Busan Gijang-gun Seaweed Breeding Convergence Research Center and Dong-A University Antiviral Pharmaceutical Research Institute Agreement

Joint Promotion of 'Exploration of Bioactive Compounds Derived from Seaweed'

Busan Gijang-gun Seaweed Breeding Convergence Research Center and Dong-A University Antiviral Drug Research Institute signed an agreement.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The Busan Gijang-gun Seaweed Breeding Convergence Research Center signed an agreement on December 23 with the Antiviral Pharmaceutical Research Institute to activate the marine bioindustry and explore bioactive compounds derived from seaweed.

The Antiviral Pharmaceutical Research Institute (Director Professor Jo Jong-hyun) is an affiliated research institute of Dong-A University, established in 2019, operated by a team of 12 researchers aiming to develop treatments for viruses and metabolic diseases.

It has formed domestic networks with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Seoul National University, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, ST Pharm Co., Ltd., Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Brain Korea 21+, Brain Busan 21+, and Dong-A University. It also actively conducts joint research through overseas networks with Emory University in the U.S. and Universit? Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

The main cooperation contents of this agreement include ▲ securing useful bioactive compounds derived from fishery resources ▲ expanding research in medical and life sciences fields such as antiviral applications using fishery resources ▲ use and utilization of research facilities and equipment ▲ and other matters recognized as necessary for cooperation.

The Gijang-gun Research Center and the Antiviral Pharmaceutical Research Institute will jointly conduct research by first collecting various seaweeds inhabiting the coastal areas of Gijang, extracting their components, and studying their bioactive effects. They plan to jointly participate in related research and development (R&D) in the future.

Seaweed has been recognized for the efficacy of its various nutritional components and has attracted global attention as the "superfood of the sea" since 2019. Additionally, various studies are underway on its use as a new marine bio-material.

The global prescription drug market size is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.9%, from approximately $844 billion (about 1,012 trillion KRW) in 2019 to $1.181 trillion (about 1,417 trillion KRW) in 2024.

Among these, biopharmaceuticals are expected to maintain a high growth rate of 8.5% annually from 2019 to 2024, accounting for 32% of the pharmaceutical market size by 2024.

The Research Center plans to explore and isolate useful substances contained in fishery resources such as seaweed through this cooperation, securing marine bio-materials and utilizing them as basic data for marine-related industries.

A representative of the Gijang-gun Research Center said, “The marine bioindustry is a future new growth engine industry, but the domestic marine bioindustry conditions are still immature. By securing and utilizing useful substances from fishery resources through cooperation between the two institutions, it is expected to contribute to the development of the marine bioindustry and provide fishermen with a new source of high income in terms of raw material procurement and supply.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.