Jihoon Kim, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical informatics and data science at Yale School of Medicine, was honored with the Rising Star Award at the 14th International Kawasaki Disease Symposium. This prestigious recognition highlights his groundbreaking research on the genetic and environmental factors influencing Kawasaki Disease (KD)—the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children worldwide.
Kawasaki Disease is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of unknown etiology that primarily affects infants and young children. If left untreated, up to 25% of KD patients may develop serious cardiovascular complications, including coronary artery aneurysms. Despite its clinical significance, no molecular tool currently exists to diagnose KD, predict coronary artery aneurysms, or identify resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Additionally, clinicians lack a detailed understanding of the biological effects of different adjunctive treatments, making treatment decisions challenging.
To address these critical gaps, Kim applies a cutting-edge, multi-omics approach, integrating DNA, cell-free RNA-Seq, bulk RNA, microRNA, proteome, and metabolome data from the same patients, all linked with electronic health records. His groundbreaking research is supported by funding from The Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Foundation, along with a sequencing and computing resource gift from Illumina.
The Rising Star Award recognizes emerging leaders who have made significant contributions to Kawasaki Disease research. Kim’s innovative work exemplifies how genetic and environmental insights can advance pediatric health care and precision medicine.