Joint research institute spanning 1,320 square meters to be built as MIRACLE project unit launches
Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital has launched a full-scale effort to train physician-scientists who will lead the future biohealth industry and to establish a hub for convergence research.
The hospital announced Friday that it held a launch ceremony for the MIRACLE project unit, supported by K-MediST, at its Future Medical Innovation Center on June 24.
The event was attended by Hospital Director Lee Wan-sik, faculty and medical staff, Chonnam National University President Lee Geun-bae, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) President Lim Ki-chul, Chonnam National University College of Medicine Dean Park Sang-woo, National Assembly member Jeon Jin-suk, Ministry of Health and Welfare biomedical technology development division chief Baek Yeong-ha and Korea Health Industry Development Institute biohealth innovation division head Song Tae-gyun, among other guests.
The MIRACLE project is a K-MediST support initiative overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and implemented by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Chonnam National University and GIST jointly carry out the national physician-scientist training program.
The project name, MIRACLE, stands for Medicine-engineering Innovation and Rendezvous for Advanced Convergence and Leader Education — a platform designed to foster synergy between education and research for training leaders in advanced convergence medical science.
Running from 2026 to 2030, the project has a total budget of about 19.4 billion won ($12.6 million). Min Jeong-jun, a professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Chonnam National University College of Medicine, will serve as project director, with GIST biomedical engineering professor Kim Tae as co-director.
Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital will serve as the project's core research hub. The project unit plans to establish a joint research institute within the Future Medical Innovation Center, occupying about 400 pyeong (1,320 square meters) and housing spaces for physician-scientist education, shared research facilities and industry collaboration.
The hospital will introduce advanced research equipment — including a 3D microgravity cell culture system and a high-performance flow cytometer — to strengthen capabilities in immunotherapy and advanced regenerative medicine research. It will also build an innovation platform that organically links education, research, clinical practice, demonstration and commercialization.
Hospital physicians including professors Ahn Jae-suk, Yoo Su-ung and Lee Hyeong-gon will also participate as core contributors to the project. Clinicians will directly identify unmet medical needs in the field and connect them to research and technology development, building a physician-scientist training model that leads to new treatment technologies, medical device development and technology commercialization.
"Chonnam National University, GIST, Chonnam National University Hospital and Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital will join forces to build a joint research institute and a biohealth cluster, and create a new model for training future physician-scientists," Chonnam National University President Lee said.
GIST President Lim said "innovation in future medicine begins with the convergence of medicine, engineering and AI technology," adding that the institute would "actively cooperate in building a convergence research ecosystem centered on Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital, where education, research and technology commercialization form a virtuous cycle."
sij@heraldcorp.com
