Chonnam National University Hospital and AI-Med Launch Clinical Trial for Digital Stress Relief Using Scent Molecules

(From the left) Ki Seungjung, Institute of Biomedical Research, Chonnam National University Hospital, Beongrok Yoo, CEO of AI Med Co., Ltd.

Chonnam National University Hospital has become the first in the world to launch a clinical trial using scent molecules for digital stress relief.

On June 17, Chonnam National University Hospital announced that its Institute of Biomedical Research and AI-Med Co., Ltd. recently signed a memorandum of understanding in the conference room of the Senior Cosmedi-Care Demonstration Center at Chonnam National University Hospital for the "multidisciplinary (pre-)clinical evaluation of an antioxidant scent-based intervention device."

This clinical trial is a groundbreaking project that, for the first time globally, delivers scent molecules into the body via air?through the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract?and scientifically evaluates their effectiveness in alleviating digital stress symptoms such as eye fatigue, sleep disorders, and neural aging of the brain caused by excessive use of digital devices.

Accordingly, Chonnam National University Hospital and AI-Med plan to jointly conduct animal experiments and clinical trials in collaboration with the Institute of Biomedical Research and multidisciplinary clinical departments at Chonnam National University Hospital, in order to verify the physiological recovery effects of the antioxidant scent-based intervention device in digital environments.

The multidisciplinary clinical trial structure, involving the organic collaboration of medical professionals from the Department of Ophthalmology (Professors Yoon Kyungchul and Yoon Hyunjung), the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (Professor Yang Hyungchae), and the Department of Radiology (Professor Lee Yoonyoung), is a sophisticated convergence model rarely seen in domestic clinical trial settings. It is drawing attention for its ability to simultaneously verify precise clinical trial planning and technological integration capabilities.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that this clinical trial is linked to the Smart Specialization Infrastructure Project, which is supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do, and Chungcheongnam-do, and led by Chonnam National University. This project aims to lead the medical industry and enhance the global technological competitiveness of domestic convergent medical products by providing integrated support throughout the entire cycle?from clinical trial validation of promising local medical devices to commercialization and global expansion. AI-Med’s participation in this project, in collaboration with Chonnam National University Hospital, has led to research on digital stress relief using scent molecules.

Yoon Kyungchul, an ophthalmology professor at Chonnam National University Hospital and principal investigator of the clinical trial, stated, "In the midst of rapid changes in the digital environment, the organic linkage of specialized technologies held by companies with actual clinical trials and industrialization is both timely and meaningful. Convergent technology groups such as AI-based antioxidant scent intervention devices represent a strategic field leading the future of digital healthcare, and this clinical trial holds significant pioneering value."

Ki Seungjung, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research, said, "We hope that through multidisciplinary collaboration among ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, and radiology, we can jointly conduct clinical trials and contribute to the scientific evaluation and improvement of digital stress symptoms through research on the delivery of antioxidant scent molecules into the body."