Dongshin University Launches Microbiome Well-Aging Project Team

5 Years of 11.5 Billion KRW Support from Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeonnam Province, and Naju City for Technology Development

‘Opening the Future of Jeonnam’ Dongshin University Microbiome Well-Aging Project Group held its inauguration ceremony on the 25th, officially announcing its launch. Photo by Dongshin University.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] The Microbiome Well-Aging Project Group at Dongshin University (Director Professor Na Chang-soo of the Department of Korean Medicine) held its inauguration ceremony on the 25th, officially announcing its launch.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by more than 30 people, including Dongshin University President Choi Il, Vice President of Academic Affairs Lee Joo-hee, Yoon Byung-tae, Jeonnam Province Deputy Governor for Political Affairs, Kang In-gyu, Mayor of Naju City, and Kwon Seok-min, Director of Science and Technology Job Innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The event began with an introduction to the Microbiome Well-Aging Project Group, followed by a special lecture titled "Biotechnology for Preparing for a Super-Aged Society" by Dr. Kwon Ki-seon (Director of the Aging Control Research Division at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), and a seminar of the Microbiome Well-Aging Project Group.

The project group also signed a "Research Cooperation and Regional Corporate Investment Agreement" with BNT Co., Ltd., a natural product research-focused company, and a "Microbiome Product Commercialization Agreement" with NutriOne Co., Ltd., a health functional food distribution specialist company.

Established following its selection in June for the Ministry of Science and ICT's "2021 Science and Technology Project Opening the Future of Regions," the project group will receive approximately 11.5 billion KRW in funding over the next five years from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeonnam Province, and Naju City.

Centered on the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Dongshin University as the lead research institution, ten organizations including the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Jeonnam Bio Industry Promotion Agency will participate as joint research institutions.

The microbiome consists of various microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses living in the human body, and has recently been widely studied as materials for cosmetics, health foods, and pharmaceutical industries due to its revealed associations with various diseases.

The project group plans to develop microbiome-based health age measurement programs and microbiome food and pharmaceutical products effective for health and longevity of the intestines, skin, and blood vessels by combining its self-developed core technologies with natural resources from the Jeonnam region.

President Choi Il of Dongshin University emphasized, "We expect the project group to make a significant contribution to the regional blue bio industry," adding, "The project group will serve as the foundation and cornerstone in creating a future industrial structure where 'Jeonnam Province nurtures and Jeonnam Province profits.'"

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