Welcome to the KIM Lab
Investigating neural-network & BBB dysfunctions in neurological disorders
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Who We Are
We are neuroscientists who explore the root causes of the behavioral abnormalities that are associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders
What We Do
We investigate how various genetic risk factors interact with environmental risk factors to affect neural circuits and blood-brain barrier, leading to behavioral changes associated with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. This work has been conducted based on our expertise encompassing mouse genetics, molecular & cellular biology, pharmacology, proteomics, neuroimmunology, anatomy & histology, viral technology, optogenetics, in vivo Ca2+ imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral studies
Recent Lab News
9/24/2022
Sunwhi and Yong-Eun published a method paper in STAR Protocols: "Simultaneous analysis of social behaviors and neural responses in mice using round social arena system"
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666166722006025?via%3Dihub
11/8/2022
Yong-Eun and Sunwhi published a method paper in STAR Protocols: "Neural circuit-specific gene manipulation in mouse brain in vivo using split-intein-mediated split-Cre system"
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666166722006876
6/7/2022
Sunwhi published a paper in Cell Reports as a cover story for the issue: "Neural Circuit Pathology Driven by Shank3 Mutation Disrupts Social Behaviors"
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(22)00681-7
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/issue?pii=S2211-1247(21)X0024-1#fullCover
6/24/2022
Our research was highlighted in SPECTRUM
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autism-linked-mutation-disrupts-brain-circuit-to-change-social-behavior/
2/6/2025
Yong-Eun published a paper in Nature Communications: "Endothelial SHANK3 regulates tight junctions in the neonatal mouse blood-brain barrier through β-Catenin signaling"
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56720-1?fbclid=IwY2xjawITHHBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWnQFXWYj8mYHLOyAHiNra7NezxNmmS1rBY4VPindWdU9th94kw1CtZWkQ_aem_rMVqIZqK92ARlgZqR259Og
Address
855 Monroe Avenue,Memphis, TN 38103
Contacts:
Il Hwan Kim
ikim9@uthsc.edu