to ask whether memory enhancements could be achieved by targeting

neuron-astrocyte or body-brain crosstalk?

Neuron-astrocyte crosstalk during learning and memory

• Learning and memory depends on plastic changes of neuronal synaptic transmission (synaptic plasticity)
• Astrocytes, the primary non-neuronal cell type in the brain, directly contact with synapses and engage in factor exchange with neurons, influencing synaptic plasticity
• Targeting astrocyte-mediated modulation of synaptic plasticity emerges as a promissing avenue for enhancing cognitive functions
• But mechanisms underlying neuron-astrocyte communication during learning and memory are not fully understood.
  

• We're combining molecular, cellular, electrophysiological techniques, mouse genetics, and behavioral analysis to unveil new inter-cellular communication between neurons and astrocytes.
• This aims to propose strategies for enhancing cognition in both healthy and diseased brains.
  

Body-brain crosstalk during learning and memory

• There's substantial evidence supporting the idea that memory can be improved through physical activities like exercise.
• Some factors triggered by exercise from peripheral organs, including muscles, are thought to contribute to these cognitive improvements.
• Yet, there's a chance that there are more factors from muscles influencing brain functions that we haven't discovered yet.
  

Why epilepsy?

• one of three major brain disorders
  
• adult-onset
• 35% of epilepsy is incurable in South Korea
• dysregulated cognitive functions
  

Temporal lobe epilepsy as synaptic pathology

• Abnormally increased neural circuit connectivity & activity
• Abnormal synaptic structures and activity
• Reduced synaptic plasticity & learning and memory
• but no known molecular mechanisms at synapse level..
  

• Join research project among KBRI - DGIST - 성균관대 - 이화여대 의과대학
• Integrated technology combining ultrasound-based stimulation & high-sensitive neuronal activity monitoring for non-invasive brain stimulation and recording
• Evaluating ultrasound-based stimulation with neuronal activity monitoring for clinical and pre-clinical treatment assessment.
  

• Investigating synaptic mechanisms to suppress seizure activity and restore cognitive functions by ultrasound stimulation
  

Selected papers before 2015

• Park H, Han KS, Seo J, Lee J, Dravid SM, Woo J, Chun H, Cho S, Bae JY, An H, Koh W, Yoon BE, Berlinguer-Palmini R, Mannaioni G, Traynelis SF, Bae YC, Choi SY, Lee CJ, Channel-mediated astrocytic glutamate modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity by activating postsynaptic NMDA receptors. Molecular Brain. 2015, Feb 3; 8(1):7.
  
• Park H, Popescu A, Poo MM, Essential role of presynaptic NMDA receptors in activity-dependent BDNF secretion and corticostriatal LTP, Neuron. 2014 Dec 3; 84:1009-22.
  
• Park H, Han KS, Oh SJ, Jo S, Woo J, Yoon BE, Lee CJ, High glutamate permeability and distal localization of Best1 channel in CA1 hippocampal astrocyte. Molecular Brain. 2013 Dec 9;6(1):54.
  
• Park H, Poo MM. Neurotrophin regulation of neural circuit development and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2013 Jan;14(1): 7-23
  
• Park H, Oh SJ, Han KS, Woo DH, Park H, Mannaioni G, Traynelis SF, Lee CJ. Bestrophin-1 encodes for the Ca2+-activated anion channel in hippocampal astrocytes. Journal of Neuroscience. 2009 Oct 14; 29(41): 13063-73.
• Park H, Pack C, Kinjo M, Kaang BK. In vivo quantitative analysis of PKA subunit interaction and cAMP measurement using dual color Fluorescence Cross Correlation Spectroscopy. Molecules and Cells. 2008 July 31; 26(1): 87-92.
• Lee SH, Lim CS, Park H, Lee JA, Han JH, Kim H, Cheang YH, Lee SH, Lee YS, Ko HG, Jang DH, Kim HK, Miniaci MC, Bartsch D, Kim E, Bailey CH, Kandel ER, Kaang BK. Nuclear Translocation of apCAM-Associated Protein Activates Transcription for Long-Term Facilitation in Aplysia. Cell. 2007 May 18; 129(4): 801-12. (co-first author)
• Park H, Lee JA, Lee C, Kim MJ, Chang DJ, Kim H, Lee SH, Lee YS, Kaang BK. An Aplysia type 4 phosphodiesterase homolog localizes at the presynaptic terminals of Aplysia neuron and regulates synaptic facilitation. Journal of Neuroscience. 2005 Sep 28; 25(39): 9037-45.
  

Current Members

Principal research scientist

/ Principal Investigator (PI)

Hyungju Park (박형주), Ph.D.

Experience

• Senior / Principal Research Scientist @ KBRI (2015 ~ ​present)
  
• Adjunct Professor @ DGIST (2015 ~ 2023)
  
• Postdoctoral fellow / Associate Specialist @ UC Berkeley ​(advisor: Dr. Mu-ming Poo; 2009~2015)
  
• Postdoctoral fellow @ KIST (advisor: Dr. C Justin Lee; ​2007~2009)
  

Education

• Ph.D. (2000~2007), Seoul National University, Korea ​(advisor: Dr. Bong-Kiun Kaang)
  

Research scientist

Jeongho Han (한정호), M.S.

Mol / Cell biology

neuron-astrocyte crosstalk

Research scientist

Hyoeun Lee (이효은), M.S.

Electrophysiology

Lab manager

Postmaster fellow

Hee Ju Moon (문희주), M.S.

Mol / Cell biology, behavior

neuron-astrocyte crosstalk

Ph.D. candidate

Mol / Cell biology, behavior

Muscle-brain crosstalk

Ph.D. candidate

Hyeyeon Kim (김혜연)

Undergraduate internship

Song A Shin (신송아)

Past Members

김지영 (PhD)

정세진 (MS)

박서윤 (MS)

오준영 (Research scientist)

이제선 (Postdoctoral fellow)

윤성령 (MS)

We are hiring!

CV, 이력서 및 지원 동기나 연구계획 등을 phj.mnb at gmail.com으로 보내주시기 바랍니다.

Please send your CV/resume and cover letter including research interest to phj.mnb at gmail.com