We aim to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune regulation and neuro‐immuno‐vascular interactions in the CNS and its barriers during homeostasis and pathologies, and to translate the findings to find new therapies for CNS autoimmunity, inflammation, and infections.

1. CNS immune tolerance and privilege
‐ Decode the mechanisms governing CNS (brain and retina) immune tolerance and privilege in the thymus, lymphoid organs, and the CNS

2. CNS autoimmunity, inflammation, and infections
‐ Unravel the roles of microglia, border‐associated macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and endothelial cells and their interactions in CNS autoimmunity (multiple sclerosis, uveitis), inflammation (Alzheimer’s disease), and infections (meningitis, encephalitis, and retinitis)

3. CNS barriers and fluids
‐ Characterize the immunological niches in CNS barriers (meninges, choroidal plexus, RPE/choroid, ciliary body, BBB/BRB) and fluids (CSF, aqueous humor) and identify their roles in immune homeostasis and inflammation in the CNS

• ㆍNeuroimmunology
• ㆍVascular biology
• ㆍTolerance and Autoimmunity
• ㆍNeuro-Immune interactions
• ㆍOphthalmology

• ㆍCook ME*, .. , Kim J, et al. (2022) The ZFP36 family of RNA binding proteins regulates homeostatic and autoreactive T cell responses. Sci Immunol. 7(76):eabo0981.
• ㆍKim J*, Park KH. (2021) TEMPORAL CHANGES OF PARAFOVEAL MICROVASCULATURE AFTER EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE SURGERY: An Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study. Retina. 41(9);1839-1850.
• ㆍKim J*, Kim YH*, et al. (2017) YAP/TAZ regulates sprouting angiogenesis and vascular barrier maturation. J Clin Invest. 127(9):3441-3461.
• ㆍKim MH*, Kim J, et al. (2016) Actin remodeling confers BRAF inhibitor resistance to melanoma cells through YAP/TAZ activation. EMBO J. 35(5):462-78.
• ㆍKim J*, et al. (2015) Actin remodelling factors control ciliogenesis by regulating YAP/TAZ activity and vesicle trafficking. Nat Commun. 6:6781.

• ㆍM.D., Seoul National University (2006)
• ㆍPh.D., KAIST (2015)

• ㆍ2006-2007 : Intern, Seoul National University Hospital
• ㆍ2007-2011 : Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital
• ㆍ2015-2017 : Research Fellow, Center for Vascular Biology, Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
• ㆍ2017-2019 : Clinical Fellow, Vitreoretinal Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• ㆍ2019-2022 : Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
• ㆍ2022-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences (JA), Medical Science and Engineering Program (JA), Department of IT Engineering, POSTECH

• ㆍGlobal Ph.D. Fellowship (2011)
• ㆍARVO International Travel Grant (2014)
• ㆍBRIC Top 5 Research in Medical Science (2017)
• ㆍVitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation (VRSF) Research Fellowship (2019)