Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Professor Bae Eun-ju (Dean, School of Pharmacy) received the Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation at the 2025 Government Awards for Contributions to the Promotion of Health and Medical Technology, held on the 27th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, in recognition of her outstanding research achievements and contributions to the advancement of the pharmacy field in Korea.

Professor Bae has been a leading researcher identifying new therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases. In particular, she drew international attention by demonstrating that the PAK4 protein is a key regulatory molecule in metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. This research was published in the prestigious journals Nature Metabolism and Nature Communications, and it suggested a new direction for metabolic disease research.

The research team elucidated the molecular mechanism showing that increased PAK4 expression in metabolic diseases induces disease onset and progression, and conversely that inhibiting PAK4 can treat metabolic diseases. The work is regarded as providing an important foundation for the development of therapeutics for metabolic diseases.

Professor Bae also, as Chair of the Academic Committee of the Korean Pharmaceutical Society, led innovations in scientific programming and contributed to strengthening the domestic pharmaceutical research ecosystem. As Dean of the JBNU School of Pharmacy, she played a central role in building the school’s educational and research infrastructure, laying the groundwork for training regional health care professionals.

Professor Bae said, "This award was made possible not by my individual achievements but thanks to the colleagues and students who have conducted research with me. Because metabolic diseases remain an area where many patients continue to suffer, I hope my research will serve as a small stepping stone toward developing new therapeutic strategies. I will continue meaningful research that connects basic and clinical science to contribute to the advancement of health care in our society."