Innovating for early disease detection
Hyeonjeong Jeong is a doctoral student in her fifth year working on developing techniques for fast and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She conducts her research under the guidance of Professor Hye Yoon Park and presented her work on a visual diagnostic technique named Capillary-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion or Cap-QuIC at Neusorscience 2024, the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference. The technique can be used to detect neurodegenerative diseases that affect both humans and animals.
We had the opportunity to connect with Jeong and learn more about her research interests, what motivates her to do the kind of work she does, and her future plans.
What brought you to the University of Minnesota?
The primary factor that brought me to the University of Minnesota was the transition of my advisor. Professor Park’s move was the trigger for my own shift in my field of study. Honestly, I was a little bit concerned about the shift as electrical engineering was rather unfamiliar to me. However, I had already been considering drawing on other disciplines to support my own work. So I thought my advisor’s move would be a good opportunity for me to broaden my perspective and interact with experts from other disciplines. Ultimately, the change from physics to electrical engineering has indeed been a positive move and has ended up broadening the scope of my research.
Another key reason I chose the University of Minnesota is its vast resources and interdisciplinary environment, which I found incredibly appealing. As a large institution with a wide range of departments, it fosters an atmosphere where collaboration across different research labs is highly accessible. The decision to move proved to be the right one for me as my current research involves a partnership with the veterinary school—a collaboration that would not have been possible without the strong interdisciplinary environment at the University.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, my research focuses on developing diagnostic assays for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Help us understand your research and its impact.
My research focuses on detecting oligomers, which are intermediates that form between monomers and fibrils in the protein misfolding process. Misfolded proteins are a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. While existing assays like real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) detect fibrils, our goal is to detect these oligomers because doing so could help us diagnose diseases like Parkinson's significantly earlier.
In addition, most RT-QuIC assays currently focus on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is very painful to collect, or brain samples, which can only be obtained postmortem. So our research team led by Professor Hye Yoon Park is developing a new assay that works with much less invasive or non-invasive samples, such as blood or urine. I believe this research could aid in early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and eventually help alleviate the suffering of patients with these diseases.
How did you get interested in research?
I was always deeply curious about how scientific advancements lead to real-world applications that benefit society. I also have always been fascinated by the potential of research to create meaningful changes in people's lives. My curiosity was further strengthened as my understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the critical need for early diagnosis and effective treatment deepened. As I delved further into this area, I became increasingly motivated by the idea that my work could contribute to improving diagnostic methods.
The thought of making a tangible difference in patients’ lives is incredibly rewarding, and it fuels my commitment to this research. I believe that enhancing diagnostic techniques can significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families, and it is this intersection of science and patient care that truly inspires me to pursue my work in this field.
Who has influenced you, supported you, and cheered you on?
There are several people who have greatly influenced my academic and research interests. My family has always supported my curiosity about science and encouraged me to pursue higher education. My Ph.D. advisor, Professor Hye Yoon Park, who specializes in neuroscience, has played a crucial role in guiding my research. Her academic excellence has inspired me and strengthened my desire to contribute to the field of science. My lab members also inspire me every day as we frequently share ideas and work together on challenging problems.
You recently won a significant award in the field of neuroscience. Can you share more about it?
My research was recognized by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) with the Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) in October 2024. The TPDA is a prestigious recognition granted to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have demonstrated exceptional research achievements in neuroscience. This award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field and provides recipients with a travel grant to attend the SfN annual meeting. Awardees present their research at the conference and participate in professional mentoring programs and networking events, which help foster academic growth through interactions with fellow researchers. I presented my poster to the attendees and we had the opportunity to share our ideas and experimental skills, even though our individual fields of research were somewhat different (for e.g., some of the attendees were working on sleep disorders). Some of us talked of potential collaborations too.
What are your plans for the future?
One option I am considering is to continue working on the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. My ultimate goal in this area is to develop an accurate, patient-friendly diagnostic method for various neurodegenerative diseases enabling early detection and slowing disease progression. I’m also considering shifting my focus towards developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Using the knowledge I've gained from my current research, I want to work on creating early treatments for these diseases.
Hyeonjeong Jeong is a recipient of the Dr. Krzysztof K. Burhardt and April L. Spas Fellowship.