Jo In-ho, Professor at Ewha Womans University, Appointed as Head of the Pan-Government Regenerative Medicine Technology Development Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Professor Jo In-ho (62, photo) of Ewha Womans University College of Medicine has been appointed as the inaugural head of the pan-ministerial organization launched by the government to develop regenerative medical technologies such as gene and cell therapy.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that Professor Jo was appointed as the head of the "Pan-Ministerial Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project Group." To this end, the two ministries began recruiting the project head in December last year, undergoing qualification verification, presentation evaluation, and review and resolution procedures by the Pan-Ministerial Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project Promotion Committee.

Regenerative medicine is a medical technology that replaces or regenerates damaged human cells and tissues to restore normal function. It includes cell therapy, gene therapy, and tissue engineering therapy. The Pan-Ministerial Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project supports the entire cycle up to the clinical stage of therapeutics and treatment technologies using stem cells, genes, etc., by discovering and securing core and foundational technologies in the field of regenerative medicine. It is a large-scale project with a total investment of 595.5 billion KRW (542.3 billion KRW from the national budget, 53.2 billion KRW from the private sector) over 10 years from July this year to 2030.

Concept of regenerative medicine. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT

The project aims to secure four world-class regenerative medicine therapeutics, 1,409 patents, and 317 technology transfers by mobilizing joint research and development capabilities of related ministries. It is a core bio-sector project that will serve as a catalyst for the activation of regenerative medicine over the next decade.

The project head will oversee project planning, evaluation, and management, as well as project operation, utilization and dissemination of research outcomes, and support for commercialization including linkage with other projects, aiming to overcome diseases through leading advanced regenerative medical technologies and strengthen global competitiveness.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the newly appointed head, Professor Jo, was selected as the most suitable candidate due to his experience and knowledge in clinical trials, commercialization, and organizational management in the field of regenerative medicine, having served as director of the Ewha Medical Center Advanced Biomedical Research Institute and president of the Korean Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society. His term will begin with the establishment of the corporation at the end of this month and can be extended for two years after a three-year evaluation.

Professor Jo stated, "We will continuously discover innovations and foundational scientific technologies related to advanced regenerative medicine and link the value of these technologies to product development and clinical success." He added, "Ultimately, we will actively support creating outcomes that satisfy both patients and researchers through communication within scientific, ethical, and legal frameworks, and do our best to advance domestically produced advanced regenerative medical products into the global market."

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