The donation of 1 trillion won from the late Lee Kun-hee, chairman of the Samsung Group, is being used as a source for the 'national infectious disease response infrastructure establishment project.'
Jang Hee-chang, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Health Research Institute and National Institute of Infectious Diseases, revealed specific plans for the infrastructure project at the 1st 'Lee Kun-hee Infectious Disease Overcoming Research Capacity Enhancement Project International Symposium (LISID)' held at Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 3rd.
The need for enhanced infectious disease response capacity and infrastructure investment was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, the family of Chairman Lee Kun-hee donated 1 trillion won to the government, asking it to use the funds for building a dedicated infectious disease hospital (700 billion won) and supporting pediatric patients with childhood cancer and rare diseases (300 billion won).
Director Jang announced detailed implementation plans for the project during the keynote speech. Earlier, health authorities held meetings with the family's representatives to establish a donation management committee and donation office and to flesh out the project after receiving the donation. This sets the stage for the full-scale launch of the project starting this year.
According to the announcement, 500 billion won of the donation will be allocated to the construction of the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, while 100 billion won will be invested in research infrastructure. The Central Infectious Disease Hospital is slated to be built across from the National Medical Center (NMC) in Euljiro, Seoul, with a capacity of 150 beds. The operation will be overseen by the National Medical Center (NMC).
Director Jang said, 'Samsung, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency collectively selected this site, and although it was originally planned for 100 beds, the plan was changed to expand it to 150 beds with enhanced facilities at the suggestion of the family.' He added, 'We are currently in the design service phase.'
The Infectious Disease Clinical Research Center will be established at Yonsei University's medical school campus in Yeonkeun. The site was chosen considering accessibility to the Central Infectious Disease Hospital, potential synergies with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Medical Center (NMC). This center will be responsible for basic and translational research related to infectious diseases as well as identifying candidate substances for drug development and conducting preclinical research, including building data networks.
Director Jang stated, 'We are not just building a research institute but also training excellent talent and ensuring effective clinical research can be conducted, which is why we selected the Yonsei University medical school campus as the final site.' He expressed optimism, saying, 'We expect it to create synergies with the upcoming Central Infectious Disease Hospital and the National Medical Center (NMC).'
A large-scale research project to strengthen infectious disease research and response will also commence this year. The main objectives are to accelerate vaccine and treatment development and enhance clinical collaborations and data infrastructure. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases will select a total of 18 detailed projects and provide research support over six years, with additional projects planned as needed.
In particular, a cooperative network for bacteriophage research will be established, and efforts will be made to develop new types of antimicrobial agents that overcome antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria such as E. coli, and they are referred to simply as phages. The term derives from Greek, meaning 'to eat bacteria,' and was coined by French microbiologist Felix d'Hérelle in 1917.
Bacteriophages insert their genes into bacteria and replicate. When many replicated viruses emerge, the bacterial cell membrane bursts, causing the bacteria to die. The problem of antibiotic resistance has become increasingly prominent worldwide, leading to the idea of applying bacteriophages to patients infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria as an alternative.
Director Jang noted, 'During the COVID-19 outbreak, we had to analyze thousands of samples for vaccine clinical trials, but we faced limitations due to a lack of personnel at domestic analysis institutions.' He added, 'We established the bacteriophage research collaboration based on the judgment that a collaborative platform is needed to prepare for the next pandemic.' A Lee Kun-hee Bacteriophage Treatment Center is also expected to be built.
Plans are also being made to build an integrated network connecting regional hub hospitals with central hospitals for the urgent response and treatment development during pandemics. Initially, the goal is to develop 2nd and 3rd generation vaccines for smallpox, anthrax, and Zika virus. Development of next-generation messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines will also be included.
Director Jang emphasized, 'Having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize that it is difficult for public institutions to respond alone, and that a strong infrastructure is necessary.' He stated, 'At the center of the project to create a new infectious disease response model is the noble spirit of donation by Chairman Lee Kun-hee and his family.'