.
The first day of the Symposium included a walking tour around the UNIST campus, opening remarks by Dr. Kyungjae Myung, a variety of technical presentations by internationally renowned guest speakers, and two very special appearances by: IBS President, Dr. Doochul Kim and Vice President of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Dr. Sang Chul Park.
These were followed by one keynote address by the distinguished invited speaker, Dr. Roger Woodgate, Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Integrity in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH). Dr. Woodgate delivered a speech on “Regulation of error-prone DNA polymerases; from bacteria to humans,” reviewing our current understanding of the transcriptional, post-translational, temporal, and spatial control that is exerted on low-fidelity Y-family polymerases from bacteria to humans, thereby minimizing any gratuitous mutagenesis. In addition, 17 other distinguished researchers gave plenary invited talks on allied topics.
Dr. Kyungjae Myung, Director of the Center for Genomic Integrity (CGI) is giving a welcome address at the 1st CGI International Symposium.
Dr. Kyungjae Myung is a distinguished professor, as well as an internationally renowned scientist in the field of genomic integrity. Dr. Myung’s research interests focus on how DNA replication is initiated in human cells, and how dysregulation of this process leads to the genomic instability found in cancer cells. At the symposium, he discussed the potential benefits of “Compound F,” a novel chemotherapeutic agent specific for patients with tumors with a DNA mismatch repair deficiency.
At the IBS CGI at UNIST, he hopes to make new discoveries and breakthroughs in understanding aging processes and their relationship to genetic diseases. His studies on DNA repair pathways are expected to make great headway into treating cancer.
