Dr. Ara Koh's research focuses on understanding how the gut microbiome influences human diseases (such as diabetes, cancer, and necrotizing enterocolitis) and responds to therapeutic interventions (including drugs, surgery, and diet). The goal is to develop microbiome-based therapeutics that can reduce inter-individual variations. Specifically, Dr. Koh's lab investigates the role of microbially produced metabolites and their interactions with host signaling pathways, which are important for host metabolism. The research employs various methods such as microbiome community cultures, human tissue-derived organoid systems, cell culture systems, and relevant disease models.

• ㆍIdentification of bioactive microbial products associated with our health and disease
• ㆍMolecular mechanism of microbial products
• ㆍLong-term effects of the microbiome in the small intestine (organoid system)
• ㆍMicrobiome-based therapeutics for maturation of the intestine from premature infants (Collaboration with Samsung Medical Hospital, use of biopsies from premature infants)

• ㆍKoh A* et al., (2020) Microbial Imidazole Propionate Affects Responses to Metformin through p38γ-Dependent Inhibitory AMPK Phosphorylation. Cell Metab., 32 (4): 643-653 *First and Co-corresponding author. (IF 21.567, JCR rank 1.748%)
• ㆍKoh A* et al., (2020) From Association to Causality: the Role of the Gut Microbiota and Its Functional Products on Host Metabolism. Mol Cell., 78 (4):584-596. *First and Co-corresponding author. (IF 15.584, JCR rank 1.178%)
• ㆍMolinaro A*, Koh A*, et al., (2020) Hepatic expression of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (Lbp) is induced by the gut microbiota through Myd88 and impairs glucose tolerance in mice independent of obesity. Mol Metab., *Co-first authors. (IF 6.448, JCR rank 8.741%)
• ㆍKoh A, et al., (2018) Microbially Produced Imidazole Propionate Impairs Insulin Signaling through mTORC1. Cell., 175 (4): 947-961. (IF 38.637, JCR rank 0.618%)
• ㆍKoh A, et al., (2016) From Dietary Fiber to Host Physiology: Short-Chain Fatty Acids as Key Bacterial Metabolites. Cell., 165 (2): 1332-1345. (IF 38.637, JCR rank 0.618%)

• ㆍB.S., Sogang University, Korea (2005)
• ㆍPh.D., POSTECH, Korea (2013)

• ㆍ2006–2007 : Visiting Researcher, Stanford University School of Medicine
• ㆍ2014–2014 : Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH
• ㆍ2014–2019 : Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska Hospital
• ㆍ2020–2021 : Assistant Professor, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
• ㆍ2021-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences POSTECH
• ㆍ2021-Present : FEMS (The Federation of European Microbiological Societies) Deputy Ambassador
• ㆍ2023-Present : Associate Editor for npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (IF 9.2)

• ㆍScholarship and Travel Award at Keystone Symposia by Keystone Symposia (2016)
• ㆍScholarship and Travel Award at Keystone Symposia by Keystone Symposia (2018)
• ㆍPOSCO Science Fellowship of POSCO TJ Park Foundation (2021)
• ㆍSamsung Research Funding & Incubation Center of Samsung Electronics (2023-2028)