Korea University has established a national hub for degradomics research, regarded as a core discipline for new drug development, by investing KRW 146 billion, the largest amount in Korea for a single basic research field. On the 14th, Korea University held an opening ceremony for the “National Institute of Convergent Degradomics” at the Centennial Samsung Hall in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, with more than 100 participants from the Ministry of Science and ICT and academia, and began full-scale research activities.

According to Korea University, the institute was established after the university was finally selected as the lead organization for the National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) program of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education. This program is a project to foster world-class research hubs in Korea through more than 10 years of long-term national support. A total of KRW 46 billion in government funding and university funds will be invested in the institute. This is the largest scale in Korea for a single basic research field and will be used for the recruitment of outstanding researchers, the establishment of advanced research equipment, and the promotion of large-scale collaborative research.

Recently, in academia, degradomics, which elucidates the principles by which proteins are generated, regulated, and degraded in biological processes, has been drawing attention as a modality for disease treatment. Through degradomics research, the institute aims to establish itself as a new drug development platform that selectively eliminates only disease-causing proteins.

Kim Dong-won, President of Korea University, stated, “Korea University has continued sustained investment and preparations to leap forward as a research-centered university that contributes to solving humanity’s grand challenges,” adding, “The launch of the institute is an important milestone in Korea University’s pursuit of a ‘Next Intelligence University,’ that is, a university that creates knowledge contributing to the future of humanity.” Director Song Hyun-kyu said, “Through convergent research that breaks down boundaries between disciplines, we will build a virtuous cycle in which achievements in basic science lead to new drug development.”

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