Dr. KOO Bon-Kyoung, Director of the Center for Genome Engineering within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), has been elected as an Associate Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), a globally renowned scholarly organization in the life sciences.

He is the third Korean scientist to receive this honor, following Dr. KIM V. Narry, Director of the IBS Center for RNA Research (Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University), and Dr. KOH Gou Young, Director of the IBS Center for Vascular Research (Distinguished Professor at KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science). Dr. Koo was recognized for pioneering mosaic genetics research that combines stem cell–based organoids and gene-editing technologies to trace gene functions at the single-cell level.

Dr. Koo has developed genetic technologies that allow real-time tracking of gene functions within living tissues and organoids. Using these techniques, he has proposed a new paradigm for analyzing tissue regeneration and the early cellular dynamics of cancer development. In 2024, he became the first researcher affiliated with a Korean institution to lead an ERC Synergy Grant¹⁾—a major joint research project funded by the European Research Council—receiving a total of €10 million (approximately 16 billion KRW).

Founded in 1964, EMBO is a Europe-based academic organization that fosters international collaboration and advancement in the life sciences. It supports talented researchers, promotes scientific exchange, and facilitates scientific publishing to encourage innovative research. Each year, EMBO selects scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the life sciences as new members. To date, 92 EMBO members have received Nobel Prizes, and over 2,100 scientists worldwide are active members.

In 2025, EMBO elected 69 new members from 24 countries, including 60 from EMBO member states and 9 from non-member countries as Associate Members.

Fiona WATT, Director of EMBO, commented, “Science thrives through international collaboration, and each new class of members brings fresh energy and inspiration to EMBO. The ideas and contributions of these new members will strongly advance the life sciences.”

Dr. Koo said, “Since returning to Korea from Europe in 2021 to join IBS, I have continued to strengthen research ties with Europe through recognitions such as the ERC Synergy Grant and this EMBO membership. I will work hard to leverage these experiences to contribute further to Korean science.”

Dr. Koo will officially begin his EMBO activities at the annual EMBO Members’ Meeting, held from October 22 to 24 in Heidelberg, Germany.

1) ERC Synergy Grant: One of the highest-level research funding programs supported by the European Research Council (ERC), enabling independent investigators from different countries and institutions to jointly tackle an ambitious scientific challenge.

IBS Public Relations Team
William I. Suh