Professor Rachel West honored with Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) honored Professor Rachel West at Auburn University with the Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award for her contributions to the development of reproductive medicine.

From left, Dr. Cha Kwang-yul, a global research and innovation leader at CHA Medical and Bio Group. Prof. Rachel West at Auburn University, the ninth winner of the Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award [CHA MEDICAL CENTER]

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) honored Professor Rachel West at Auburn University with the Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award for her contributions to the development of reproductive medicine.

Prof. West was recognized for her research on sexual dimorphism of the innate immune response of the placenta using three-dimensional human trophoblast stem cells. The sex of an embryo is closely related to miscarriage in early pregnancy. Prof. West conducted a study on the fragility of embryos and implantation failure due to differences in the innate placental immune system according to the sex of an embryo.

If this study is successful, it will be a groundbreaking research result in identifying genes related to the vulnerability of male fetuses in undergoing implantation failure.

The ASRM first established the Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award in 2011, in recognition of the achievements and global contributions of Dr. Cha in stem and fertility research. Cha serves as the global research and innovation leader at CHA Medical and Bio Group.

The award was created to promote innovative research on stem cell technologies and motivate young researchers, according to ASRM.

Prof. West is the ninth recipient of the award.

"I am very honored to receive the Cha Kwang-Yul Stem Cell Award, the world's most prestigious award in the field of stem cell and reproductive medicine, and to have been recognized by the society,” Prof. West said. “We will do our best to develop it as a model to produce new and beneficial results in the field of reproductive medicine research.”

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]