Managing Director, Korea Virus Research Institute KVRI), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Korea
Director, Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases (KVRI), Korea
Professor, University of Science and Technolog, Korea
Adjunct Professor, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Korea

2. Education / Career

  • 2021.07-present. Managing Director, Korea Virus Research Institute. Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea
  • 2004. 09- 2023.10. Professor, Chungbuk National University, Korea
  • 2003 -2004.08. Post-doctoral fellow, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA
  • Ph.D. (2002). University of Minnesota, USA.
  • Bs, Master. College of Veterinary Medicine, Chung-Nam National University, South Korea.

3. Selected Publications List

  • Ferrets animal model of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus for human lethal infection and pathogenesis. Park SJ, et al. Nature Microbiol, 4(3):438-446, 2019.
  • Infection and Rapid Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Ferrets. Kim YI, et al. Cell Host Microbe, 5, pii: S1931-3128(20)30187-6, 202010.1038/s41467-019-11815-4, 2019.
  • A therapeutic neutralizing antibody targeting receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Kim C, et al.  Nat Commun, 12;12(1):288, doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20602-5, 2021.
  • Age-dependent pathogenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets. Kim YI, Yu KM, Koh JY, et al, Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):21. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27717-3.
  • Kinetically activating nanovaccine mimicking multidimensional immunomodulation of natural infection for broad protection against heterologous viruses in animal models. Lee SN, Kim YI, Kim J,et al, Nat Commun. 2025 Mar 25;16(1):2914.
  • Diverse bat organoids provide pathophysiological models for zoonotic viruses. Kim H, Heo SY, Kim YI, et al, Science. 2025 May 15;388(6748):756-762.
  • Mini bat organs reveal hidden viral threats. Kim H, Koo BK, Choi YK. Clin Transl Med. 2025 Aug;15(8):e70454.
  • PB2 and NP of North American H5N1 virus drive immune cell replication and systemic infections. Kim YI, Jang SG, Kwon W et al, Sci Adv. 2025 Sep 26;11(39):eady1208.

4. Research interests: RNA viruses, Emerging & re-emerging viruses, Zoonosis, Viral pathogenesis, Vaccines