Prof. Soo-Jin Jung of Sogang University selected as recipient of the 2nd IVI-KVS Young Scientist Award
- Recognized for discovering viral RNA stabilization sequences that could advance next-generation mRNA vaccine platforms
SEOUL, Republic of Korea, 18 September 2026 — The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Korean Vaccine Society (KVS) jointly announced that Professor Soo-Jin Jung, Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Science at Sogang University, has been selected as the recipient of the 2nd IVI-KVS Young Scientist Award.
The award was jointly established by IVI and KVS to recognize outstanding achievements by young Korean scientists in vaccine research and to support the development of future leaders in vaccine science. The recipient receives a cash prize of KRW10 million.
Professor Jung was recognized for developing a novel RNA stabilization technology that addresses one of the major limitations of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, namely their relatively short duration of protein expression. Her research team identified RNA sequences found in various viruses that enhance mRNA stability and used them to develop a technology that prolongs the persistence of mRNA in the body. By enabling vaccine- or therapeutic-encoded proteins to be produced for a longer period, the novel technology is expected to improve the performance of next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.
In particular, the team identified a sequence known as A7, which extended the half-life of linear mRNA from approximately six hours to 16 hours and sustained protein expression in mice for more than two weeks. This achievement is considered a significant advance that could enhance the efficacy of next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics while reducing required dose levels and administration frequency. The researchers also elucidated the underlying mechanism, demonstrating that stabilization sequences including A7 inhibit mRNA degradation through TENT4-mediated extension of the poly(A) tail. The findings were published in Nature Biotechnology in 2025, with Professor Jung serving as a co-first author.
Professor Jung’s platform technology is already being applied to vaccine development. She is collaborating with IVI on the development of an influenza HA mRNA vaccine and is leading mRNA sequence optimization research for a Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) mRNA vaccine project conducted by a consortium comprising IVI, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Seoul National University, and ST Pharm, with support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The team has demonstrated enhanced antigen expression in vaccine candidates incorporating the A7 sequence, extending the impact of the research into practical vaccine development.
Professor Jung is scheduled to deliver an award lecture at the 2026 KVS Fall Scientific Conference entitled “RNA Stability Enhancers for Durable Base-Modified mRNA Therapeutics.” IVI will host a special lecture by Professor Jung on 30 September, and present the award plaque.
“Professor Jung’s research offers an innovative approach to enhancing mRNA stability and prolonging protein expression and successfully translates these advances into practical vaccine candidate development,” said Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI. “Such work represents an important step forward in the development of next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics and makes a significant contribution to the advancement of vaccine science.”
“Professor Jung has demonstrated both scientific excellence and societal impact by translating advances in fundamental RNA biology into applications for infectious disease vaccine development,” said Prof. Jun Chang, President of KVS. “We hope this award will further stimulate innovation in vaccine research and inspire young scientists in Korea to pursue bold and pioneering research.”
Professor Jung earned both her B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Seoul National University. She previously served as a postdoctoral researcher, senior researcher, and principal researcher at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and its RNA Research Center at Seoul National University. In March 2026, she joined Sogang University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences and also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences.
