On Friday, December 27, 2024, the 2024 CCADD Year-End Workshop was successfully held at the Seoul National University (SNU) Yongon Campus. The event was attended by Prof. Howard Lee, CCADD members, interns, and alumni. Notably, Research Professor Yoona Choi joined the event in person, while Prof. Asa Johansson and Dr. Tae Kyu Chung participated online, adding an international dimension to the program.

The workshop began with a brief icebreaking session, followed by a series of meaningful presentations. The first presenter, Yunjin Choi, shared her growth and learning experiences over the past six months in her presentation titled “The Serendipitous Road: Lessons from the Past 6 Months.” Next, Yujin Kim reflected on her first year as a graduate student, highlighting her research projects, achievements, and key takeaways. In the afternoon session, Junghyun Won provided a retrospective on her 4.5 years as a graduate student, offering valuable insights into the diverse experiences of graduate life.

The main session reviewed CCADD's accomplishments in 2024, celebrating the research group's growth and achievements. Prof. Howard Lee commended the group’s continued success in research and publications. The workshop then shifted its focus to 2025, with a session outlining a roadmap emphasizing emerging AI concepts and innovative research ideas aligned with the latest trends.

Three special lectures added depth and inspiration to the workshop. Dr. Tae Kyu Chung, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Francisco, delivered a lecture titled “Postdoc Diaries: A Glimpse of Life in the US,” offering a vivid account of his life and research abroad, which resonated strongly with the audience. Research Professor Yoona Choi reflected on her year as a research professor at Child Cancer and Rare Disease Project, Seoul National University Hospital. Her presentation detailed the challenges and achievements of her rigorous research journey, offering valuable insights for fellow researchers. Prof. Asa Johansson from Uppsala University delivered a lecture titled “Pharmacoepidemiology in the Era of Precision Health,” introducing the latest developments in precision medicine and pharmacoepidemiology. Her session provided an opportunity for attendees to exchange ideas with an international expert.

The workshop concluded with an inspiring speech by Prof. Howard Lee, who has been serving as the Dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at SNU. Prof. Lee praised CCADD's remarkable achievements throughout 2024 and expressed his strong support for the group’s ambitious goals in 2025. The 2024 CCADD Year-End Workshop provided members and alumni with a valuable opportunity to strengthen their relationships, exchange ideas, and align on a shared vision for the journey ahead.

On May 30th, CCADD came together to celebrate Teacher's Day, creating a memorable evening for Prof. Howard, graduate students, and CCADD members. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Hyun A Lee, Dr. Siun Kim, Dr. Yoona Choi, and Dr. Tae Kyu Chung, whose attendance added warmth and significance to the occasion.

The evening was enchanting, with a delightful dinner setting the stage for meaningful conversations. Attendees shared recent updates, discussed various research topics, and exchanged personal experiences. Both graduates and current students found inspiration and motivation in each other's stories, drawing strength from their shared journeys.

A heartfelt farewell for Dr. Tae Kyu Chung marked a special highlight of the event. As he prepares to start a new chapter as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Chung expressed his gratitude and hopes for future research endeavors. CCADD members honored Dr. Chung’s new journey with full hearts, celebrating his achievements and new beginning.

The gathering reaffirmed the strong bonds within CCADD and emphasized the importance of interaction and collaboration between alumni and current members. This event was more than just a meeting; it was a moment of growth, support, and envisioning a shared future. We hope such gatherings will continue, creating lasting and meaningful memories for all CCADD members.

On May 13th, under a brilliant and clear sky, CCADD in Gwanggyo held a special event to celebrate Teacher's Day. This heartfelt gathering brought together Prof. Howard, CCADD members, and student researchers, all united in gratitude and admiration.

A board adorned with photos chronicling the history of CCADD and heartfelt messages of thanks captured the cherished moments. A cake featuring Prof. Howard, accompanied by flowers, was presented as a token of appreciation for his unwavering dedication and support. Sincere letters expressed deep gratitude for the professor's commitment and encouragement. Laughter filled the room during dinner as members recounted stories from their time together, fostering trust and camaraderie. The professor praised the students' efforts and passion, encouraging everyone to continue striving towards greater goals.

This Teacher's Day event provided an opportunity for the professor and lab members to grow closer, promising a positive impact on future research activities. It was a testament to the warm and harmonious atmosphere of CCADD, offering a meaningful moment to express deep respect and gratitude to Prof. Howard. Beyond a simple celebration, it was a significant occasion to strengthen the unity of the entire lab and pledge future achievements.

Prof. Howard’s heartfelt words perfectly captured the essence of this 2024 Teacher's Day: "There are many professors out there, but I am made to be more than those simply because of you. Truly, each and every one of you is my hero and heroine, and I feel indebted that you have guided me to become who I am."

On February 26th, Professor Howard and the CCADD members gathered to honor the graduation of Tae Kyu Chung and the successful completion of the winter internship program by Seorin Choi and Yunha Noh.

Tae Kyu, who studied the realm of biology-neurobiology as an undergrad, joined CCADD in February 2018 as an intern. Under the guidance of Professor Howard Lee thenceforth, he navigated through the rigors of an integrated master's and PhD program. His persistent dedication to PKPD modeling culminated in a doctoral thesis entitled “Comparison of Machine Learning and Population Pharmacokinetic Models for Predicting Antiepileptic Drug Concentrations Based on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Records”, earning him a Doctor of Medicine degree. On the graduation day, his relentless pursuit was duly awarded.

Simultaneously, a ceremony to mark the completion of Seorin and Yunha's internship was conducted at the main campus of Seoul National University. Throughout their internship, they immersed themselves in a series of educational endeavors, presentations, and assignments. On that day, their efforts, all contained within a comprehensive poster presentation, were met with a deep appreciation. Members of CCADD also attended the ceremony to celebrate the completion of their internships.

As we congratulate their accomplishments, we also look forward with anticipation to their future as independent researchers.

On December 27th, 2023, CCADD held the year-end workshop at Front1, a startup hub at the heart of Seoul, where PMACH is based. This year, Prof. Howard Lee and the members of CCADD were joined by PMATCH and Dr. Siun Kim. The workshop went on in a dynamic atmosphere, welcoming both Prof. Howard’s part-time student and the interns for the upcoming internship program.

After a brief ice-breaking time, the main session started with a recap of the accomplishments of 2023, reflecting on the overall trajectory. Prof. Howard commended CCADD’s continuous growth in both research and publications. As preparation for 2024, the following session outlined a roadmap, encompassing detailed research ideas and plans for conference to attend in 2024.

The spotlight then turned to CCADD interns. Three passionate interns—Tang Chao, Seorin Choi, and Yunha Noh—who will join the 2024 winter internship program introduced themselves through "Who am I" presentations. Following this, Yujin expressed her aspirations for the path ahead as a new CCADD graduate research student. The workshop proceeded with a lecture on the challenges faced by postdoctoral researchers and strategies for maintaining a healthy mindset among graduate students.

Dr. Siun Kim took a special session to share insights into his post-doctoral journey following graduation. Delivering a lecture on the trending topic of "LLMs in medicine and drug development", he provided valuable perspectives and briefly introduced his ongoing research projects. He candidly shared reflections on the first-year post doc., emphasizing the professional commitment required in the field of research.

Finally, PMATCH summarized their achievements in 2023 and anticipated the upcoming year's developments. With the successful launch of the 'BATTERY' app and a triumphant debut at CES^® 2023, PMATCH envisions a promising future with new team members. Yoomin Jeon, the Chief Technology Officer of PMATCH, expressed her commitment to meeting user’s needs as a must-have app.

The workshop concluded with a keynote address by Prof. Howard. Introducing new trends in 2024, he emphasized the significance of adjusting our research focus and domain knowledge to take another leap forward. Prof. Howard’s central message highlighted 2024 as a pivotal year for CCADD's rebound and PMATCH's inaugural year of growth. 

Yoona Choi and Jung-Hyun Won attended the 65th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), which took place from December 9 to 12, 2023, in San Diego, USA. Annually, the ASH conference brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, clinicians, and academics from around the globe to explore advancements in hematology. This prestigious event not only focuses on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of blood disorders but also features a variety of social events and opportunities for collaboration and the sharing of insights among experts in the field. Official photos from ASH are available here.

At the 'Outcomes Research—Lymphoid Malignancies: Poster II' session, Yoona Choi, serving as the first author and representing the entire research team, presented a study titled 'Evaluating the Effectiveness and Safety of Prephase Steroid Treatment before Remission Induction Chemotherapy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Common Data Model-Based Real-World Data Approach.' This study investigated steroid pretreatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients undergoing remission induction chemotherapy (RIC), with the aim of reducing complications such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Analyzing data from Seoul National University Hospital and Catholic University Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, the study compared patients who received steroid pretreatment at least seven days before RIC with those who did not. The findings indicated a significant reduction in TLS incidence in the pretreated group. While overall survival rates were higher in this group, the difference was not statistically significant. These results provide important real-world evidence for the effectiveness of steroid pretreatment in reducing TLS risk in pediatric ALL patients.

This study was part of a larger project, funded by a grant from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, aiming to develop a disease registry database for pediatric ALL using real-world data in the clinical data warehouse (CDW) of Seoul National University Hospital and Catholic University Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, thereby generating real-world evidence for pediatric ALL. 

Prof. Howard Lee gave a talk at the 17th JSCPT-KSCPT Joint Symposium, Kobe, Japan, on December 15, 2023. In his presentation entitled 'Real-World Data Analysis as a Clinical Pharmacologist: Experience and Some Thoughts', Prof. Lee. introduce the audience to the RWD research works CCADD has performed for the past 3 or so years, all of which have been published in reputable journals or under review shown below. Prof. Lee stressed, "With RWD landscape fast growing, clinical pharmacologists should leverage the potentials of RWD/RWE in drug development by furthering its scientific innovation!" 

Prof. Lee's speech was well received by the audience followed by a welcome reception by JSCPT colleagues, whom he and other delegates have not seen in person for the past three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The night was full of talking, drinking, and singing! Both teams promised to meet again next year in Jeju, Korea, for the Spring Conference of 2024 KSCPT. 

Prof. Howard Lee emphasized the willingness to pay for innovation from the whole societal perspective for South Korea. In a forum organized by Hankyung TV to commemorate the 2023 Korean Biopharmaceutical Award, Prof. Lee discussed what South Korea has to equip itself with to become one of the countries that can not only develop, but market innovative new drugs on a global scale. He listed the following conditions: nationwide control center, training and education, megafunds, advanced drug regulatory science, and willingness to pay for innovation as a society. The following YouTube clip captures the 5th condition.