Awarded on July 2 at the 23rd International Conference on Photoacoustic and Photothermal Phenomena (ICPPP 2026) in Brazil
How far has the technology of looking inside the human body with light to detect disease advanced? A researcher who has spent more than two decades steadily answering that question has now been recognized on the world stage.
Professor Chulhong Kim of POSTECH's Department of Electrical Engineering, Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology has received the IPPA James Smith Prize, one of the most prestigious international awards in the fields of photoacoustics and photothermal science. This marks the first time a Korean researcher has received this award.
The IPPA James Smith Prize is a biennial award given by the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association (IPPA), selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of a researcher's long-term academic contributions and international impact. Rather than recognizing a single achievement, it is the field's highest honor, awarded to researchers who have led the advancement of the discipline as a whole.
Professor Kim has pioneered "multimodal photoacoustic-ultrasound imaging technology," which combines photoacoustic imaging with ultrasound imaging. Through this work, he has expanded the technology's range of applications to numerous medical fields, including skin disease, vascular disease, and cancer diagnosis. He was especially recognized for leading the entire process of translating laboratory-developed technology into actual patient diagnostics and medical devices. In his award lecture, titled "Multimodal Photoacoustic Ultrasound Imaging: From Bench To Bedside and Products," Professor Kim presented the journey of how technology that began as basic research evolved into real-world clinical use and commercial medical devices.
In his acceptance remarks, Professor Kim said, "I am grateful to the research team members, students, and collaborators who have worked together to bring photoacoustic imaging technology beyond the laboratory and into actual clinical use for patient diagnosis and treatment." He added, "Going forward, I will continue developing next-generation technologies that combine artificial intelligence with medical imaging to provide tangible benefits to patients."
This award is regarded as further proof of Korean researchers' international leadership in the global field of photoacoustic research. It is also expected to elevate the international standing of Korea's medical imaging research and biophotonics field.
The award ceremony took place at the 23rd International Conference on Photoacoustic and Photothermal Phenomena (ICPPP 2026), held in Bonito, Brazil, through July 3 local time. First launched in 1979, the conference is recognized as the leading international gathering in the field of photoacoustics and photothermal science, where researchers share their latest achievements.