In-Jung Kim, PhD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Professor, Neuroscience
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Professor, Neuroscience
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Professor, Neuroscience
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Associate Professor, Neuroscience
Appointments
Ophthalmology
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryNeuroscience
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Sanes lab
- Harvard University (2010)
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Washington University in St. Louis (2004)
- PhD
- State University of New York at Buffalo (2003)
- BS
- Pohang University of Science and Technology (1993)
Research
Overview
Our current research involves both retina (light-sensitive layer of eye) and brain targets: 1) Retina project includes investigating how retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) acquire specific morphological structure during development and how they eventually recognize distinct visual cues (e.g. color, motion). We are examining potential effects of overexpression and knock-out of candidate genes on structural development and functional specification of distinct subsets of RGCs that may lead to alteration in visual perception. 2) In parallel, we are exploring subtype-specific regeneration ability of RGC subsets after optic-nerve damage. 3) Brain project focuses on the assembly of the neural circuits mediating visual threat-triggered defensive behavior. The ultimate goal is to define molecular mechanisms that underlie development of previously unexplored visual circuits contributing to function and dysfunction of fear- and stress- related brain circuitry. Our research methodology combines mouse genetics, AAV-mediated neurocircuit analysis, bioinformatics, optogenetics, confocal microscopy and behavioral tests.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Jonathan Demb, PhD
Pouyan Rahmani
Stephen Strittmatter, MD, PhD, AB
Francesc Lopez-Giraldez, PhD
Publications
2024
Supermultipotency and unpredictability in the developing superior colliculus
Rudenko A, Kim I. Supermultipotency and unpredictability in the developing superior colliculus. Trends In Neurosciences 2024, 47: 239-240. PMID: 38514350, PMCID: PMC11047761, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.03.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
2023
Brn3b regulates the formation of fear-related midbrain circuits and defensive responses to visual threat
Lee H, Weinberg-Wolf H, Lee H, Lee T, Conte J, Godoy-Parejo C, Demb J, Rudenko A, Kim IJ. Brn3b regulates the formation of fear-related midbrain circuits and defensive responses to visual threat. PLOS Biology 2023, 21: e3002386. PMID: 37983249, PMCID: PMC10695396, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002386.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTranscription factor Brn3bLoss of neuronsVisual threatLateral posterior nucleusMutant mice displayDefensive responsesDefensive freezing responsesPosterior nucleusTachykinin 2Mice displayMidbrain circuitVisual circuitsNeural circuitryBrn3bSpecific genetic componentsFreezing responseFear-associated behaviorsSocial isolationTac2Behavioral phenotypesMolecular mechanismsFunctional organizationGenetic componentResponseSimilar mechanism
2021
Optic nerve regeneration screen identifies multiple genes restricting adult neural repair
Lindborg JA, Tran NM, Chenette DM, DeLuca K, Foli Y, Kannan R, Sekine Y, Wang X, Wollan M, Kim IJ, Sanes JR, Strittmatter SM. Optic nerve regeneration screen identifies multiple genes restricting adult neural repair. Cell Reports 2021, 34: 108777. PMID: 33657370, PMCID: PMC8009559, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAxonsCRISPR-Cas SystemsDependovirusFemaleGene EditingGene Expression RegulationGenetic Association StudiesHEK293 CellsHumansInterleukinsMaleMAP Kinase Kinase KinasesMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicNerve RegenerationNeurogenesisOptic NerveOptic Nerve InjuriesRetinal Ganglion CellsSignal TransductionSTAT3 Transcription FactorConceptsOptic nerve crushRetinal ganglion cellsRegeneration-associated genesShort hairpin RNAIL-22Neural repairCentral nervous system traumaNeurological deficits persistNervous system traumaNerve crushAxonal damageAxonal regenerationGanglion cellsSystem traumaInflammatory responseCNS regenerationDeficits persistAxonal growthHairpin RNAConcurrent activationTranscription 3Cell-autonomous factorsKinase pathwaySignal transducerRepair
2020
Connectomic analysis reveals an interneuron with an integral role in the retinal circuit for night vision
Park SJ, Lieberman EE, Ke JB, Rho N, Ghorbani P, Rahmani P, Jun NY, Lee HL, Kim IJ, Briggman KL, Demb JB, Singer JH. Connectomic analysis reveals an interneuron with an integral role in the retinal circuit for night vision. ELife 2020, 9: e56077. PMID: 32412412, PMCID: PMC7228767, DOI: 10.7554/elife.56077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAII amacrine cellsProjection neuronsSingle interneuron typeConnectomic analysisBipolar cell pathwaysNovel neural circuitGABAergic cellsAmacrine cellsCentral neuronsGanglion cellsSynaptic layersRetinal circuitsInterneuron typesSurround inhibitionMouse retinaNight visionON responseExcitatory centerOptogenetic analysesNeural circuitsInhibitory surroundCell pathwaysRod photoreceptorsReceptive fieldsRb pathway
2019
Rorβ regulates selective axon-target innervation in the mammalian midbrain
Byun H, Lee HL, Liu H, Forrest D, Rudenko A, Kim IJ. Rorβ regulates selective axon-target innervation in the mammalian midbrain. Development 2019, 146: dev171926. PMID: 31332038, PMCID: PMC6679361, DOI: 10.1242/dev.171926.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDorsal lateral geniculate nucleusLateral posterior nucleusLong-range neuronal connectionsSuperior colliculusNeuronal connectionsMammalian midbrainLateral geniculate nucleusThalamic nucleiAxonal projectionsGeniculate nucleusMidbrain centerPosterior nucleusMammalian brainInnervationRORβMidbrainDevelopmental mediatorTranscription factorsColliculusOpposite phenotypeNeuronsBrain
2018
Convergence and Divergence of CRH Amacrine Cells in Mouse Retinal Circuitry
Park SJH, Pottackal J, Ke JB, Jun NY, Rahmani P, Kim IJ, Singer JH, Demb JB. Convergence and Divergence of CRH Amacrine Cells in Mouse Retinal Circuitry. Journal Of Neuroscience 2018, 38: 3753-3766. PMID: 29572434, PMCID: PMC5895998, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2518-17.2018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlpha ganglion cellsGanglion cell typesAmacrine cellsGanglion cellsCRH cellsAlpha cellsGABAergic synapsesInhibitory interneuronsExcitation/inhibition balanceCorticotropin-releasing hormoneCre transgenic miceFire action potentialsTonic excitatory driveCell typesBalance of excitationGABA releaseExcitatory circuitsRetinal circuitryExcitatory driveInhibition balanceInhibitory inputsMammalian retinaMouse retinaAction potentialsOptogenetic analyses
2017
Identification of Intrinsic Axon Growth Modulators for Intact CNS Neurons after Injury
Fink KL, López-Giráldez F, Kim IJ, Strittmatter SM, Cafferty WB. Identification of Intrinsic Axon Growth Modulators for Intact CNS Neurons after Injury. Cell Reports 2017, 18: 2687-2701. PMID: 28297672, PMCID: PMC5389739, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.02.058.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpinal cord injuryCentral nervous systemFunctional recoveryIntact neuronsAdult mammalian central nervous systemPartial spinal cord injuryInjury-induced sproutingUnilateral brainstem lesionsGreater functional recoverySpontaneous functional recoveryCorticospinal motor neuronsCorticospinal tract axonsMammalian central nervous systemWild-type miceNew synapse formationGrowth modulatorsAdjacent injuryBrainstem lesionsCord injuryFunctional deficitsIntact circuitryCNS neuronsMotor neuronsCircuit plasticityNervous system
2016
Molecular features distinguish ten neuronal types in the mouse superficial superior colliculus
Byun H, Kwon S, Ahn HJ, Liu H, Forrest D, Demb JB, Kim IJ. Molecular features distinguish ten neuronal types in the mouse superficial superior colliculus. The Journal Of Comparative Neurology 2016, 524: 2300-2321. PMID: 26713509, PMCID: PMC4892959, DOI: 10.1002/cne.23952.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpecific cell typesCell typesMolecular markersEts variant gene 1Distinct expression patternsSuperior colliculusMouse SSCsTranscription factorsCadherin-7Retinoid-related orphan receptor βContactin-3Cell adhesion moleculeProtein 3BNeuronal typesSSC neuronsExpression patternsGene expressionMolecular mechanismsProtocadherin 20Gene 1Binding proteinCadherin-6Netrin-G2Calcium binding proteinMolecular families
2015
Function and Circuitry of VIP+ Interneurons in the Mouse Retina
Park SJ, Borghuis BG, Rahmani P, Zeng Q, Kim IJ, Demb JB. Function and Circuitry of VIP+ Interneurons in the Mouse Retina. Journal Of Neuroscience 2015, 35: 10685-10700. PMID: 26224854, PMCID: PMC4518048, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0222-15.2015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGanglion cell layerAmacrine cell typesInner nuclear layerAmacrine cellsGanglion cellsINL cellsON pathwayGanglion cell dendritesGanglion cell typesBipolar cell terminalsWhole-cell recordingsCell typesNervous system functionSpatial tuningBipolar cell pathwaysTransgenic mouse lineGCL cellsOptic nerveGABAergic interneuronsRetinal functionCell dendritesRetinal circuitryInhibitory interneuronsNuclear layerBipolar interneuronsSubtype-Specific Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells following Axotomy: Effects of Osteopontin and mTOR Signaling
Duan X, Qiao M, Bei F, Kim IJ, He Z, Sanes JR. Subtype-Specific Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells following Axotomy: Effects of Osteopontin and mTOR Signaling. Neuron 2015, 85: 1244-1256. PMID: 25754821, PMCID: PMC4391013, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRetinal ganglion cellsDownregulation of PTENGanglion cellsInsulin-like growth factor-1Mouse retinal ganglion cellsAdministration of osteopontinAbility of RGCsSubtype-specific differencesGrowth factor-1Effect of osteopontinAxonal regenerationIGF-1High mTORSurvival rateΑRGCsMTOR pathwayPromising agentAxotomyMTOR signalingDistinct subsetsFactor 1Existence of subpopulationsInjuryOsteopontinDownregulation
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind Grant
National AwardE. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the BlindDetails01/01/2015United Stateshonor Whitehall Foundation Research Grant
National AwardWhitehall FoundationDetails07/01/2014United Stateshonor NIH Pathway to Independence Award
National AwardNIH/NEIDetails08/01/2010United Stateshonor Bushrod H. Campbell and Adah F. Hall Charity Fund Fellowship
Regional AwardCharles A. King TrustDetails07/01/2007United Stateshonor MERCK AWARDS FOR GENOME-RELATED RESEARCH
UnknownMerck/ Harvard UniversityDetails03/20/2006United States
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