Kiho Lee - South Korea

What I Did

Meeting with Rural Development Administration (RDA) in South Korea to discuss potential collaboration on producing pig models

I shared our vision in designing pig models using the genome editing systems by giving a seminar titled ‘Use of immunodeficient pigs for stem cell transplantation’ on 5/16/2019. I also had a series of meetings with their researchers and administrators including the director of National Institute of Animal Science, Dr. Changbum Yang.

Meeting with Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) to discuss potential collaboration on designing immunodeficient pig models.

Meeting with KRIBB was not originally on the proposed schedule. However, the institute reached out to me when my visit to RDA became public. I presented a seminar titled ‘Use of immunodeficient pigs for stem cell transplantation’ on 5/17/2019. Futuristic Animal Resource & Research Center also has a strong interest in designing pig models for biomedical application. In particular, KRIBB exhibited their interest on the use of immunodeficient pigs for biomedical application. Dr. Sun-Uk Kim and I discussed possibility of collaborating on the use of immunodeficient pigs.

Meeting with Konkuk University to discussion collaboration on immunodeficient pig models

I had a meeting with Dr. Jim-Hoi Kim along with Dr. Kwonho Hong to discuss possibility of publishing a paper together by combining results from both institutes. We agreed to explore global gene expression patterns of immunodeficient pigs and investigate how the gene expression patterns are different from rodent models.

Meeting with Dr. Jang at Seoul National University

The original plan was to meet with Dr. Byeong-Chun Lee, an expert in canine cloning. However, Dr. Lee couldn’t join because of a personal reason. Instead, Dr. Jang shared his experience in utilizing canine models as he was also involved in canine cloning. He shared ethical challenges of using canine models for research purposes. He also commented on how guidelines to use canines for research have evolved as social perception toward the models has changed. We also discussed possibility of collaborating on producing genome edited cow models. Dr. Jang is ready to launch the program by the end of 2019.

Short-term accomlishments and long-term goals

Meeting with Rural Development Administration (RDA) in South Korea to discuss potential collaboration on producing pig models

Dr. Hwang and I agreed to apply for an international research fund available through RDA. Dr. Hwang anticipates to see the call in the winter of 2019.

We found a mutual interest in producing economically valuable pig models. Long-term goal is to exchange genetic lines of pigs and genome editing systems used to generate unique pig models. Establishing personnel exchange program was also discuss, but nothing has been materialized from this trip.

Meeting with Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) to discuss potential collaboration on designing immunodeficient pig models.

We agreed to share animal care data on handling immunodeficient pigs. Because two institutes used two different housing systems (gnotobiotic and SPF condition) to accommodate immunodeficient pigs, sharing the care data would allow us to design a better system to house immunodeficient pigs.

Dr. Kim and I agreed on establishing a collaboratory relationship between Virginia Tech and KRIBB. First, we agreed on building a visiting scientist program. Second, because the KRIBB also has a colony of non-human primates, there can be an opportunity to apply the use of genome editing technology in non-human primates prior to clinical application.

Meeting with Konkuk University to discussion collaboration on immunodeficient pig models

We agreed to publish a paper together based on a global data analysis. Samples from immunodeficient pigs are shared with Konkuk University. In addition, Konkuk University is looking into an option to annually invite personnel from my lab to build a consistent collaboration.

Konkuk university has established a humanized pig center and state- of-art facility to accommodate immunodeficient pigs. Sharing genetic lines of novel immunodeficient pig models from Virginia Tech with Konkuk university will expand the use of immunodeficient pigs and enhance our ability to run trials using immunodeficient pigs.

Meeting with Dr. Jang at Seoul National University

I agreed to share our expertise in livestock genome editing and collaborate on producing genome edited cows. Current plan is for us to design and confirm the effectiveness of CRISPR/Cas9 systems, then send the reagents to Dr.Jang’s lab. He will use the reagents to produce genome edited cows for agricultural applications.

Producing and maintaining genome edited cows require specialized facility and personnel, which currently lack at Virginia Tech. Through the collaboration, we expect to develop multiple lines of genome edited cows that can significantly improve animal productivity in agriculture.