Studying immunopathological mechanisms of viral diseases in preparation against future pandemics
Tel. +82-42-878-8111
IBS Korea Virus Research Institute,
55 Expo-ro, Doryong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon (34126)
Director Shin Eui-Cheol
Shin Eui-Cheol is the director in the Center for Viral Immunology at the Korea Virus Research Institute. Director Shin received a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the College of Medicine at Yonsei University. He has pursued a career in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA and at KAIST as a professor of the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering. For the past 20 years, his research has been devoted to the study of the immune response against hepatitis viruses. His recent studies have explored the causes of excessive inflammatory responses such as cytokine storms in patients with severe COVID-19, as well as the characteristics and functions of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells.
Study on the mechanism of viral immune responses and immunopathology
The Center for Viral Immunology aims to build a strong knowledge base for viral immunology through research on immune responses to emerging viruses and the immunopathology of viral diseases.
Research at the Center involves collecting and analyzing immune response data of various emerging viruses including COVID-19 at the cellular level, as well as analyzing cross-immunity arising from epitope similarities among various viruses, and heterologous immune responses that are driven by a separate mechanism (i.e. via cytokines).
In order to analyze the aging of the immune system, the Center investigates the cause of the differences in the immune response against viruses in children, adults, and elderly patients. Moreover, the Center will elucidate the immunological and pathophysiological roles of interferons, which have antiviral functions and at the same time triggers excessive inflammatory responses, to explore the potential of using cytokines as an antiviral.