Professor Kim Tae Jong of the Department of Forest Products and Biotechnology at KMU received the 34th Science and Technology Outstanding Paper Award from the Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organizations on Thursday, July 11th. The Science and Technology Outstanding Paper Award recognizes scientists who have published excellent papers through creative research activities. In order to enhance the research motivation and morale of scientists and contribute to the improvement and advancement of the level of science and technology in Korea, the award is given to the best papers published in domestic journals by Korean scientists in the previous year, which are selected and recommended by the Federation of Korean Science and Technology Organizations after a rigorous review by their respective academic societies.

Professor Kim Tae Jong developed a library of 240 safe and edible extracts of pregnant plants and selected 10 pregnant extracts that simultaneously sterilize fungi (Candida albicans, Malassezia pachydermatis) and bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), which are pathogens of skin diseases, and proposed a method to strengthen the sterilization of skin disease fungi through their combination. This study identified a safe new drug material derived from forest products for the treatment of skin infectious diseases and suggested an effective method of treating infectious diseases using it. Based on the results of this research, it is expected to develop a new method of treating skin infections with fewer side effects while minimizing the emergence of resistant bacteria.

Based on this research, he received the award based on the excellence of the paper “Synergistic growth inhibition of herbal plant extract combinations against Candida albicans” published in the Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology in 2023.

Prof.  Kim Tae Jong said, “The Department of Forest Products and Biotechnology is working with various organizations, including the Korea Forest Service, to present new uses for wood and forest products and develop methods to produce competitive products. This research is one of them, and we propose to develop skin hygiene products that can be easily used in daily life by utilizing forest products. I consider this award as a result of the contribution of not only myself but also the students who have always been dedicated to research. Finally, I would like to thank the Forest Service and Kookmin University for their support in conducting research.”