Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Develops Experts to Handle Industrial Accidents

UNIST's newly selected BK21 project team specializing in industrial accident-focused digital healthcare talent development.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A specialized workforce training project that specifically addresses industrial accidents targeting workers has set sail in Ulsan. This project lays the foundation for establishing an industrial accident specialized hospital promoted by Ulsan City.

UNIST (President Lee Yong-hoon) announced on the 10th that the ‘Industrial Accident Specialized Digital Healthcare Talent Training Research Group’ has been newly selected for the 4th phase BK21 project led by the Ministry of Education.

The research group, led by Professor Cho Hyung-joon of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST, will invest a total project cost of 1.72 billion KRW over the next seven years, including 1.32 billion KRW in national funding and 400 million KRW in city funding, to nurture convergent specialized talents.

The research group will carry out educational and research programs aimed at fostering personnel who can lead early diagnosis and treatment technology development for occupational diseases caused by industrial accidents, as well as effective regenerative and rehabilitative treatments.

In particular, it plans to focus on nurturing talents leading four specialized fields: ▲early response research for emergency patients, ▲regenerative technology research based on tissue engineering, ▲rehabilitation technology research based on ergonomics, and ▲customized diagnosis and treatment research for chronic occupational diseases.

At UNIST, 14 faculty members with expertise in areas such as mobile medical imaging equipment, 3D bio-printing, rehabilitation measurement robots, blood-based cancer diagnosis, and personalized treatment will participate in operating the research group.

The BK21 project is expected to be the first step in solidifying the research capabilities of Ulsan’s industrial accident specialized public hospital in the future.

Currently, UNIST is making every effort to secure national funding in 2021 to operate the ‘Industrial Accident Specialized Smart Healthcare Research Center’ for original technology research and specialized workforce training related to industrial accident disease prevention and treatment. The BK21 project serves as a kind of link for operating the research center.

The research group will strengthen research capabilities by establishing a cooperative system with the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute under the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service and medical staff at Incheon Hospital.

Before the opening of the industrial accident specialized public hospital scheduled for 2025, clinical and research functions will be cooperated with Incheon Hospital and others, and thereafter, clinical activities will be conducted at the industrial accident specialized public hospital.

Ulsan City stated, “We are promoting joint research centered on UNIST, which has an advanced research base in ICT and biohealth fields, and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute, which has abundant clinical experience and data in the field of industrial accident prevention and treatment. This BK21 project at UNIST is the starting point, and we will strive to create an excellent industrial accident specialized public hospital that citizens desire.”

Professor Cho Hyung-joon said, “Ulsan, where heavy chemical industries and manufacturing are concentrated, is a region urgently needing the advancement of medical technology for industrial accident prevention and treatment. The research group plans to actively support preliminary research and nurture excellent talents to ensure the successful operation of the industrial accident specialized public hospital to be established in Ulsan.”

He added, “If advanced convergent technology research and development that can lead the industrial accident field is activated starting with the BK21 project, it is expected to help attract excellent medical staff to the industrial accident specialized public hospital.”

In addition to the newly selected BK21 research group, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST operates research centers capable of conducting industrial accident-related research, such as the ‘Bio-Organ Mimicry Research Center’ (Director Bae Sung-chul) and the ‘Genome Industry Technology Center’ (Director Lee Se-min), raising expectations for joint research with the new research group.

Including the Industrial Accident Specialized Digital Healthcare Research Group, UNIST had a total of five newly selected projects in this 4th phase BK21 project: three innovation talent training projects and two future talent training projects.

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