Andogeol Economic Research Institute 'Gwangju, Jeonnam Convergence Bio Belt' Policy Seminar

Andogeol Economic Research Institute announced on the 8th that it held a policy seminar titled 'Gwangju, Jeonnam Convergence Bio Belt Initiative' at the Economic Research Institute located in Sotae-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Chairman Andogeol stated, “The eastern region of Gwangju and Jeonnam, connecting Gwangju Dong-gu and Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, has tremendous potential to develop into a bio-medical convergence belt,” adding, “We need to actively promote the bio-convergence belt project that links four general hospitals?Jeonnam National University Hospital main branch, Jeonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chosun University Hospital, and Gidok Hospital?to research and develop new drugs and innovative medical devices and industrialize them.”

He also emphasized, “The big data related to dementia accumulated over the past 10 years on 20,000 elderly people by the Chosun University Dementia Project Group is the best in the nation,” and “It is necessary to actively utilize this as raw material for industrialization, such as developing dementia treatments.”

Kim Hyung-seok, Director of the Biomedical Research Institute at Jeonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, who presented at the seminar, said, “The bio-convergence belt should go beyond medical industrialization and also connect to attracting overseas patients and revitalizing tourism.”

Lee Geon-ho, Director of the Gwangju Dementia Cohort Research Group who attended as a discussant, stated, “Gwangju and Jeonnam are the only regions nationwide without GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facilities capable of producing biopharmaceuticals,” and “It is urgent to attract large corporations and pharmaceutical companies equipped with such facilities.”