Korea University Guro Hospital,

Holds Opening Ceremony for 'Bone Defect/Disease Convergence Treatment Center'

Accelerating the development of patient-specific artificial bones that are more realistic than reality

Investing 7 billion won over 5 years, focusing on the global market through the development and commercialization of medical devices

Korea University Guro Hospital Bone Defect/Disease Convergence Treatment Center (Director Song Hae-ryong), designated as a hospital-specialized research center by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, held its opening ceremony at 5 pm on March 8 (Thursday) and announced the beginning of its full-scale research activities.

 The opening ceremony was attended by Kim Rin, Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs at Korea University, Kim Woong-cheol, Dean of the College of Health Science at Korea University, Park Jung-yul, Head of Medical Planning at Korea University, Kim Woo-kyung, President of Korea University Guro Hospital, Sohn Won-yong, Chairman of the Korean Orthopaedic Association, and Kim Woo-joo, Head of the New Influenza Pan-Government Project Group, as well as industry officials including Cowellmedi and Samjin Pharmaceutical, companies participating in the research, to celebrate the opening of the center.

 The Korea University Guro Hospital Bone Defect/Disease Convergence Treatment Center will invest a total project cost of 7 billion won by 2015, including 5 billion won in government funding over the next 5 years and research participation fees of 1 billion won each paid by Cowellmedi and Samjin Pharmaceutical, to promote bone formation ability and functional cell fusion, such as growth factor-coated implants, artificial supports for osteomyelitis treatment with antibiotics, artificial supports for bone regeneration with growth factors, and artificial supports for bone regeneration with antibiotics and growth factors. We plan to develop and commercialize customized artificial supports.

 Kim Rin, Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs at Korea University Medical Center, said in his congratulatory speech, "The overseas medical industry market size in the field of bone defects and diseases is expected to reach 52 trillion won in 2015, making it a blue ocean," and added, "Based on domestic and international experience, Song Hae-ryong, Director of the Center (Orthopedic Surgery), who is considered the top expert in the field of bone defects and diseases, and experts in each field should work together to concentrate on the global market through the development and commercialization of medical devices."

 Kim Woo-kyung, President of Korea University Guro Hospital, said in his encouragement speech, "I am pleased that we have been able to accelerate our research through the opening of this center. I hope that we will achieve remarkable results in the treatment of the four major orthopedic diseases: limb and spinal fractures, osteomyelitis, artificial joints, and bone tumors."

 Director Song Hae-ryong said, "Our greatest strength is that we can quickly develop and commercialize our products in conjunction with the Medical Device Clinical Trial Center, along with world-class clinical and research capabilities and the establishment of the largest clinical database on intractable bone diseases," and added, "We will reduce Korea's reliance on overseas medical devices and compete fairly in the global market by building international competitiveness."

 Meanwhile, the Korea University Guro Hospital Bone Defect/Disease Convergence Treatment Center was designated as a hospital-specialized research center by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in May of last year. The Hospital-Specialized Research Center is a large-scale national support research project conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to re-create the brand value of hospitals by focusing on fostering the most competitive specialized fields of each hospital.