KU College of Medicine BK21 Medical Science

 

Center for Convergent Translational

 

Research Selected for Phase Four of BK21

 

 

 

 

Korea University College of Medicine (Dean Young-Wook Yoon) was selected

 

for BK21 FOUR (Fostering Outstanding Universities for Research, Phase 4 of

 

Brain Korea 21) project which is organized by the Ministry of Education and

 

National Research Foundation of Korea for the Medical Science Center for

 

Convergent Translational Research.

 

 

BK21 provides support such as research funding in order to promote technology

 

development in new industry areas and a stable academic research environment.

 

For the next 7 years starting this year, graduate students will receive monthly

 

research scholarships. New researchers’ salaries will be covered. Moreover, it

 

covers expenses of international programs such as long- and short-term overseas

 

training and other international cooperation activities for the next generation of

 

academics so that masters and doctoral researchers can focus on their studies

 

and research.

 

 

Korea University College of Medicine had the honor of being selected for BK21

 

project in 1999 despite fierce competition, recognized for its will to innovate the

 

graduate school system and its potential. In the past 20 years, it never failed to

 

be named in BK21 project selections. A total of 19.3 billion won has been

 

funded so far and 234 masters and 226 doctoral students went through this

 

program.

 

 

The center is undergoing innovation, for example, pursuing convergent

 

translational research to promote interdisciplinary cooperation and challenge

 

new fields that would lead the fourth industrial revolution. As a culmination of

 

its efforts, 87% of its PhDs are contributing to the development of science

 

technology and industry. Compared to the initial stage of the project, the

 

number of SCI-level papers has risen by 300% and the number of patent

 

registration has risen by more than 800%.

 

 

“The previous three phases of BK21 have changed university’s research culture

 

in our country and contributed to the enhancement of the education capability of

 

universities which are responsible for nurturing the next generation of

 

academics,” Im-Joo Rhyu (Professor of Department of Anatomy) who leads the

 

center stated. “With this fourth phase, Korea University College of Medicine

 

hopes to play a pivotal role in securing future talents who will be a growth

 

engine for national innovation and to solve social issues at hand by proactively

 

ascertaining the academic demands of the future society.”