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—  Ewha Womans University · College of Pharmacy 

Toxicology & Alternative
Testing Science

We advance cosmetic and chemical safety through innovative in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico methods — championing the 3Rs to reduce animal use while elevating predictive accuracy.

Our Research  Publications
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About the Lab

Pioneering Safer Science

The LIM Lab at Ewha Womans University is dedicated to mechanistic
toxicology and the development of alternative testing methods that
Replace, Reduce, and Refine animal use in safety assessment.

Our interdisciplinary research bridges classical toxicology with
cutting-edge in vitro cell and tissue models, ex vivo porcine and
human skin systems, computational approaches, and regulatory
science — with a particular focus on cosmetic ingredient safety,
skin toxicology, and blood/vascular toxicology.

We collaborate with international regulatory agencies including OECD,
ECVAM, and the Korean MFDS to ensure our validated methods
translate directly into safer, more ethical product development
pipelines.

Prof. Kyung-Min Lim
Prof. Kyung-Min Lim (임경민)
Principal Investigator · College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University
200+
Peer-reviewed
publications
20+
Years of research
3Rs
Core guiding
principle
OECD
Validated test
guidelines
Research Areas

What We Investigate

From mechanistic toxicology to regulatory-ready alternative methods,
always guided by the 3Rs principles and translational impact.

🔬

Alternative Test Methods

Development and validation of in vitro 
and ex vivo assays replacing animal-based
toxicity tests — covering skin sensitization, phototoxicity, irritation, and corrosion
endpoints.

3Rs ・ OECD TG 439/492
💄

Cosmetic Safety Assessment

Safety evaluation of cosmetic ingredients
using TTC, read-across, and weight-of-evidence approaches under EU and
Korean (MFDS) regulatory frameworks.

TTC ・ K-REACH ・ MFDS
🧫

Skin Toxicology

Mechanistic studies on dermal absorption, keratinocyte responses, and skin barrier function using 3D reconstructed human epidermis (KeraSkin) and ex vivo porcine skin models.

RHE ・ KeraSkin ・ Ex vivo
🩸

Blood & Vascular Toxicology

Investigating how environmental toxicants, nanoparticles, and drugs affect platelet function, erythrocyte procoagulant activity,
and vascular toxicity linked to thrombotic disease risk.

Platelet ・ RBC ・ Thrombosis
💻

Computational Toxicology

Application of QSAR, machine learning,
and in silico tools for predictive toxicology, including skin sensitization, irritation, and
eye hazard assessment.

QSAR ・ ML ・ In silico
🌿

Natural Products & Pigmentation

Discovery of anti-melanogenic compounds
and skin-related bioactive materials, with a focus on pigmentation control and cosmetic application.

Marine drugs ・ Melanogenesis
Projects

Research Grants & Projects

Government-funded and industry-sponsored projects conducted by the LIM Lab.

Government Grants

환경부
계면활성제 피부흡수
복지부
화장품소재 개발과 보습 효능 평가법 연구
복지부
천연화장품성분의 안전역 DB구축사업
식약처
광독성 및 동물대체시험법 독성시험기준 개정/제정 연구
식약처
스킨칩을 이용한 피부안전성평가
식약처
화장품 위해평가 기법 고도화를 위한 차세대 위해성평가 기술 적용 연구
대한화장품산업연구원
화장품소재 안전성 연구

Industry Projects

한국콜마
안전성 자문
Publications

Our Work

Representative publications from the LIM Lab. Filter by year below.

All publications : Scopus/Pure/Google Scholar
2026
Development of an in vitro acute respiratory toxicity test using the SoluAirway, 3D human airway model
Choe JW, Lee GH, Lee SH, Kim GE, Kim HR, Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 111, 106175
2026
Safe usage levels of aqueous Hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract in cosmetics estimated by threshold of toxicological concern
Cho H, Koo YJ, Lee SH, Bae S, Choi J, Lim KM
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 164, 105961
2026
Analysis of predictive value of animal repeated dose toxicity study results for clinical safety of US FDA-approved anticancer drugs (2019–2023)
Choi G, Bae S, Lim KM
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 166, 106031
2026
Exploring retinoic acid-induced skin irritation: Pathological and mechanistic insights from an ex vivo porcine skin model
Hwang JH, Hur S, Shin C, Kim HY, Uhm C, Nam KT, Lim KM
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 506, 117634
2025
Skin condition and barrier function in individuals with a history of atopic dermatitis
Cho E, Kim J, Kang B, Liu K, Cho C, Lee E, Ha J, Lim KM
European Journal of Dermatology 35, 16–24
2025
Development of skin corrosion and irritation test methods employing ex vivo porcine skin model
Hong JH, Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 106, 106055
2025
PhotoChem Reference Chemical Database for the Development of New Alternative Photosafety Test Methods
Lee GY, Hwang JH, Hong JH, Bae S, Lim KM
Toxics 13
2025
Ketoconazole alleviates UVB-induced photoaging by suppressing ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction in dermal fibroblasts and ex vivo porcine skin models
Kim HY, Lee S, Lim KM
Journal of Dermatological Science 120, 11–20
2025
Initiation of Progressive Morphological Transition Towards Echino-Stomato-Spherocytic Phenotype by Phosphatidylserine Externalization and Its Implication in Thrombosis
Bian Y, Jin Q, Chung HY, Lim KM, Xu Y
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26
2025
Probabilistic risk assessment of emerging EU-regulated fragrance allergens in household and personal care products
Lee H, Pack EC, Koo YJ, Jang DY, Lee DH, An TH, Kim GT, Lee SH, Lim KM, Choi D
Environment International 200, 109530
2025
A Novel In Vitro Dry Skin Model Using Minipig and Human Cadaver Skin for Evaluating Moisturizer Efficacy
Choe JW, Kang BG, Hong JH, Liu K, Lim KM
Cosmetics 12, 203
2025
Combined Repeated-Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction/Developmental Toxicity Screening Test of Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate in Sprague Dawley Rats
Eom JW, Kang HI, Lee JH, Song SH, Hong JH, Bae S, Nam CJ, Lim KM
Toxics 13
2024
Trivalent arsenicals induce skin toxicity through thiol depletion
Hwang JH, An GJ, Kim CH, Chung HY, Lim KM
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 492, 117115
2024
Safety assessment of Paeonia lactiflora root extract for a cosmetic ingredient employing the TTC approach
Jeon S, Lee EY, Nam SJ, Lim KM
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 149, 105620
2024
Integration of Natural Language Processing of SMILES Improves In Vitro Prediction of Human Skin Sensitizers
Kwon JH, Kim J, Lim KM, Kim MG
Toxics 12
2024
Syringaresinol Attenuates α-MSH-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Melanogenesis
Kim K, Yoon J, Lim KM
Antioxidants (Basel) 13
2024
Regenerative Role of Lrig1+ Cells in Kidney Repair
Lee Y, Kim KH, Park J, et al., Lim KM, Coffey RJ, Nam KT
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 35, 1702–1714
2023
Safety assessment of Cnidium officinale rhizome extract in cosmetics using the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) approach
Jeon S, Lee EY, Hillman PF, Nam SJ, Lim KM
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 142, 105433
2023
Machine-learning based prediction models for skin irritation and corrosion potential of liquid chemicals using XGBoost
Kang Y, Kim MG, Lim KM
Toxicological Research 39, 295–305
2023
Skin wound healing effects of (+)-syringaresinol from ginseng berry
Hwang JH, Kang Y, Park HJ, Kim S, Lee SH, Kim H, Nam SJ, Lim KM
Journal of Ginseng Research 47, 654–661
2023
Peroxiredoxin V Protects against UVB-Induced Damage of Keratinocytes
Kim SR, Park JW, Lee BH, Lim KM, Chang TS
Antioxidants (Basel) 12
2023
Comparison of structural characteristics and molecular markers of rabbit skin, pig skin, and reconstructed human epidermis for an ex vivo human skin model
Uhm C, Jeong H, Lee SH, Hwang JS, Lim KM, Nam KT
Toxicological Research 39, 477–484
2022
Evaluation of Skin Irritation of Acids Commonly Used in Cleaners in 3D-Reconstructed Human Epidermis Model, KeraSkin™
Hwang JH, Lee S, Lee HG, Choi D, Lim KM
Toxics 10, 558
2022
RAB25 coordinates filaggrin-containing keratohyalin granule maturation and affects atopic dermatitis severity
Jeong H, Lee N, Uhm C, et al., Lim KM, Park CO, Nam KT
Allergy
2022
Effect of Cosmetics Use on the In Vitro Skin Absorption of a Biocide, 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one
Huh Y, Lee DH, Choi D, Lim KM
Toxics 10
2021
Ex Vivo Live Full-Thickness Porcine Skin Model as a Versatile In Vitro Testing Method for Skin Barrier Research
Hwang JH, Jeong H, Lee N, Hur S, Lee N, Han JJ, Jang HW, Choi WK, Nam KT, Lim KM
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22
2021
Skin irritation and inhalation toxicity of biocides evaluated with reconstructed human epidermis and airway models
Hwang JH, Jeong H, Jung YO, Nam KT, Lim KM
Food and Chemical Toxicology 150, 112064
2021
Skin Epidermis and Barrier Function [Review]
Lim KM
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22
2021
Anti-Pigmentary Natural Compounds and Their Mode of Action [Review]
Kim K, Huh Y, Lim KM
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22
2021
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles enhance thrombosis through phosphatidylserine exposure and procoagulant activation of red blood cells
Bian Y, Chung HY, Bae ON, Lim KM, Chung JH, Pi J
Particle and Fibre Toxicology 18, 28
2020
Me-too validation study for in vitro skin irritation test with KeraSkin for OECD test guideline 439
Han J, Kim S, Lee SH, Kim JS, Chang YJ, Jeong TC, Kang MJ, et al., Lim KM
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 117, 104725
2020
Employment of cytology for in vitro skin irritation test using a reconstructed human epidermis model, Keraskin
Hwang JH, Jeong H, Hur S, Nam KT, Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 69, 104962
2020
In silico prediction of the full UN GHS eye irritation categories of liquid chemicals by IATA-like bottom-up approach of random forest method
Kang Y, Jeong B, Lim DH, Lee D, Lim KM
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 84, 960–972 (2021)
2019
Lysates of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Can Improve Skin Barrier Function in a Reconstructed Human Epidermis Model
Jung YO, Jeong H, Cho Y, Lee EO, Jang HW, Kim J, Nam K, Lim KM
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20
2019
Me-too validation study for in vitro eye irritation test with 3D-reconstructed human cornea epithelium, MCTT HCE™
Lim SE, Ha SJ, Jang WH, Jung KM, et al., Bae S, Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 55, 173–184
2018
Investigation of dermal toxicity of ionic liquids in monolayer-cultured skin cells and 3D reconstructed human skin models
Hwang JH, Park H, Choi DW, Nam KT, Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 46, 194–202
2017
Alternatives to In Vivo Draize Rabbit Eye and Skin Irritation Tests with 3D Reconstructed Human Cornea-Like Epithelium and Epidermis Models [Review]
Lee M, Hwang JH, Lim KM
Toxicological Research 33, 191–203
2016
Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) and 3Rs best practices
Ha S, Seidle T, Lim KM
Environmental Health and Toxicology 31, e2016026
2015
Phototoxicity: Its Mechanism and Animal Alternative Test Methods [Review]
Kim K, Park H, Lim KM
Toxicological Research 31, 97–104
2011
A new 3D reconstituted human corneal epithelium model as an alternative method for the eye irritation test
Jung KM, Lee SH, Ryu YH, Jang WH, et al., Lim KM
Toxicology in Vitro 25, 403–410
Contact

Get in Touch

We welcome inquiries from prospective students, collaborators, and industry partners.

Principal Investigator
Prof. Kyung-Min Lim (임경민)
College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University
Address
52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu
Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
Phone
Office: +82-2-3277-3055
Lab: +82-2-3277-3014
Institution
Ewha Womans University
Seoul, Republic of Korea