AstraZeneca-Oxford University model, cited as ideal for co-development in pandemic response… Commitment to leading ‘바카라 토토 sovereignty’ efforts

[by Yu, Suin] Since the SARS outbreak in 2003, followed by the emergence of novel influenza in 2009, MERS in 2012, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, Korea University Medicine has served not merely as a healthcare provider but as a pivotal institution in national efforts for ‘vaccine development’ and ‘infectious disease response.’ By operating at the forefront of Korea’s public health defense, Korea University Medicine has consistently transcended the role of conventional medical treatment. Nevertheless, as the intervals between global infectious disease outbreaks shorten and the severity of their impact grows, the threat to national security has intensified. In light of these challenges, Korea University Medicine established the ‘Korea University College of Medicine Vaccine Innovation Center’ with the strategic objective of ‘proactively preventing future pandemics and contributing to global public health.’ The center aspires to function as a core platform for industry-academia collaboration in infectious disease research and to play a leading role in achieving national ‘vaccine sovereignty.’

The Vaccine Innovation Center is set to begin full-scale operations at the ‘Chung Mong-koo Future Medicine Hall,’ located in the Seoul Jeongneung Mediscience Park, which officially opens on June 16. <THE BIO> conducted an interview with Director Cheong Hee-jin (former Director of Korea University Guro Hospital and Professor from the Department of Infectious Diseases), current head of the Vaccine Innovation Center at Korea University College of Medicine, to discuss the Center’s role, its progress thus far, and strategic plans moving forward.

Addressing ‘vaccine supply-demand imbalance’… Industry-academia cooperation as a key ‘catalyst’ for pandemic response

Established in 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vaccine Innovation Center has since laid the groundwork for systematic research by building a ‘full-cycle vaccine research platform.’ This platform integrates key personnel across disciplines, including specialists from the Department of Microbiology engaged in basic and preclinical research, researchers from the Department of Infectious Disease leading clinical trials, and researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine conducting epidemiological studies.

To accelerate the generation of tangible outcomes, the Vaccine Innovation Center has relocated to the newly inaugurated ‘Chung Mong-koo Future Medicine Hall,’ which houses cutting-edge research infrastructure. The Hall was named in honor of Chung Mong-Koo, honorary chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, who contributed KRW 10 billion (approximately USD 7.3 million) of his personal funds to support vaccine development initiatives. The Hall features a 2,052.89 m2 independent laboratory outfitted with advanced technologies, including a large-scale Biosafety Level 3 (BL3, ABL3) facility for high-risk pathogen research, optical imaging systems, ultra-high-speed cell analysis instruments, and robotic workstations, enabling the safe and efficient handling of emerging high-risk infectious disease pathogens. Additionally, the facility has been equipped with a GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practice)-certified laboratory, signifying official government approval for the analysis of clinical trial specimens.

Professor Cheong Hee-jin assumed the position of the second director of the Vaccine Innovation Center in August 2023, succeeding Professor Emeritus Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, who served as the center’s inaugural director. Cheong has been instrumental in the conceptualization and planning of the center since 2020, during her tenure as Director of the Medical Planning Division at Korea University Medicine. As director of Korea University Guro Hospital (2021-March 2025), she oversaw a range of clinical trials, including those for COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Hospital Infection Morbidity and Mortality Network (HIMM network), a consortium of eight hospitals that constitutes a core element of the full-cycle vaccine research platform. Notably, with Korea University Guro Hospital designated as the lead institution in this network, Cheong led and provided operational support for the Vaccine Innovation Center’s initiatives throughout her directorship.

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the global challenge of ‘vaccine supply and demand imbalance,’ and our country was no exception,” Cheong reflected. “I accepted the position of Director of the Vaccine Innovation Center with the mission of developing safe and effective vaccines to prepare for future infectious disease crises and to contribute to the protection of public health.”

“While treating patients is essential in the context of infectious diseases, the most critical aspect of disease control is preventing transmission,” she further added. “Given that vaccines represent the most cost-effective intervention, we have pursued a wide range of studies, from basic and clinical research to policy-oriented investigations.”

Cheong emphasized that the Vaccine Innovation Center is envisioned as a ‘catalyst’ for the vaccine development ecosystem. “Vaccine development and commercialization cannot be achieved by a single entity alone. It requires collaborative efforts among multiple organizations, including universities and research institutes conducting foundational studies, companies responsible for production, and government agencies overseeing approval and safety management,” Cheong explained. “The Vaccine Innovation Center seeks to facilitate cooperation among these diverse organizations while simultaneously advancing our own vaccine research efforts.”

“A good example is the development of a COVID-19 vaccine through the collaboration between the multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University in the UK. This partnership demonstrated how academic research, when combined with industry capabilities, can produce a successful model of industry-academia-research cooperation,” she further commented. “We intend to assume that role ourselves, enabling us to build independent response capabilities for future pandemics.”

As part of its initiatives, the Vaccine Innovation Center will host a symposium on the theme of ‘Multi-institutional Roles and Cooperation for Vaccine Development’ on June 16, in celebration of the opening of the Chung Mong-Koo Future Medicine Hall. The event will bring together Dean of Korea University College of Medicine Pyun Sung-Bom, Executive Vice President of Korea University Medical Affairs Yoon Eul-sik, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Jee Young-mee, and the Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). Prominent industry leaders, such as Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, and Huh Eun-chul, CEO of GC Biopharma, will also participate. Their presence underscores the critical importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in advancing ‘vaccine sovereignty’ and accelerating vaccine development.

In fact, the 바카라 토토 Innovation Center continues to pursue various collaborative initiatives with Korean biopharmaceutical companies. In 2022, it partnered with SK Bioscience to conduct surveillance of emerging and variant infectious diseases, establish a clinical network and a pathogen genome database (DB), and carry out characterization analyses. In addition, the center is actively engaged in research on antigen expression using viral vectors, the development of a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) 바카라 토토 platform based on domestic technology, and the advancement of original 바카라 토토-related technologies.

Full-scale platform construction underway with launch of ‘mRNA-based hantavirus vaccine’ project

Director Cheong Hee-jin expressed confidence that the combination of the Vaccine Innovation Center’s robust infrastructure and its proactive spirit to infectious disease response will soon lead to substantive outcomes. Notably, the Vaccine Innovation Center is already engaged in the co-development of an mRNA-based ‘hantavirus’ vaccine in collaboration with Moderna, a global leader and key developer of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.

Korea University Medicine has maintained a longstanding commitment to advancing ‘infectious disease response’ and promoting ‘vaccine self-sufficiency.’ A prominent example of this legacy is the late Professor Emeritus Lee Ho-wang of Korea University, often referred to as the ‘Korean Pasteur.’ He was the first in the world to discover ‘hantavirus,’ the causative agent of epidemic hemorrhagic fever, recognized as one of the world’s three most infectious diseases, and successfully developed a vaccine against it. His groundbreaking contributions led to his repeated nomination as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Professor Park Seung-cheol of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University College of Medicine played a key role during the SARS outbreak, serving as a member of the national advisory committee and contributing to the development of countermeasures. In parallel, Professor Emeritus Kim Woo-joo led the development and regulatory approval of the H1N1 novel influenza vaccines (GC1115/GC1116) in partnership with GC Biopharma and oversaw the approval of Korea’s first domestically developed influenza vaccine (GC501) by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. He also headed the government’s inter-ministerial task force for novel influenza and played a pivotal role in the creation of the world’s first cell-culture-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine in collaboration with SK Chemicals. Additionally, he contributed to the development and approval of the H5N1 avian influenza vaccine.

“Professors from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University have played an active role in responding to past infectious outbreaks. With unwavering commitment, we will continue to do our utmost to safeguard public health in the face of future infectious disease crises,” Cheong emphasized. “The strength of the Vaccine Innovation Center lies in its unparalleled research team, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and a comprehensive platform capable of supporting full-cycle vaccine development. This enables us to accelerate the development of vaccines with real potential for commercialization, extending beyond basic research to include clinical trials.”

The 바카라 토토 Innovation Center has identified the establishment of an 'mRNA 바카라 토토 platform' as its highest priority. mRNA technology enables the rapid development of 바카라 토토s, making it a critical tool for timely pandemic response. As part of this initiative, the center is advancing the 'H-Project,' which focuses on developing an mRNA-based hantavirus 바카라 토토. In Korea, hantavirus infections result in approximately 400 cases and fewer than 10 deaths annually. Recognizing its potential threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated hantavirus as a candidate for 'Disease X (an unknown infectious disease).' Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the development of a safe and effective 바카라 토토 to mitigate the risk.

To carry forward the legacy of the late Professor Lee Ho-wang, the 바카라 토토 Innovation Center signed a collaboration agreement with Moderna in September 2023 for the production of 바카라 토토 materials and has since been conducting non-clinical efficacy studies. Francesca Ceddia, Chief Medical Affairs Officer (CMO) of Moderna, also visited Korea University College of Medicine in support of the initiative. The center aims to complete Phase 1 clinical trials and advance the 바카라 토토 toward commercialization by 2027.

However, Cheong underscored the necessity of sustained government support to achieve ‘vaccine sovereignty.’ She cited the example of the United States under the first Trump administration, which in 2020 allocated around KRW 26.5 trillion (approximately USD 19.4 billion) in funding to Moderna and other companies through the public-private partnership initiative ‘Operation Warp Speed.’

“The U.S. government allocated substantial funding and facilitated the resolution of challenges in vaccine development and approval by holding regular meetings between federal agencies and companies through the ‘BARDA’ (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority),” Cheong expressed. “This proactive approach enabled the rapid development of a successful vaccine. Our government must also provide similarly active support.”

“The development of vaccines, as public goods, requires substantial financial resources and long-term commitment. It is challenging for private institutions like our center to undertake such efforts independently, making sustained governmental research funding and policy support essential,” Cheong further remarked. “Since the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, both governmental and societal interest and investment in vaccine development have declined sharply. In particular, the Korean government tends to prioritize short-term research and development (R&D) with expectations for immediate results.”

“The government’s current ‘Pandemic mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project,’ with a budget of KRW 505.2 billion, is a positive initiative. However, such efforts should not remain short-term or one-time projects, they must be sustained over time,” she said. “Close collaboration and ongoing support among regulatory authorities, research institutions, and industry partners are also essential throughout the vaccine development and commercialization process.”

“In a world where the emergence of a new virus is unpredictable, no single organization can prepare for a future pandemic alone. The Vaccine Innovation Center will carry out its role as a private R&D institution while actively fostering collaboration with various related organizations,” she further added. “Through these efforts, we aim to advance the construction of antigen libraries and platform technologies targeting various viruses.”