“This KMI Leap-type project is the first research grant of my career, so it has special meaning for me.”

Professor Oh I-cheol of Seoul National University Hospital shared this reaction upon being selected for the KMI Korea Medical Institute Public Research Grant Program. He said, “I am grateful to be able to start my first step as a researcher with such a meaningful opportunity,” adding, “I will use this support as a springboard to deliver research outcomes that meet expectations.”

KMI Korea Medical Institute announced on the 11th that it has selected 10 new projects for the “2026 KMI Public Research Grant Program” to promote public health, advance medical science, and prevent disease, and will provide a total research fund of KRW 500 million.

On April 29, KMI held an agreement ceremony on the 15th-floor Town Hall of its foundation headquarters on Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, with external principal investigators in attendance, where it shared the main achievements of the research support program and this year’s selected projects.

This year, a total of 126 projects were submitted. Following evaluation by internal and external experts, 10 final projects were selected, and the research teams will conduct their studies for one year starting this month.

KMI provides support by dividing projects into three types according to the researcher’s career stage: “Leap-type,” “Growth-type,” and “Leading-type.”

For the “Leap-type,” aimed at early-career researchers, five researchers within seven years of initial appointment or aged 45 or younger were selected. Each will receive KRW 20 million, for a total research fund of KRW 100 million.

For the “Growth-type,” targeting mid-career researchers more than seven years after appointment, two projects were selected, and each will receive KRW 50 million, for a total of KRW 100 million.

In addition, for the “Leading-type” category for mid-career researchers, three projects were selected, with KRW 100 million allocated per project, totaling KRW 300 million in research funding.

Since 2008, KMI has continued the Public Research Grant Program, expanding its support for the research ecosystem in the healthcare sector.

Lee Kwang-bae, Chair of KMI, said, “The KMI Public Research Grant Program is a flagship research support initiative that helps researchers carry out creative and challenging research,” adding, “We will continue to expand research support that reflects the needs of the healthcare field, thereby contributing to the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical science.”

KMI Korea Medical Institute is a health screening institution established in 1985 and currently operates health screening centers in eight regions nationwide, including Gwanghwamun, Yeouido, and Gangnam in Seoul, as well as Suwon, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, and Jeju.

KMI is also focusing on strengthening post-screening health management systems alongside its research support programs. Recently, it held the “2026 KMI Medical Staff Seminar,” attended by about 90 participants including medical directors of centers nationwide and medical staff from the Integrated Medicine and Occupational & Environmental Medicine departments, to discuss measures to enhance follow-up management for health screening clients and directions for outpatient service operations. The seminar’s main agenda items included reinforcing disease prevention and continuous management systems after screenings and sharing operational case studies among medical staff.

Popular News