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SEOUL, South KoreaApril 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ASK Company, the parent company of RIMAN, has entered into a sponsored research agreement with the Mitragotri Laboratory at Harvard University’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The collaboration aims to validate the function and efficacy of its proprietary ingredient, Araliadiol, which is extracted from Giant BYoungPool™ (Giant Gotu Kola).
RIMAN Founder & Chairman Joonghyun Ahn and Dr. Jiwon Seo at the Harvard Science and Engineering Center with Professor Samir Mitragotri, marking the beginning of a sponsored research collaboration advancing Araliadiol through organ-on-a-chip technology.
Araliadiol is a novel active compound discovered by ASK Company using its proprietary extraction and purification technology from RIMAN’s signature heritage ingredient, Giant BYoungPool™. This ingredient demonstrates multiple biological efficacies even at low concentrations, including anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant activity through the reduction of reactive oxygen species, and comprehensive improvement of skin condition.
To verify its efficacy, ASK Company has established a collaborative research network with prominent Korean research institutions. Through joint studies with Sungkyunkwan University and Konkuk University, the company has elucidated its mechanism of action and confirmed that the ingredient possesses significant cell-protective effects and differentiated efficacy. Furthermore, a synthetic preparation process for high-purity Araliadiol has been developed, supporting its scalability and safety as a next-generation cosmetic raw material.
Building on these achievements, ASK Company has initiated a sponsored research collaboration with the Mitragotri Lab to further deepen fundamental research on the function and mechanism of action of Araliadiol. As part of the collaboration, a formal signing ceremony was held on April 13 at the Harvard Science and Engineering Complex. Attending the ceremony were Samir Mitragotri, Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University; Mr. Joonghyun Ahn, Founder and Chairman of RIMAN/ASK Company; and company researcher Dr. Jiwon Seo, marking the official launch of the sponsored research project.
This collaboration will utilize organ-on-a-chip technology, a biomimetic platform that replicates the human physiological environment on a microchip, facilitating the study of relevant biological responses. Using this model, the research team will focus on evaluating the efficacy of Araliadiol in promoting skin regeneration and hair growth through the activation of hair follicle cells.
Mr. Joonghyun Ahn, Founder and Chairman of RIMAN/ASK Company, stated, “This research collaboration is a significant milestone in our R&D journey. We aim to validate the efficacy of Araliadiol and establish it as a functional ingredient in the beauty market.”
ASK Company plans to further deepen the heritage value of Giant BYoungPool™, solidifying its position as a unique natural ingredient within the global K-beauty industry.