Sungtae Kim

Experience

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  Military Service: Korean Army

  Feb 1993 - Apr 1995

  Soldier: discharged as a Sergent

  Management of WRSA (U.S. Ammunition in Korea automatically given to Korean Army in case of war)

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  Seoul National University

  Mar 1999 - Feb 2001

  M.S. Student

  •Discovered the importance of major groove interactions in Cre-loxP by Cre protein engineering by site-directed mutagenesis. Explored the purification of mutant Cre proteins and designed altered loxP sites to sequences similar to HIV for a possible anti-viral strategy. Examined error-prone PCR methods for molecular evolution of Cre proteins for HIV therapeutics.•Synthesized a novel transfection reagent by conjugating low molecular weight PEI with a cholesterol moiety in a single chemical reaction for the development of an efficient gene delivery method. Characterized its biochemical properties in in vitro assays, AFM and multiple cell lines. Show less

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  Samsung Medical Center

  Jan 2001 - Jun 2001

  Research Associate

  Participated in research on finding out optimal viral envelopes for specific cell types. Identified specific viral envelops optimized to work in epithelial cells for overexpression of VEGF for ischemia therapy.

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  University of Wisconsin-Madison

  Aug 2001 - Nov 2006

  Research Associate

  •Validated, for the first time, in vivo VDR binding on target gene promoter regions using chromatin IP. Examined nuclear receptor and cofactor recruitment and epigenetic modifications of histones on Cyp24 and Opn promoters in response to vitamin D in osteoblasts using ChIP-chip. Discovered that a vitamin D analog 2MD induced superior binding to its receptor and promoter both in vitro (ligand binding assay) and in vivo (chromatin IP) compared to its natural form.•Identified 5 novel distal enhancers far away from TSS on RankL, a vitamin D responsive gene and proved that the enhancers are indeed central control loci regulating transcriptional activity of the gene mediating the effects of multiple signaling pathways. Confirmed the functions of the distal enhancers using a KO model in calcium concentration measurement in serum and osteoclast formation from whole bone marrow using vitamin D and its analog.•Explored involvement of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of vitamin D mediated transcription in osteoblastic cell lines and characterized them by RNase H and RNAi.•Examined vitamin D and its analogs (2MD-super agonist and ZK159222-partial antagonist) in vivo and in vitro for bone/osteoclast formation and calcium homeostasis. Show less

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  Salk Institute for Biological Studies

  Feb 2007 - Jan 2009

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  •Established and characterized mouse spermatogonial stem cells and chicken primordial germ cells. Analyzed the cells for animal transgenesis by transplantation and reprogramming studies. Examined a variety of protein expression systems and vector systems for bioreactor application and optimal expression. Collaborated with Dr. Van der lavour in Origen therapeutics for chicken bioreactor establishment.

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  Korea University

  Mar 2009 - Feb 2012

  Assistant Professor

  •Utilized fluorescence-reporter system in small molecule screening. Discovered several chemical inhibitors important for the maintenance of germline stem cells and identified a function of ERK signaling pathway in the suppression of Oct4. Identified Nanog gene as a missing link in the regulatory network in controlling self-renewal.•Established Neon electroporation as an efficient transfection method for primordial germ cells for chicken transgenesis. Engineered primordial germ cells with vectors inducing tissue-specific Herceptin expression and functionally analyzed them in embryos for germline transmission. Currently in the process of transgenic chicken production as an animal bioreactor model.•Won 4 government grants, managed 3 research projects, lectured Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for 3 years and mentored 5 graduate students (2 Ph.D. and 3 M.S.). Trained scientists and graduate students in cell culture and facility use in the Department of Chemistry. Show less

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  Salk Institute for Biological Studies

  Apr 2012 - Aug 2014

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  SENIOR POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, (Laboratory of Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte), SALK INSTITUTE (LA JOLLA, CA)Apr.2012-Present•Generated miR locus (~63kb) KO female ES clones via NHEJ mechanism by gene editing with TALEN technology. Verified the functions of each miRNA in vitro on spermatogenesis using anti-miRs (PNAs), miRNA microarray and gene expression profiling analysis. Currently producing the miR KO mice.•Discovered translational regulation as a critical control mechanism for the expression of pluripotency marker genes and the spontaneous reprogramming event in germline stem cells by forced expression of Yamanaka factors and polysome profiling. Currently elucidating mechanisms by RNA FISH and knock-down screening using Mission shRNA library.•Established an in vitro spermatogenesis and transplantation model using reporter-labeled germline stem cells and supporting cells in a 3D organ culture system. Currently working on mouse Kleinfelter’s Syndrome disease modeling to find out the cause of associated infertility problems and to pursue a permanent therapy to substitute current testosterone treatment.•Coordinate meetings and discussion sessions for idea development. Supervising a UCSD student. Worked with a research team at CMRB in Spain in germline stem cell derivation and maintenance. Collaborated on spermatogonial stem cell biomarker identification and establishment of a culture system for human, cat, horse and pig.•Developed Oct4-GFP spermatogonial stem cell lines with inducible Yamanaka factor expression for reprogramming studies and chemical screening Show less

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  Thermo Fisher Scientific (Formerly Life Technologies)

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Scientist

  •Generated of CRISPR/Cas9 & TALEN systems for genome editing in vivo/in vitro and cell line engineering•Performed cell-based assays (Taqman copy number assay, genome cleavage assay & qPCR) and molecular technologies (Gateway &Topo adaptation)

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  GSK

  Aug 2014 - now

  •Establiment of various knockout & knockin (mutant generation/gene correction) in disease relavant human cellular models using cell lines, primary cells and organoids for Target Pathway Validation•Development of novel CRISPR genome editing strategies/platforms using single cell, ddPCR & live cell imaging technologies•Cross-training team members in CRISPR genome editing & updating team with recently advances in relevant research area•Leadership role in rare to common disease target validation and development relevant functional downstream assays Show less

  • Group Leader

    May 2019 - now

  • GSK Fellow

    Sept 2019 - Apr 2023

  • GSK Associate Fellow

    May 2017 - Aug 2019

  • Investigator

    Aug 2014 - Apr 2019