The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies announced on July 6, 2026, that Professor Cheon Jin-woo of Yonsei University has been selected as the recipient of this year's 'Korea's Top Science and Technology Award.'
Established in 2003, this award aims to recognize and promote scientists and technologists who have made significant contributions to research in South Korea, enhancing the honor and pride of the scientific community. It is the country's highest honor in science and technology, with a total of 48 recipients as of last year.
Professor Cheon was recognized for his pioneering work in nanomedicine, which combines nanochemistry and biotechnology to advance disease diagnosis, cell therapy, and brain circuit correction, surpassing the limitations of traditional medicine. Nanomedicine is expected to play a crucial role in future brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and solving complex challenges in neuroscience.
He developed 'magnetogenetics' technology, demonstrating the ability to wirelessly and remotely control the activity of neurons in living animals using magnetic fields. This achievement addresses a long-standing challenge in the BCI field by simultaneously achieving wireless control and molecular-level biological selectivity. It presents a new therapeutic paradigm for safely and precisely controlling specific neural circuits without surgery. His research findings were published in the international journals 'Nature Materials' in 2021 and 'Nature Nanotechnology' in 2024.
In 2015, Professor Cheon established the Nanomedicine Research Center at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and has since expanded Korea's research infrastructure and international collaborations, positioning the country as a global hub for nanomedicine research. He is a fellow of both the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry and serves as an associate editor for the prestigious journal 'Journal of the American Chemical Society' (JACS).
Professor Cheon earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Yonsei University's Department of Chemistry and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has been a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Yonsei University since 2002 and currently serves as an Underwood Distinguished Professor, dedicating himself to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
The Ministry of Science and ICT will present Professor Cheon with a presidential citation and a prize of 300 million won at the '2026 World Korean Scientists and Engineers Conference' on July 7. This conference, taking place on July 7 and 8 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam, Seoul, will focus on new paradigms for scientific and technological cooperation in the global AI era, including the awarding of the Korea's Top Science and Technology Award and discussions on various science and technology policies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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