Gwanak-gu-Seoul National University Campus Town Resident Company Genealogy Publishes Paper in Nature Communications

Development of AI Algorithm Predicting Disease Risk with HLA Genotyping at 1/10 Cost of Conventional Tests

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) announced that in February, the ‘CookHLA’ technology developed by ‘Genialogy,’ a tenant company of the Gwanak-gu-Seoul National University Campus Town, was published in the world-renowned academic journal Nature Communications. (Paper title: Accurate imputation of human leukocyte antigens with CookHLA)

Genialogy (CEO Jihoon) is a company co-founded by Professor Hanbeom from Seoul National University College of Medicine, who also serves as CTO (Chief Technology Officer). The company was selected in the Gwanak-gu-Seoul National University Campus Town tenant company competition held in September last year.

The ‘CookHLA’ technology featured in this paper was developed jointly by Genialogy co-founder Hanbeom and the research team at Seoul National University College of Medicine. It utilizes a simple genetic test (SNP array) using human saliva to analyze human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes at one-tenth the cost of conventional tests.

HLA genes are crucial in immune responses and are especially important in the treatment of blood cancer patients.

Additionally, Genialogy is preparing for commercialization by combining the ‘CookHLA’ technology with genome amplification technology to develop AI algorithms that predict the risk of various diseases, including COVID-19, targeting the U.S. market for global expansion.

Genialogy CEO Jihoon said, “We are grateful to receive free startup space through the Gwanak-gu-Seoul National University Campus Town project, as well as support for investor relations (IR) and demo day participation, and technical connections with Seoul National University faculty. We hope that through our company’s new technologies and services, many people will be able to know their disease risks in advance and prevent them, thereby achieving a better quality of life.”

The Gwanak-gu-Seoul National University Campus Town houses 31 companies with innovative technologies in AI, bio, and smart healthcare, dreaming of becoming unicorn companies valued at 1 trillion won. The provision of startup spaces and various startup program supports for tenant companies have led to visible achievements in investment, sales, and employment.

Meanwhile, the district is creating a regional innovation cluster centered on Nakseongdae’s Nakseong Venture Valley and the Sinlim Startup Valley in Daehak-dong. So far, nine startup support facilities have been established, including ‘Startup HERE-RO 2, 3, 4,’ ‘Nakseong Venture Startup Centers (3 locations),’ and ‘Seoul Startup Center Gwanak.’ By 2022, additional facilities such as ‘Startup HERE-RO 1, 5’ and ‘Seoul National University Research Park (Building 943)’ will be added, expanding the total to 15 startup support facilities. Together with Gwanak S Valley, the district plans to establish itself as an innovative startup city.

Mayor Park Junhee said, “I sincerely congratulate Genialogy on their research achievements published in a world-class academic journal and hope that the new ‘CookHLA’ technology will bring hope to many people. Going forward, the district will continue to do its best to establish Gwanak-gu as Korea’s top venture valley by promoting various corporate support policies such as building startup infrastructure, startup support funds, and designating venture business promotion zones.”

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