Managed as joint research center with American Beckman Laser Institute
Promotion of the Dankook University Hospital as the leading hospital in laser diagnosis treatment for breast cancer, and head and neck thyroid cancer To stand side by side with the world’s best in national biomedical optics within 2 years
Dankook University will establish the ‘Beckman Laser Institute-Korea: BLI-Korea’ together with the American Beckman Laser Institute which possesses the world’s best original technology in the biomedical optics field.
The establishment of BLI-Korea was accomplished through selection of our university in the ‘2012 Overseas Outstanding Research Organization Introduction Project’ supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. As businesses that secure original technology by attracting research staff, technologies, research funds, etc., from overseas and construct global R&D hub foundations, 2 research institutions, including Dankook University, were ultimately selected out of the 13 organizations that submitted applications this year.
Following this, Dankook University will establish BLI-Korea within Cheonan Campus, and complete 6 years of research supported by the government. The total working expenses for Chungcheongnamdo, Cheonan City, participating businesses, Dankook University and Dankook University Hospital working funds of approximately 10.2 billion won will be invested, which includes the government expenditure of 3.6 billion won and the American Beckman Research Laboratory’s $1.2 million. Additionally, even after the termination of the government funding period, DKU plans to propel the commercialization of its original technology through the university’s independent continuous support.
Through the establishment of BLI-Korea, Dankook University is planning to concentrate on the development of original technology and training competent persons in regards to the up-to-date laser medical appliances, including cancer diagnosis technology which uses lasers. Also, through the latest breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, head and neck thyroid cancer laser diagnosis, etc., DKU will promote the Dankook University Hospital so that it gains recognition as a hospital leading in the field of laser diagnosis treatments. Furthermore, vitalization of the regional economy will be contributed to through the attraction of businesses in the field of laser medical appliances and creation of employment within Chungnam Province, and it is anticipated that the average economic toll on patients seeking laser treatment can be decrease by increasing the quality in the health care through technology commercialization. DKU is also looking into creating a continuous synergy effect through connecting with the Overseas Outstanding Research Center to attract businesses to the International Science Industry Belt of the Cheonan metropolitan district.
Pil Sang Jung (Otolaryngologist and professor at the Medical College), BLI-Korea Research Director, has stated that he “is going to exert all his efforts into making leaps in technical skills in the national laser medical equipment by actively using the medical life science infrastructure of Cheonan Campus, where the Medical College, Dental College, Pharmacy College and Dankook University Hospital are located, and by creating synergy.” He further revealed that “we will focus on solving the technical skill differences we have with advanced countries who have currently reached a 70% standard.”
Meanwhile, Beckman Laser Institute is in the process of professionally developing and manufacturing medical equipment and original technology at its Laser Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory situated in the University of California, Irvine, USA. It was established in 1986, and 200 people including doctors, researchers, university students and full time professors are participating in the research. The laboratory is acknowledged as the world’s best research laboratory in the field of biomedical optics with its research and education facilities, UC Irvine University Hospital, technology training facilities, etc.