Pohang City to Establish 'Microbiome' Center by 2026... Selected for Government Public Project

Receive up to 3 billion KRW in government funding by 2026

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] Pohang City announced on the 4th that it has been finally selected for the Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Project competition, organized by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Facilities & Equipment Center (NFEC) of the Korea Basic Science Institute, together with Gyeongbuk Province and POSTECH.

The 'Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Project' aims to improve universities' research and development (R&D) capabilities and create an efficient research ecosystem by supporting the establishment and operation of specialized 'Core Research Support Centers (Core-Facility)' for each research field.

Through this project, Pohang plans to receive 3 billion KRW in national funding over six years until 2026 to build a center integrating essential facilities for microbiome research, such as a Germ Free animal facility and Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) equipment, developing it into a world-class microbiome research infrastructure supporting domestic industry-academia-research institutions.

The microbiome broadly influences host physiological functions and is deeply involved in the onset of intractable diseases that are increasing in modern society, such as immune disorders, cancer, and neuro-metabolic diseases. Discovering techniques to control and regulate the interactions between the microbiome and the host is expected to significantly contribute to the treatment of various intractable diseases.

Due to the strong correlation between microbiome and disease onset/progression, developing therapeutics using the microbiome is gaining attention.

Efforts to develop microbiome-based therapeutics, such as fecal transplantation and utilization of beneficial microorganisms, are underway mainly by startup companies. The global market for microbiome-based disease diagnostics and pharmaceuticals is predicted to grow rapidly to over 12 trillion KRW by 2024.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang said, "With this project as an opportunity, the establishment of a Core Research Support Center in Pohang, where POSTECH’s research infrastructure and world-class researchers are located, is expected to lead to the development of original technologies in the microbiome field and therapeutics for various intractable diseases." He added, "If linked with the establishment of the K-Bio Lab Hub, Pohang will leap forward as a global center of the bio industry."