- Joining forces in four main areas including vaccine immune response analysis using KAIST’s technology
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) exchanged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for global vaccine research collaboration at KAIST headquarters in Daejeon, Korea on November 23, 2023. Under the MOU, the two organizations agreed to work together in four main areas including vaccine immune response analysis using KAIST’s technology. Key participants including KAIST President Prof. Kwang-Hyung Lee (left from left) and IVI Director General Dr. Jerome Kim (fifth from left) pose for a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony. Credit: KAIST
November 23, 2023, Seoul, KOREA – The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), a world-leading higher education and research institution in science and technology, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for global vaccine research collaboration on November 23, 2023.
As a top science and technology university in Korea, KAIST boasts world-class research capabilities in the field of medical and life sciences, while IVI has international research capabilities and extensive global networks in vaccines. Under the agreement, the two sides will work together to accelerate the development of innovative new vaccines and promote global health by combining and synergizing their respective strengths.
The signing ceremony at KAIST headquarters in Daejeon, Korea was attended by President Kwang-Hyung Lee, Professor Eui-Cheol Shin of the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, and Professor Jiho Cha and Kangho Lee of the Moun Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy from KAIST; and Director General Dr. Jerome Kim, Deputy Director General of Science Man-ki Song, and Deputy Director General of Government and Public Relations Kyung-taik Han from IVI.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate in four main areas: vaccine immune response analysis projects; collaborative research with global health partners; strengthening research and education in the medical and life sciences field; and improving access to healthcare and vaccines in developing countries.
Firstly, the two organizations will jointly conduct immune response analysis of various vaccines, including SFTS, hantavirus, and adenovirus vaccines, which are being developed by IVI, by utilizing the human immune response analysis platform developed by KAIST to accelerate the development of these and other vaccines. Notably, through collaborative projects, they plan to conduct molecular-level cellular immune response analysis, seek to discover vaccine immune response biomarkers, and provide training on analytical techniques.
Also, the two organizations will seek ways to collaborate with global health partners including the Kenya-AIST, which is being established in Kenya to foster advanced human resources in science and technology, and pursue diverse cooperation opportunities at KAIST Osong Medical Campus, which is in the process of establishment in the bioindustry cluster of Osong, Korea with the aim of promoting research and education in the medical and life sciences.
The two organizations will also work together to explore ways to promote epidemiological studies, vaccination campaigns, and healthcare infrastructure improvement projects in developing countries, and conduct multidisciplinary research collaborations on intellectual property rights and regulations in an effort to improve access to healthcare and vaccines in developing countries.
Prof. Kwang-Hyung Lee, the President of KAIST, said, “Through our far-reaching collaboration with IVI, including technology transfer, research, personnel exchanges, infrastructure sharing, and contributions to communities, we will strengthen our capabilities in medical sciences such as vaccines and immunology and contribute to global health.”
Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI, said, “The synergies between IVI’s global network and KAIST’s excellent research capabilities will enable both organizations to accelerate innovative vaccines, improve global health equity, and become world-leading vaccine research organizations.”
On the same day, Dr. Jerome Kim delivered a special lecture to KAIST faculty and students on “Current Status and Future Prospects of Vaccine Development for Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
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About KAIST
KAIST is the first and top science and technology university in Korea. KAIST was established in 1971 by the Korean government to educate scientists and engineers committed to industrialization and economic growth in Korea.
Since then, KAIST and its 74,999 graduates have been the gateway to advanced science and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. KAIST has emerged as one of the most innovative universities with more than 11,000 students enrolled in five colleges and seven schools including 934 international students from 88 countries.
On the precipice of its 50+ years of hard work, KAIST continues to strive to present hope for Korea and the world beyond through its pursuits in education, research, entrepreneurship, and globalization for the betterment of the world and the humanity. For more information, please visit http://www.kaist.ac.kr.
About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is a non-profit international organization established in 1997 at the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health.
IVI’s current portfolio includes vaccines at all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, such as cholera, typhoid, chikungunya, shigella, salmonella, schistosomiasis, hepatitis E, HPV, COVID-19, and more. IVI developed the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine, pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), and developed a new-generation typhoid conjugate vaccine that is currently under assessment for WHO PQ.
IVI is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea with a Europe Regional Office in Sweden and Collaborating Centers in Ghana, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. 39 countries and the WHO are members of IVI, and the governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden, India, Finland, and Thailand provide state funding. For more information, please visit https://www.ivi.int.