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[Cover Story] BK21 PLUS: KU’s Endeavors for Cultivating Specialists in the Bioscience and Biotechnology Areas
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2014.05.02
<p><img src="ArticleFile.do?id=11590984" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Three project groups and nine teams at Konkuk University (KU) have been selected for BK21 PLUS (Brain Korea 21 Program for Leading Universities & Students) to receive an annual fund of 3.4 million USD for seven years from 2013 to 2019 for research and education. The objectives of BK21 PLUS are to develop graduate-level talent who will lead Korea's "creative economy" and enhance the educational and research capacity of Korean universities. This article will introduce one project group and three teams that focus on the bio area.</p> <p>* Note: BK21 PLUS is hosted by the Korean Ministry of Education and implemented by the National Research Foundation of Korea.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Project Group for Bioscience and Biotechnology</strong>, Dept. of Bioscience and Biotechnology, KU Graduate School (Seoul Campus)</p> <p>The Project Group for Bioscience and Biotechnology aims to develop high value-added biological resources and tailored medicine and new drugs through research of convergence and systems biotechnology as well as commercializing them through industry-academic cooperation. This group pursues the cultivation of vital human resources by strengthening the interdisciplinary convergence of chemistry, biology, biological engineering, and nanobiology.</p> <p>Konkuk was one of the four project groups in the biofield selected among domestic universities which include Seoul National University, Korea University, and Kyunghee University. The KU Project Group will be receiving more than 3.4 million USD for the next seven years.</p> <p>By nurturing bio experts, cooperating with superb overseas research institutions, and carrying out active research activities, Prof. Deok-Kun Oh's research group aims to join the top 10 bio research groups in Asia by 2020. As for university-industry cooperation, partner companies Daesang Corporation and CureBio promised financial support to be used to facilitate research activities and assist graduate school students.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Animal Food Project Team</strong>, Dept. of Food Science & Biotechnology of Animal Resources, College of Animal Bioscience & Technology, KU (Seoul Campus)</p> <p>The Animal Food Project Team focuses on LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) which is recently gaining attention in Korea. The team's core interest is the production and hygiene management of livestock products that meet people's increasing needs.</p> <p>Various efforts will be made by Prof. Prof. Hyun-Dong Paik's team to grow into a world-class research team: exchange and research with overseas universities, practicum in domestic and overseas companies, and the facilitation of integrated degree programs (integrated bachelor's/master's and master's/doctoral).</p> <p>The Animal Food Project Team will strive to become an internationally recognized research team with strong industry-academic cooperation.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Project Team for Genome Engineering-based Designer Pig Development</strong>, Dept. of Animal Biotechnology, College of Animal Bioscience & Technology, KU (Seoul Campus)</p> <p>The selection of the Project Team led by Prof. Han Geuk Seo for BK21 PLUS is in line with the successful outcomes of Konkuk University's (KU) intensive investment and research in animal bioscience for the past half-century. The trend of the field is moving away from traditional animal production toward the development of new breeds and productivity. This is the reason the team pursues a new paradigm of genome engineering in the animal industry. Utilizing KU's competitiveness in the animal field, the team will provide specialized education and system to prospective animal bioscience experts.</p> <p>The pig breeding project covers the production of quality pigs and conserving good breeds through targeted genome engineering. Prof. Seo's team focuses on pig development with three quality traits. First is the development of genetically modified vector that can prevent the proliferation of disease-resistant pigs and virus infection. Second is the production of model pigs to replace experimental rats which are limited in their size and observation time, as an animal model of incurable human diseases. Third is the production of immunosuppressed pigs for xenotransplantation.</p> <p>With the xenotransplantation market expected to reach approximately 580 million USD in 2015, pigs with these three kinds of quality traits will pave new roads into the animal breeding market which is currently dominated by multinational corporations.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Project Team for the Glocal Education Program of Nutraceutical Development</strong>, Dept. of Applied Biochemistry, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, KU (Glocal Campus)</p> <p>The Project Team for the Glocal Education Program of Nutraceutical Development headed by Prof. Beong Ou Lim focuses on cultivating interdisciplinary personnel equipped with both expert knowledge and work experience necessary for leading the rapidly aging era and the accompanied rise of the health industry.</p> <p>Prof. Lim's team places emphasis on the fostering of "Glocal" talent (i.e., a combination of "global" and "local") to develop globalized human resources within the local region, Chungcheongbuk-do province. The team especially emphasizes research in technology transfer required for industrialization and industry-academic education. Education on intellectual property and industrial internships will also be strengthened to offer tailored experts to the Chungcheongbuk-do region which pursues "Biotopia."</p> <p><em>* More BK21 PLUS Project Groups and Teams at KU will be introduced in our upcoming KU Newsletters.</em></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: right;">Posted by Eunjin Cho</p>
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