Chonnam National University Hospital (Director Shin Jung) has been selected as the only first-phase certified research-driven hospital in the Honam and Chungcheong regions, taking on a leading role at the center of Korea's biohealth research ecosystem.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 27th, a total of 21 medical institutions nationwide have been confirmed as first-phase certified research-driven hospitals following an evaluation of general and advanced general hospitals. This is the first certification since the introduction of the system, and it will be valid for three years until March 31, 2028.
The research-driven hospital system was first introduced in 2013 to promote research and development (R&D) and technology commercialization in the biohealth sector, with 10 hospitals designated and operated since then. As demand for biohealth technology and industry development increased, the system was revised in 2024 from a designation system to a certification system applied to hospitals with proven research capabilities, in order to spread a research culture in hospitals.
This certification evaluation included 30 medical institutions, including the 10 previously designated research-driven hospitals. After an assessment of research capacity and quality, 21 hospitals were ultimately certified. All 10 previously designated hospitals passed the certification, and 11 new institutions, including Chonnam National University Hospital, have joined as research-driven hospitals.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare conducted a thorough review over about three months, dividing the process into a first-stage basic competency evaluation and a second-stage research capacity quality evaluation. In particular, the review focused on whether the hospitals possessed a global-level research system and personnel, sustainable research support governance, capabilities to conduct translational and clinical research, and competitiveness in specialized research areas. The results of the certification evaluation were reviewed by the Health and Medical Technology Policy Deliberation Committee on the 19th.
Certified institutions in the first phase now qualify to apply for the 'Research-Driven Hospital Promotion R&D' project and, in accordance with the purpose of operating research-driven hospitals as set out in the 'Health and Medical Technology Promotion Act,' will take a leading role at the center of the biohealth research ecosystem.
Shin Jung, Director of Chonnam National University Hospital, stated, "As Chonnam National University Hospital has become the first research-driven hospital in the Honam and Chungcheong regions, we will further advance our sustainable research system and research support governance to establish ourselves as a global research-driven hospital leading the advanced biohealth industry."
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