Youngran Park

Youngran Park is a postdoctoral researcher studying exogenous RNA biology, spanning RNA viruses and RNA therapeutics. During her doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University, she investigated the role of ARID1A in DNA repair and how its dysfunction contributes to cancer development and therapeutic vulnerabilities, particularly in ovarian cancer (Clinical Cancer Research, 2019; Laboratory Investigation, 2021).

Recognizing the potential of RNA as a platform for personalized medicine, she transitioned to RNA biology. In this lab, Youngran has explored interactions between viral RNAs and viral or host proteins (Molecular Cell, 2021; Nucleic Acids Research, 2025). She also led a study identifying the SARS-CoV-2 genome packaging signal (Nature Communications, 2026).

Youngran’s current research focuses on developing next-generation RNA therapeutics. By learning from sophisticated strategies shaped by millions of years of viral evolution, she aims to develop innovative RNA technologies that improve human health.

Education

• 2011–2017 Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, USA
• 2005–2010 B.S. in Life Sciences, Korea University

Publications with our lab

• Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 genome packaging signal in the nsp12-coding region
  Y. Park^{✉︎ (corresponding author)}, J. Lim, H. Cho, A. Son, M. Jeong, Y.-s. Lee^{✉︎ (corresponding author)}, and V. N. Kim^{✉︎ (corresponding author)}
  Nature Communications (2026), 17(1):8500
• SARS-CoV-2 Nsp2 recruits GIGYF2 near viral replication sites and supports viral protein production
  J. Kim¹, Y. Park¹, D. Yoon¹, S. Lee¹, H. Kim¹, K.-Y. Ban, J. Yang, D.-E. Choi, J. Kim, J.-S. Kim, and V. N. Kim^{✉︎ (corresponding author)}
  Nucleic Acids Research (2025), 53(14):gkaf674
• The SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome
  S. Lee¹, Y. Lee¹, Y. Choi, A. Son, Y. Park, K.-M. Lee, J. Kim, J.-S. Kim, and V. N. Kim^{✉︎ (corresponding author)}
  Molecular Cell (2021), 81(13):2838-2850.e6