Dong-A University Obtains IRB Evaluation and Certification from Ministry of Health and Welfare

Valid for Three Years Until 2028
Additional Points for Healthcare R&D Projects

Dong-A University (President Lee Haewoo) announced on January 5 that it has obtained evaluation and certification for its Institutional Review Board (IRB) from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an organization that reviews and supervises the ethical and scientific validity of human subject research, research using human-derived materials, and research involving embryonic stem cell lines, in order to protect the rights and safety of research participants. The IRB evaluation and certification system is operated under the "Bioethics and Safety Act" to foster an ethical research environment and protect research participants, with certification granted by the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Dong-A University received final certification after passing all stages of the evaluation-document review, on-site inspection, and comprehensive assessment-conducted by the National Bioethics Policy Institute. The evaluation covered five categories: establishment and independence of the institution, institutional support, committee composition and operation, committee roles and functions, and a total of 40 detailed evaluation criteria.

The certification is valid for three years, until November 25, 2028. Certified institutions can receive additional points when applying as the principal research institution for new healthcare R&D projects, and the role of the committee as an autonomous ethics body within the institution is further strengthened. In addition, the institution’s capabilities in protecting research participants and fostering an ethical research environment have been officially recognized, which is expected to enhance its international reputation for bioethics.

Kim Hyunjun, Chair of the Dong-A University Bioethics Committee and Professor of Medicine, stated, "This certification is the result of our ongoing efforts to strengthen research ethics being officially recognized. We will continue to enhance the expertise and transparency of our reviews, promote an ethical research culture, and do our utmost to create a safe and trustworthy research environment."