Hi My name is Sang K. Han. I used to be a neuroscientist with a longstanding research interest in the somatosensory system, 
particularly my studies focused on defining neurocircuitry of pain and itch pathways.
A culmination of study in science and traditional oriental medicine has given me a unique understanding of the human body, allowing me a creative approach in dealing with malfunction of human body.
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENTS
- B.S.(A. Chem), & M.S. (Biochemistry), Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Research Scientist, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
- Assistant Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- M.S. Oriental Medicine, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA
SELECTED PUBLICATION
Han, S.K., Kim, K.P., Koduri, R., Bittova, L., Munoz, N.M., Leff, A.R., Wilton, D.C., Gelb, M.H., and Cho, W. (1999) Roles of Trp31 in high membrane binding and proinflammatory activity of human group V phospholipase A2. J Biol Chem 274, 11881-11888.
Dong, X., Han, S.K., Zylka, M.J., Simon, M.I., and Anderson, D.J. (2001) A diverse family of GPCRs expressed in specific subsets of nociceptive sensory neurons. Cell 106, 619-632.
Han, S.K., Mancino, V., and Simon, M.I. (2006) Phospholipase cbeta 3 mediates the scratching response activated by the histamine h1 receptor on C-fiber nociceptive neurons. Neuron 52, 691-703.
Imamachi, N., Park, G., Lee, H., Anderson, D.J., and Simon, M.I., Basbaum, A.I., and Han, S.K. (2009) TRPV1-expressing primary afferents generate behavioral responses to pruritogens via multiple mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, 11330 – 11335
Kim, D., You, B., Jo, E., Han, S.K., Simon, MI., and Lee, SJ. (2010) NADPH oxidase 2-derived reactive oxygen species in spinal cord microglia contribute to peripheral nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107, 14851 – 14856
Kim, S., Park, G., Kim, D., Lee, J., Min, H., Wall, E., Lee, C., Simon, M.I., Lee, SJ., and Han, S.K. (2011) Analysis of cellular and behavioral responses to imiquimod reveals a unique itch pathway in TRPV1-expressing neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108, 3371 – 3376
Han, S.K., and Simon, MI (2011) Perspectives: Intracellular signaling and the origins of the sensations of itch and pain. Sci Signal 4, 38-41