The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the crucial role epidemiologists play in protecting public health, as they track, analyze, and help prevent disease outbreaks. In Korea, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) leads these efforts with around 100 epidemiological investigation officers at its headquarters and approximately 500-600 working at the local government level. Recognizing the need for stronger international collaboration and advanced training, KDCA partnered with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to equip its epidemiologists with the expertise and global perspective necessary to combat infectious diseases more effectively.

 

In 2022, KDCA and IVI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support IVI’s operational costs and strengthen cooperation. A Letter of Intent was signed concurrently to establish a fellowship program, enabling KDCA epidemiologists to receive short-term specialized training with IVI’s Epidemiology, Public Health, and Impact (EPIC) unit.

 

 

This initiative provides opportunities for Korean epidemiologists to interact and collaborate with IVI’s epidemiology researchers. With KDCA’s support, the program leverages IVI’s global network, experience, and capabilities, allowing Korean epidemiologists to directly participate in IVI’s global epidemiological and public health projects in Africa and Asia. The collaborative training program aims to enhance the expertise and capacity of the participating epidemiologists. Since the signing of the MOU, two KDCA epidemiological investigation officers (epidemiologists) have participated as IVI fellows every four months, with the seventh batch concluding their fellowships last December.

 

We recently spoke with Ms. Jihee Lee and Ms. Daseul Kim, who completed their fellowship with IVI’s EPIC department in December, about their experiences and motivations for joining the program.

 

 

Please introduce yourselves.

Jihee Lee

Hello, I am Jihee Lee, an epidemiologist at the Infectious Disease Response Division of KDCA’s Capital Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

Daseul Kim

Hello, I am Daseul Kim, an epidemiologist at the Infectious Disease Management Division of KDCA’s Infectious Disease Policy Bureau.

 

How did you learn about IVI? Why did you apply for the fellowship?

Lee

KDCA has maintained a long-standing partnership with IVI through broad participation, operational funding, and MOUs related to vaccines. Through this relationship, I developed an interest in IVI and decided to apply for the fellowship as soon as I heard about it.

 

Kim

I first learned about IVI through presentations by KDCA epidemiologists who previously participated as IVI fellows. I was particularly attracted to IVI’s role as a global hub for vaccine research and delivery. I applied to gain an international perspective on infectious disease management and hands-on experience in vaccine development and distribution. I was also eager to collaborate with diverse experts and contribute to global public health initiatives.

 

When KDCA internally announces the IVI fellowship recruitment, interested epidemiologists submit applications, including reasons for applying, research objectives at IVI, research interests, and career backgrounds, along with language proficiency certificates. Two epidemiologists are selected through this process after each announcement.

 

What was the most memorable experience during your fellowship at IVI?

Lee

Attending the ‘Research Preparedness Ecosystem Engagement Workshop: Advancing Research Capacity in West Africa (ARC-WA)’ in Ghana was a particularly memorable experience to me. This workshop focused on strengthening research ecosystems and networks to improve clinical research and trials in various African countries. Another notable experience was participation at the ‘Collaborative Efforts: African Stakeholder Engagement for Combating Invasive Salmonella Infections Meeting’ in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I was able to gain valuable insights into the epidemiology of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) and typhoid fever in Africa, along with global efforts to combat these diseases, while interacting with leading experts in the field.

 

 

Kim

The most memorable experience for me was visiting field sites of vaccine distribution and disease surveillance projects in developing countries. It was fascinating to observe the prospective data collection process following vaccine administration and understanding how research data informs policy. Additionally, interacting with stakeholders from various West African countries allowed me to gain valuable insights into different public health systems.

 

 

How do you expect your IVI experience to benefit your work at KDCA?

Lee

The IVI fellowship program provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the entire vaccine development cycle, from research and clinical trials to impact assessment. This experience will be highly useful when I support KDCA in evidence-based vaccine policy development. Furthermore, I hope my experience in building collaborative networks with African nations will aid in expanding KDCA’s international cooperation efforts.

 

Kim

The fellowship has given me valuable insights into global health policies and vaccine development. I had a chance to learn strategies to improve vaccine accessibility and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. I will be able to use this experience by applying international standards and strategies to KDCA’s surveillance and response systems for infectious diseases for which I am responsible. I also hope to contribute to expanding Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) initiatives for developing countries.

 

 

What future collaboration opportunities do you see between IVI and KDCA?

Lee

Based on our existing collaboration, I look forward to opportunities for joint research on emerging infectious diseases that have not yet been reported in Korea. This will help enhance Korea’s preparedness for emerging threats while solidifying the partnership between KDCA and IVI. Additionally, I think leveraging IVI’s international network will facilitate collaborative efforts with KDCA in disease surveillance and vaccine research across Africa and Asia.

Expanding the fellowship program to include long-term fellowships or personnel exchanges with other IVI departments, as well as establishing regular symposiums and researcher exchange programs, could further enhance synergy between the two institutions.

 

Kim

I believe IVI and KDCA have significant potential for collaboration in global vaccine development and distribution. This may include sharing vaccine research and clinical trial data, conducting joint studies using Korea’s epidemiological data, and partnering on international vaccine access projects. Furthermore, by jointly supporting international vaccine distribution efforts in low-vaccine-coverage developing countries, we could combine KDCA’s infectious disease response expertise with IVI’s global network to create meaningful impact.

 

As of December 2024, 14 KDCA epidemiologists across seven batches have participated in the IVI fellowship. Moving forward, KDCA and IVI plan to expand their collaboration beyond vaccines to address various global health security threats.

 

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by Cindy Park

Last updated February 27, 2025