Jeonbuk National University professor named ISEV board member at large

Professor Park Dong-jun of the School of Chemical Engineering at Jeonbuk National University was appointed a member at large on the board of directors at the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV), the university said Monday.

During his two-year term until 2028, he will participate in decision-making and academic network expansion of the global research community focusing on extracellular vesicles.

Professor Park Dong-jun / Courtesy of Jeonbuk National University

The university said Park’s appointment is meaningful as it was decided through a global vote of the society’s members.

The society, which has over 2,000 members, is the world’s largest international academic organization for researchers and experts in the field of extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles are tiny membrane-bound particles released by cells into the space outside the cell. They function as biological “messengers” that carry materials from one cell to another.

ISEV aims to promote standardization and reproducibility of extracellular vesicles, exosome and ectosome research. It also seeks to advance education and international cooperation in order to lead research and application in the field.

A school official expects Park to enhance the international standing of the university’s School of Chemical Engineering and its NanoBioSystems Lab, while broadening academic exchanges and collaborations.

Park’s research team is carrying out an interdisciplinary extracellular vesicles study in areas including extracellular vesicle-based therapeutics, nanobio delivery systems, tissue regeneration and immunomodulation and single-vesicle analysis technologies.

The team is particularly focusing on building a biopharmaceutical platform to bridge basic and translational research, with a stress on stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, targeted extracellular vesicles engineering and the development of therapies for diabetic tissue damage and vascular regeneration.

Meanwhile, ISEV is set to hold its annual meeting next year in Busan from May 4-9, the university said. The gathering is expected to provide an opportunity for Korean researchers to share global research trends and expand international collaborative networks.

The ISEV Annual Meeting has served as a leading international forum where researchers and experts discuss the latest research trends and future strategies in the field of extracellular vesicles covering areas from basic biology and disease pathology to biomarkers, therapeutic development and analytical technologies.