Researcher Spotlight: Kyuwon Cho Assistant | Academic Research Scientist – Cardiology

What is your professional background?
I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in bioscience at Korea University in South Korea. Following that, I conducted research in cancer biology at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) for two years. Subsequently, I pursued further career development in the field of regenerative medicine at Emory University, progressing through roles as a technician, doctoral student, postdoctoral fellow, and currently serving as a research scientist.

Which division do you work in? Who is your mentor?
I work in the division of Cardiology and my mentor is Young-sup Yoon, MD, PhD.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
Ischemic heart disease is a leading global cause of death, partly due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult cardiovascular system. My research aims to find ways to regenerate damaged cardiovascular systems by focusing on identifying genes and cell types that can be manipulated to promote regeneration.

What do you like most about Emory?
What I like most about Emory is its profound dedication to research, which creates an environment where I can fully immerse myself in academic exploration and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
I love the movie ‘Interstellar’ and am a big fan of its director, Christopher Nolan.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to watch movies.

What is a fun fact about you?
I worked as a firefighter during my military service in South Korea.