Professor Emeritus Lee Won-Young’s Research Reevaluated in France

-Bacterial Pathogen Increases Probability for Lymph Cancer

After twenty-five years, medical researchers in France have reevaluated the research of Yonsei Professor Emeritus Lee Won-young, recognizing its importance for lymphoma studies. In June of 1991, Professor Lee and his research team from the School of Medicine discovered that Coxiellaburnetii, a bacterial pathogen, could cause lymph cancer. That same year, in November, Professor Lee presented his research at the Korea Cancer Academic Research Symposium, and, several months later, he gave a special lecture on Coxiellaburnetii at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.

Professor Lee submitted his research to the prestigious international journal Blood, which declined to publish it; eventually, it appeared in the Yonsei Medical Journal, but was essentially ignored by the international community. In January of this year, however, a research team from France’s Marseille University cited Professor Lee’s research, claiming that the probability of developing lymphoma is twenty-five times higher for patients with Coxiellaburnetti than for those who do not have it.

Professor Lee retired in 2008, but he continues his research on cancer and atopic dermatitis. He also serves as director for a medical research and manufacturing company that specializes in cell treatments.