Dr Kim joined St George’s, University of London in 2009, as a group leader.

Prior to this, she was a Senior Research Fellow at UCL Medical School, University College London where she worked with Professor Bouloux at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology (2003-2008).

During her postdoctoral research (1997 - 2003) at Cancer Research UK London Research Institute at Lincoln’s Inn Fields (previously Imperial Cancer Research Fund), she worked with Dr Hartmut Land and then with Dr Gordon Peters to investigate oncogenic signal pathways and cell cycle regulation, in particular, the mechanisms by which the tumour suppressor ARF and p53 operate, and how the cell cycle inhibitor p16 contributes to cellular ageing and cancer such as melanoma.

Dr Kim received her PhD from Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School (1997), under the supervision of Professor Harvey Ozer who discovered the DNA tumour virus SV40 T antigen that can transform normal cells into immortal cancer cells.

Dr Kim has been a reviewer for prestigious grant-awarding bodies and scientific journals. She has been invited to join the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) GnRH Network, an international consortium of physicians/researchers from 28 countries (profile page), and the UK Cilia Network, a national network of researchers working on cilia (my profile page).

Dr Kim has been involved with several learned societies, including the British Society for Cell Biology, Anatomical Society, British Society for Neuroendocrinology, Society for Endocrinology, Genetics Society, Biochemical Society, and Endocrine Society (USA). She also participates in public engagement activities, working with several patient groups.

As an established investigator in the field of CHH/KS, Dr Kim has made several important discoveries by integrating in vitro, interspecies, and clinical data, leading to improved diagnosis and counselling for unexplained infertility and new therapies for neonatal disorders and cancer.

Association of anosmin-1 in brain tumours: Anosmin-1, an extracellular matrix protein, was the first to be identified as the underlying genetic defect for X-linked KS. Following the initial finding on the role of anosmin-1 in FGF signalling, regulating GnRH neuronal development (PMC2785620), Dr Kim reported the first evidence on an oncogenic activity of anosmin-1 via its interaction with integrin and the tumour microenvironment.  Her group developed a novel computational approach with an original algorithm to analyse the gene expression profiles in a large collection of clinical samples obtained from St. George’s Hospital and demonstrated an inappropriate expression of anosmin-1 associated with high-grade brain tumours (PMC3869950).

Linking of CHH/KS with ciliopathy and the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway: Dr Kim's group generated two transgenic animal models (mouse, zebrafish) and showed the first evidence for WDR11 function in cilia trafficking, suggesting CHH/KS as a new category of ciliopathy. They also demonstrated the first evidence for direct regulation of GnRH expression by Hh signalling pathway mediated by WDR11, suggesting Hh agonist as a potential therapy for CHH/KS and other associated clinical manifestations such as obesity (PMC5797970).

Linking of CHH/KS with primary hypogonadism: Using embryo organ culture live imaging and novel co-culture experiments, her group identified a role of WDR11 in primordial germ cell (PGC) migration, demonstrating the mechanisms of primary gonadal defects in KS/CHH.  This is important because it can explain why some patients do not respond to the current therapies which are aimed at hypothalamic dysfunction.

Differential regulation of Hedgehog (Hh) signalling in germ cell development: Hh is a signalling molecule that plays a critically important role during embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis and in the aetiology of cancer. Her recent studies on PGCs led to new insights into the understanding of Hh signal regulation by cell-surface co-receptors. They found that the essential co-receptors BOC, CDO and GAS1 differentially interact with the primary PTCH1/2 receptors in the somatic and germ cell components of the developing gonads. This was the first demonstration of a PTCH2/GAS1-specific pathway, initiating distinct downstream signalling in parallel to the canonical pathway. Since Hh is one of the central morphogens and a major therapeutic target, this work (PMC7181751) has a strong impact on both fundamental and translational biology.

Further research on the molecular basis of the disease and the diverse signal pathways involved will help provide better diagnosis, treatment and management of the patients, as well as more precise genetic screening and counselling for the families.

Prevalence of pathogenic variants and digenic disease in patients diagnosed with normosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism/Kallmann Syndrome

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2024-08 | Journal article PMID: 38593951  DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112224

A cryptic microdeletion del(12)(p11.21p11.23) within an unbalanced translocation t(7;12)(q21.13;q23.1) implicates new candidate loci for intellectual disability and Kallmann syndrome

Scientific Reports 2023-08-10 | journal-article PMID: 37563198  DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40037-4

Coordination of canonical and noncanonical Hedgehog signalling pathways mediated by WDR11 during primordial germ cell development

Scientific Reports 2023-07-29 | journal-article PMID: 37516749  DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38017-9

Genetics of hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism-Human and mouse genes, inheritance, oligogenicity, and genetic counselling

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2021-05-30 | journal-article  PMID: 34062169  DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111334

WD40-Repeat Proteins in Ciliopathies and Congenital Disorders of Endocrine System

Endocrinology and Metabolism 2020-09-08 | journal-article  PMID: 32894826   DOI: 10.3803/enm.2020.302

Loss of Kallmann syndrome-associated gene WDR11 disrupts primordial germ cell development by affecting canonical and non-canonical Hedgehog signalling

2020-09-06 | preprint  DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.06.284927

Author Correction: Ptch2/Gas1 and Ptch1/Boc differentially regulate Hedgehog signalling in murine primordial germ cell migration

Nature Communications 2020-05-05 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16304-7

Ptch2/Gas1 and Ptch1/Boc differentially regulate Hedgehog signalling in murine primordial germ cell migration

Nature Communications 2020-04-24 | journal-article  PMID: 32332736  DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15897-3

Kallmann syndrome-associated WDR11 regulates primordial germ cell development

Endocrine Abstracts 2019-11-06 | conference-paper DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.65.oc6.4

Decoding the role of follicle stimulating hormone glycosylation in ovarian ageing

Fertility 2018 2018-01-02 | conference-paper DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2018.1431510

WDR11-mediated Hedgehog signalling defects underlie a new ciliopathy related to Kallmann syndrome

EMBO Reports 2018 | journal-article PMID: 29263200  DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744632

WDR11-mediated Hedgehog signalling defects underlie a new ciliopathy related to Kallmann syndrome

BioRkiv 2017-10-10 | preprint  DOI: 10.1101/200154

Developing and evaluating rare disease educational materials co-created by expert clinicians and patients: the paradigm of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 2017 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1186/s13023-017-0608-2

Digenic Inheritance of PROKR2 and WDR11 Mutations in Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2017 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1210/jc.2017-00332

Targeted next generation sequencing approach identifies eighteen new candidate genes in normosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2016 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2016.08.007

Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism and Kallmann Syndrome: Past, Present, and Future

Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015 | journal-article  DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2015.30.4.456

Anosmin-1 contributes to brain tumor malignancy through integrin signal pathways

Endocrine Related Cancer 2013 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1530/ERC-13-0181

Genetic Analysis of NR0B1in Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia Patients: Identification of a Rare Regulatory Variant Resulting in Congenital Adrenal Hypoplasia and Hypogonadal Hypogonadism without Testicular Carcinoma in situ

Sexual Development 2012-09-27 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1159/000342295

Cug2 is essential for normal mitotic control and CNS development in zebrafish

BMC Developmental Biology 2011 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1186/1471-213X-11-49

Extracellular matrix and cell signalling: the dynamic cooperation of integrin, proteoglycan and growth factor receptor

Journal of Endocrinology 2011 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1530/JOE-10-0377

Kisspeptin-evoked calcium signals in isolated primary rat gonadotropin- releasing hormone neurones

Neuroendocrinology 2011 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1159/000321678

Nasal embryonic LHRH factor (NELF) mutations in patients with normosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome

Fertility and Sterility 2011 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.01.010

Biological actions and interactions of anosmin-1

Frontiers of Hormone Research 2010 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1159/000312695

Essential Role of 2-O and N-Sulfation of Heparin on FGFR1 Regulation by Anosmin-1 in GnRH Neuron Migration

Endocrine Reviews 2010 | conference-paper  DOI: 10.1210/endo-meetings.2010.PART2.P3.P2-133

WDR11, a WD protein that interacts with transcription factor EMX1, is mutated in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome

American Journal of Human Genetics 2010 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.08.018

Novel mechanisms of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 regulation by extracellular matrix protein anosmin-1

Journal of Biological Chemistry 2009 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M109.049155

Binding to nucleophosmin determines the localization of human and chicken ARF but not its impact on p53

Oncogene 2008 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210887

Diversity in fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 regulation: learning from the investigation of Kallmann syndrome

Journal of Neuroendocrinology 2008 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2007.01627.x

Insights into the Molecular Basis of Kallman Syndrome

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences 2007-09-28 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0006100

Part of ISBN: 0470016175 ISBN: 9780470016176 Part of ISBN: 047001590X Part of ISBN: 9780470015902

Molecular pathogenesis of Kallmann's syndrome

Hormone Research 2007 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1159/000098156

Upregulation of chicken p15INK4b at senescence and in the developing brain

Journal of Cell Science 2006 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1242/jcs.02989

Anosmin-1 modulates fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 signaling in human gonadotropin-releasing hormone olfactory neuroblasts through a heparan sulfate-dependent mechanism

Journal of Neuroscience 2004 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3400-04.2004

Cross-talk of anosmin-1, the protein implicated in X-linked Kallmann's syndrome, with heparan sulphate and urokinase-type plasminogen activator

Biochemical Journal 2004 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1042/BJ20041078

Absence of p16INK4a and truncation of ARF tumor suppressors in chickens

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A 2003 | journal-article  DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0135557100

Cyclins D1 and D2 mediate myc-induced proliferation via sequestration of p27(Kip1) and p21(Cip1)

EMBO Journal 1999 | journal-article DOI: 10.1093/emboj/18.19.5310

SV40-mediated transformation and immortalization of human cells

Developments in Biological Standardization 1998 | journal-article PMID: 9776250

SEN6, a locus for SV40-mediated immortalization of human cells, maps to 6q26-27

Oncogene 1997 | journal-article DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1200842

SV40-mediated immortalization of human fibroblasts

Experimental Gerontology 1996 | journal-article PMID: 8706800 DOI: 10.1016/0531-5565(95)00024-0

Nov, 2019 - Oct, 2021: Global Educational Trust Fund. "Interdisciplinary collaboration for improved diagnosis and management of congenital disorders of neuroendocrine and reproductive disorders".

Jul, 2014 - Feb, 2018: Medical Research Council (MRC) Project Grant. "Dual functions of WDR11 in the pathogenesis of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism."

Oct, 2012 – Mar, 2013: Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund, St George's, University of London Researcher Development Support Scheme. "The molecular mechanisms underlying Kallmann syndrome and normosmic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism."

Jul, 2011- Jun, 2014: Enterprise Award, St George's, University of London, “Validation of diagnostic markers for brain tumours.”

Jul, 2010 – Jun, 2013: AIL-MAURI Academic Fund PhD Studentship Grant “Anosmin-1-mediated signalling events in neuronal differentiation and migration of human gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuroblasts.”

Jan, 2010 – Jun, 2010: Wellcome Trust Value In People Award - SGUL Human Resources Bridging Funding Scheme “Anosmin-1-mediated crosstalk between FGFR1 and TGF-beta signalling pathways.”

Jan, 2008 – Dec, 2010: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council Project Grant BB/F007167/1 “Extracellular modulation of multi-protein signalling complexes: molecular regulation of FGFR signalling by anosmin-1 & heparan sulphate proteoglycans”

Research Group

Yeon Joo Kim (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

Bushra Mussa (Research Assistant)

PhD student: Katrina Brooks (third supervisor)

 Alumni

PhD students:

Ji Young Lee (primary supervisor)

Catherine Choy (primary supervisor)

Jaskaren Kohli (secondary supervisor)

Lorna FitzPatrick (secondary supervisor)

MRes/MSc students: 

Ntana Papadopoulou

Bushra Mussa

Vincent Umelue

Roina Nizami

Mosammat Raka Polyma

Sainab Melia Daghmoumi

Namakau Nakazwe

Sainab Melia Daghmoumi

Olivia Willets

Leah Esau

Janani Balasubramania Sarma

Jnina Eddous

Ester Paolocci

Elena Lin

Adam Mayar

Zahra Jamshidi Parvar

Adyam Naizghi

Shayalini Wignarajah

Rivkah Grant

Irene García Benítez

Collaborations:

Professor Lawrence Layman (Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University)

Dr Hyung Goo Kim (Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University)

Professor Davide Calebiro (University of Birmingham)

Professor Eunjig Lee (Yonsei University)

Professor Timothy Mohun (Francis Crick Institute)

Dr Taneli Raivio (Helsinki University Central Hospital)

Dr Masatake Araki (Kumamoto University)

Dr Kim contributes strongly to teaching as well as research.

She obtained the Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare and Biomedical Education (PGCert HBE) in 2012 and currently holds a Fellowship of Higher Education Academy.

She gives specialist lectures, tutorials and expert sessions and has been the module organiser for various courses in Biomedical Sciences and intercalated BSc programs. 

She supervises Research Projects for BSc, MRes, and MSc students. 

Dr Kim has been the lead for Reproduction and Development Pathway and is currently the Course Director for MRes Biomedical Sciences. 

She is a member of the Taught Postgraduate Course Committee and the Programmes Forum.