People

We lead the development of key and
fundamental technologies, driving the nation's future
in the era of infinite technological competition.
We lead the development of key and fundamental technologies, driving the nation's future in the era of infinite technological competition.

Professor

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Hojung Nam

Bioinformatics and Intelligence Lab

062-715-2641
  • Bioinformatics
  • AI-based Drug discovery
  • Biomarkers Discovery

Introduction

  • The early stages of new drug development involve numerous experiments on potential drug candidates, which can be both time-consuming and costly. These factors contribute to the difficulty in developing novel therapeutics for unmet clinical needs. To address this challenge, researchers are leveraging vast amounts of biological data, including protein information, genetic information, and drug information, to predict and analyze drug reactions using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. This approach aims to streamline the drug discovery process and identify promising drug candidates more efficiently. In our laboratory, we focus on applying big data and machine learning methodologies to several key areas of drug development. Our research encompasses drug candidate prediction, utilizing computational methods to identify novel compounds that may have therapeutic potential for specific diseases. Additionally, we work on drug toxicity prediction, which aims to identify potential adverse effects of drug candidates early in the development process. Another area of our research is drug repositioning prediction, which involves identifying new therapeutic applications for existing drugs, potentially accelerating the development of treatments for unmet clinical needs. By leveraging the power of big data and machine learning, we strive to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the drug discovery and development process.

Research Field

  • Bioinformatics, Machine learning, Deep Learning, AI-based Drug discovery, Biomarkers Discovery

Education

  • 2009 KAIST (Ph.D. Bio and Brain Engineering)
  • 2003 KAIST (M.S. Computer Science)
  • 2001 Sogang Univ. (B.S. Computer Science)

Professional Career

  • 2023.09. ~ Present GIST, Professor
  • 2018.09. ~ 2023.08. GIST, Associate Professor
  • 2013.02. ~ 2018.08. GIST, Assistant Professor
  • 2009.08. ~ 2013.02. UCSD, Postdoctoral researcher
  • 2009.03. ~ 2009.07. KAIST, Postdoctoral researcher

Professional Services

  • • MEDIC Life Sciences Inc., Scientific Advisory Board (2023 ~ present)
  • • PeLeMed Co. Ltd, Scientific Advisory Board (2023 ~ present)
  • • National Research Foundation of Korea, AI-based Drug, Review Board (2023 ~ present)
  • • Scientific Data, Springer Nature, Editorial Board Member (2023 ~ present)
  • • K-BDS Standardization Committee member, Korean Bioinformation Center (2022 ~ present)
  • • Organizing Committee (publicity chair), DTMBIO (2020 ~ 2022)
  • • Program Committee, IEEE BIBM (2020)
  • • Advisory committee member, Korea Biopharmaceutical Association AI New Drug Development Support Center (2019 ~ 2020)
  • • Committee Member, Scientific and Technological Information Ministry's Cognitive Technology Development Project Promotion Committee (2018 ~ present)
  • • Director, Korea Society of Bioinformatics (2013 ~ present)

Awards

  • • Best Article Award, Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering (2023)
  • • Teaching Excellence Award, GIST (2023)
  • • Best Article Award, Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering (2022)
  • • Achievement Award, GIST (2020)
  • • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award, National Research Foundation of Korea (2011)
  • • Excellent Academic Award, IBM-KAIST Bio-Computing Research Center (2008)