1. Can you please briefly summarize the paper? 

Atherosclerotic lesions preferentially develop at arterial regions exposed to disturbed blood flow, while those exposed to stable flow remain protected. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying blood flow and focal atherosclerosis development remain incompletely understood. Through the combination of the partial carotid ligation model of atherosclerosis and innovative approaches both in vitro and in vivo, we have uncovered the flow-sensitive nature of HEG1 and its novel atheroprotective roles during acute and chronic atherosclerosis development. By utilizing innovative imaging and functional studies along with HEG1 knockdowns and viral overexpression approaches, we demonstrated the involvement of HEG1 in monocyte adhesion, permeability, and migration, thus contributing to flow-dependent atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we have revealed that flow-dependent mechanisms by which HEG1 regulates atherosclerosis.

Proposed mechanism of HEG1 regulation and action in response to d-flow and s-flow in endothelial cells.

2. Can you please tell us the main difficulties you had in the laboratory work and how you overcame them?

After acquiring my Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2019, I began my academic career in Emory University. The major difficulty faced by all pre- and post-doctoral fellows across the U.S. is staying competitive for extramural fundings and resources to position themselves as principal investigators in their own laboratories. Throughout my ongoing career development, I've come to recognize that overcoming these obstacles on my own has been nearly impossible. I believe that fostering a spirit of diligence and embracing team science is crucial to overcome this difficulties. Fortunately, Dr. Jo and members of the Jo Lab committed time, resources, and activities to overcome these difficulties and ensure my ongoing success.

3. Please introduce your laboratory, university, or organization to bio-researchers in Korea.

The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University (Georgia Tech / Emory University) harmonized with unique expertise gathered from the world class biomolecular laboratories, animal research facilities, and the state-of-the-art imaging cores, together is well-positioned for utmost intellectual and moral support to investigate diverse fields in biomedical sciences. To hone my skills as an independent researcher in cardiovascular medicine, I decided to join Dr. Hanjoong Jo’s Cardiovascular Mechanobiology, Therapeutics, and Nanomedicine laboratory (Jo Lab) due to his renowned expertise in endothelial cells and broad research spectrum in basic mechanobiology research. His research program and mentorship provided primary access to a committed team of physicians, engineers and medical scientists fostering strong but diverse scientific networks to translate our research with therapeutic implications. The Jo Lab involves highly motivated undergraduate students, pre- and post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculties from different cultural and scientific backgrounds. This experiences enhances interdisciplinary team science and strengthen my dedication to pedagogy.

4. Please tell us your experiences and your thoughts related to research activities abroad.

In my view, the academic landscape in the U.S. is distinctly oriented towards fostering independence and encouraging proactivity. The educational landscape here emphasizes not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the development of critical thinking skills and the ability to take initiative. Combined with strong mentorship, this approach encourages students to delve into their areas of interest with autonomy, explore diverse perspectives, and actively engage in the learning process.

5. Can you provide some advice for younger scientists who have plans to study abroad?

As I emphasized earlier, diligence and strong work ethics are of paramount importance, especially at the junior level where I currently stand. Navigating this phase of both your academic and professional journey requires a fearless approach to embracing challenges. Viewing challenges encountered early on as steppingstones can significantly contribute to skill refinement and the accumulation of valuable experiences. Equally crucial is the skill of adapting to diverse cultural and academic backgrounds. In this dynamic environment, proactively cultivating diligence, accepting challenges, and embracing the multifaceted landscape of cultures and academic disciplines become key strategies for personal growth. By doing so, you not only enhance your individual development but also position yourself for success in the globally interconnected professional landscape.

6. Future plan?

As outlined in our recent Nature Reviews Cardiology paper, the mechanisms, and roles by which the Flow-Induced Reprogramming of Endothelial cells (FIRE) remain entirely unknown, sparking the development of various hypotheses and potential therapeutic approaches for atherosclerosis. Therefore, I am committed to pursuing an investigative career focused on FIRE and atherosclerosis.

7. Do you have anything else that you would like to tell Korean scientists and students?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Biological Research Information Center (BRIC) for offering this valuable opportunity to present our recent findings. I see this platform as a unique opportunity to foster the exchange and integration of scientific knowledge between Korea and the U.S. Additionally, I extend my thanks to Drs. Hanjoong Jo and Ian A. Tamargo for their exceptional collaboration, support, and conceptualizing this project.