National Research Foundation of Korea
About the NRF and KRIBB
The National Research Foundation (NRF) is represented in South Korea by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). Dr. Choong-Min Ryu is the GloPID-R representative. He is assisted by Researcher Jieun Lee.
One of the main missions of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Korea is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and improve quality of life by encouraging and supporting creative research. The Foundation contributes to setting the direction of the nation’s basic and applied research across all academic disciplines, to lead change in forward-looking research ecosystems. It also acts as a platform to promote interaction among universities, research institutes and researchers. To facilitate this specific objective, the NRF provides a grant to the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), which is a national institute. Since it was founded in 1985, KRIBB has been at the forefront of South Korea’s life science community, pioneering innovation and advances in basic research, national research infrastructure and bio-industry. The role of the Infectious Disease Research Center at KRIBB is to provide solutions in the fields of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and diagnostic technologies. In addition, the center investigates acute viral diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses and MERS, which are associated with high morbidity, mortality and pose a threat to public health.
In his own Words
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korean companies and researchers, in both public and private sectors, have developed many relevant solutions ranging from rapid diagnosis to vaccines. I believe that further significant achievements will come from advances in knowledge and technology, as well as improved research infrastructure. As a GloPID-R member and Head of the Infectious Disease Research Center, I am particularly interested in the establishment of a GloPID-R hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This area of the globe presents very specific conditions in terms of climate, geography, demographics and culture, making it very easy for novel pathogens to spread to the human population. These factors, combined with the high-population density across many countries, are conducive to the development of local epidemics. Another significant worry is that pathogens can rapidly spread via the main flight routes from the major airports such as Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo. As we have seen during the current COVID-19 crisis, this can result in a global, infectious disease pandemic. I hope that by working together under the umbrella of GloPID-R coordination, all member countries in Asia, including many LMICs, will be able to cooperate effectively and share critical information.”
Dr. Choong-Min Ryu
Head of the Infectious Disease Research Center, KRIBB
our Work
Diagnostics and vaccines
During the COVID-19 crisis, in early 2020, South Korea achieved major progress in the development of diagnostic tools, increasing exports of Korean COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, introducing the first ‘drive-thru’ for diagnostic sample collection in the world, achieving high positions on the FDA ranking of the ‘Corona 19 molecular diagnostic kit’ and becoming No 1 contributor to the K-Quarantine strategy.
In 2021, the government continues to provide funding to establish vaccine platform technologies for new, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This includes a global approach to support the private bio-health sector and secure vaccines, government investment of $1.54 billion in research and development for new drugs, and investment of around $8.7 billion in 40 major biopharmaceutical companies by 2023.
within the glopid-r network
Working alongside GloPID-R Scientific and Advocacy Director, Hans-Eckhardt Hagen, members from Japan, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea have developed a concept paper, exploring the possibility of a future GloPID-R Asia-Pacific hub. One of the main objectives of this hub is to prevent and manage outbreaks of emerging and re-remerging infectious diseases in Asia-Pacific LMICs.
Dr. Ryu emphasizes the extraordinary geographical and histologic situation in Asia when it comes to infectious diseases. In addition, climate change is a major challenge in the region. “Thanks to effective vaccines and prevention efforts, we are now close to the COVID-19 finishing line,” he says. “This is, therefore, a critical point in time for preparedness for the next epidemic and pandemic in Asia. The first step is to expand GloPID-R membership across more than 40 Asian LMICs in addition to Japan and South Korea. To date, South Korea has benefited from tremendous assistance from other countries, especially HICs. We hope now to repay that investment working with LMICs in Asia under the umbrella of GloPID-R.”
ASRT’s Sponsored Research Networks (SRN) program is designed to connect eminent researchers from a variety of disciplines to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing. The program has been highly successful in fostering research partnerships that have led to significant advances in fields such as viral hepatitis and neuroscience. SRN has also played a vital role in supporting young researchers as they develop their careers. The positive impact the program has made on the development of Egypt’s research landscape is set to continue in the future.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASRT developed a rapid response plan to identify and fund relevant, high-priority research projects. ASRT has already funded several studies on COVID-19, including socioeconomic and post-COVID research.
This program also supports:
- the applications of rapid manufacturing tools: 3D printing and CNC machines
- the design of simple, low-cost, easy-to-use ventilators
- for healthcare workers, the development of antimicrobial textiles using nanotechnology
- the development of diagnostic kits and innovative diagnostic methods to detect COVID-19
The program is open to all Egyptians, including Egyptians abroad working in coordination with research groups and scholars at home.
- ASRT is committed to supporting collaborative research in Africa and the Mediterranean area. Our specialized award program recognizes scientific excellence in Africa by awarding annual prizes to eminent African researchers.
- ASRT acts as the main technical branch of the Egyptian Knowledge Bank which is the world’s largest digital library and online repository. The Bank provides massive scientific resources exclusively to Egyptians while promoting open science and research integrity.
- ASRT is a main publisher in the region and coordinates a large number of journals and local periodicals including the Egyptian Journal of Microbiology, Egyptian Journal of Chemistry, Middle East Journal of Therapeutic Nutrition and Complementary Medicine, Egyptian Journal of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, and the Egyptian Journal of Radiation Sciences and Applications.
- Responding rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, ASRT published a strategic study entitled ‘COVID and Post-COVID Priorities and Preparedness of Science, Technology and Innovation in Egypt’. One of the main recommendations of this study was the need to establish an Egyptian Reference Genome to continue advancing knowledge in personalized and precision medicine. Sound knowledge of the Egyptian genome and related diseases is essential to direct effective preventive, diagnostic and counselling services for prevalent genetic diseases in Egypt.
Following a competitive call from ASRT for the ‘Egypt Genome project’, a consortium, headed by the Egypt Center for Research and Regenerative Medicine (ECRRM), was awarded the grant. The national project for Egyptian reference genome was launched in 2021 with the support of ASRT and total Egyptian governmental funding of $62 million for the first 5 year phase.
The aim of the project is to establish a benchmark genome centre, create a map of the Egyptian human genome, and thereby discover and accurately determine the genetic characteristics of various diseases. The project’s scope covers three categories: the population genome, the genome of ancient Egyptians, and diseased genome.
By advancing the practice of medical genetics and genomics across the country through this large-scale project, ASRT is shifting the approach from ‘one-size-fits-all’ to more personalized healthcare.
ASRT has participated in several co-funded programs including EuroNanoMed and EraPerMED and key initiatives such as Africa-PerMed. ASRT is a member of JPIAMR and the new ERA4HEALTH.
and finally, did you know?
“In South Korea, our system is a little different from other GloPID-R members. In addition to managing a research laboratory, I am also the PI for the GloPID-R project. Our interests are in antimicrobial resistance and developing a new drug and its target. Balancing these two roles is not always easy, but I am very ably assisted by my co-worker and assistant, Jieun Lee. Her excellent management and organization skills help me to coordinate our responsibilities,” adds Dr. Ryu.
“Contributing ideas and efforts to help LMICs in Asia is extremely important for us. I really enjoy participating in international meetings, even though they usually take place in the late evening in South Korea. I hope that our efforts will provide a small but potentially significant step to managing infectious diseases around the Asia-Pacific region.”