Yu Geon Lee | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yu Geon Lee, Korea Food Research Institute, KFRI, South Korea

Dr. Yu Geon Lee is an Assistant Researcher in the Precision Nutrition Research Group at the Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI), Republic of Korea. With a strong background in food science and technology, Dr. Lee focuses on how bioactive compounds from natural sources can influence metabolic and cellular health. His research explores areas such as mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy, lipid metabolism, and nutrikinetics. Dr. Lee is particularly interested in developing functional foods and therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and cancer. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and collaborates extensively across interdisciplinary fields. Known for his contributions to understanding nutritionally-induced cellular responses, Dr. Lee integrates both in vitro and in vivo approaches to examine the health benefits of phytochemicals. His work contributes significantly to advancing precision nutrition and promoting health through diet. He is committed to innovation at the intersection of nutrition, cellular biology, and disease prevention.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Yu Geon Lee completed all his higher education at Chonnam National University in South Korea. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Food Science and Technology in 2011, where he developed a foundational understanding of food composition, safety, and processing. Building on this, he pursued a Master of Science (M.S.) in the same field, completing it in 2013, with a focus likely on early-stage research in food biochemistry and nutrition. He went on to obtain his Ph.D. in 2016 in Food Science and Technology, specializing in cellular metabolism and the health impacts of functional food components. His academic training prepared him to integrate laboratory techniques with applied nutrition science, leading to his current research pursuits in nutrikinetics, mitochondrial biology, and anti-metabolic disease strategies. Throughout his studies, he demonstrated strong academic excellence and research capability in biochemical and molecular nutrition.

Experience

Dr. Yu Geon Lee currently serves as an Assistant Researcher at the Precision Nutrition Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute (KFRI), where he explores the molecular mechanisms by which nutrients and natural compounds influence human metabolism and health. With nearly a decade of experience in cellular and molecular nutrition research, he has developed expertise in studying insulin resistance, lipid accumulation, and mitochondrial function. Dr. Lee has led and contributed to numerous research projects involving cell metabolism, nutrikinetics, and anticancer agents, using state-of-the-art biochemical and molecular tools. His professional journey also includes mentoring junior researchers and collaborating with cross-functional teams on national and international research initiatives. Dr. Lee’s role at KFRI involves not only conducting experiments but also publishing results in reputed journals and contributing to Korea’s advancement in food science and health-oriented food products. His commitment reflects a balanced blend of academic insight and translational research application.

Awards and Honors

While the provided document does not list specific awards or honors, Dr. Yu Geon Lee’s impressive publication record and research contributions suggest he is a recognized figure in the field of food science and precision nutrition. Being consistently published in top-tier international journals such as Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, Cells, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, and Molecular Cell, speaks to the academic and research excellence he upholds. His involvement in impactful studies such as the regulation of mitochondrial respiration, insulin resistance, and autophagy in metabolic diseases positions him as a valuable contributor in biomedical nutrition science. He may also be a recipient of internal institutional recognitions or project grants, often awarded by KFRI or national research foundations, though specific titles are not listed. His growing influence is evident through collaborative publications and leadership in projects concerning natural bioactive compounds and disease prevention mechanisms.

Research Focus

Dr. Yu Geon Lee’s research centers on the interplay between nutrition and cellular metabolism, with a special focus on mitochondrial function, insulin resistance, lipid homeostasis, and autophagy. He studies how natural compounds—including bioactives from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Schisandra chinensis, and other plants—affect cellular signaling pathways such as IRS/PI3K/Akt, AMPK, and PCSK9 regulation. A key part of his work involves nutrikinetics, understanding how food-derived molecules are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted (ADME). Dr. Lee is also interested in the role of mitochondrial stress responses in metabolic diseases and cancer progression. His holistic approach integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, and nutritional sciences to design precision nutrition strategies that can be used for disease prevention and treatment. By targeting specific pathways involved in metabolic dysfunction and inflammation, Dr. Lee’s work supports the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals aimed at promoting metabolic health and longevity.

Publication Top Notes

1. 📊 Improvement of Glucose Metabolism by Pennogenin 3-O-β-Chacotrioside via IRS/PI3K/Akt Signaling and Mitochondrial Respiration in Insulin-Resistant Hepatocytes – Mol. Nutr. Food Res. (2025)

2. 🔬 Tomatine Improves Glucose Metabolism and Mitochondrial Respiration via AMPK in Insulin-Resistant Hepatocyte Cell Lines – Cells (2025)

3. 🌿 Licochalcone D from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Improves High-Glucose-Induced Insulin Resistance in Hepatocytes – IJMS (2024)

4. 🧴 Natural Product-Derived Compounds Targeting Keratinocytes and Pathways in Psoriasis Therapeutics – IJMS (2024)

5. 🔋 Pennogenin 3-O-β-Chacotrioside Attenuates Lipid Accumulation by Enhancing Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity – IJMS (2024)

6. ❤️ Schisandrin A Upregulates LDL Receptor by Inhibiting PCSK9 Stabilization in Steatotic Model – J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (2024)

7. 💊 Capsella bursa-pastoris Extract Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Antioxidant Enzyme Upregulation – IJMS (2023)

8. ⚖️ Anti-Obesity Effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Ethanol Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice – Korean J. Food Preserv. (2023)

9. 🔥 Patulin Ameliorates Lipid Accumulation and Inflammatory Response by Modulating Mitochondrial Respiration – Antioxidants (2023)

10. 🍷 Patulin Alleviates Hepatic Lipid Accumulation by Regulating Lipogenesis and Mitochondrial Respiration – Life Sciences (2023)

11. 🧬 Role of Mitochondrial Stress Response in Cancer Progression – Cells (2022)

12. 🧫 SREBP-1c Impairs ULK1 Sulfhydration-Mediated Autophagy, Promoting Hepatic Steatosis – Molecular Cell (2021)