Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics (Director Professor Eo Seong-guk) will participate in the 'Infectious Disease Research Institutions Consortium' to respond to national emerging and re-emerging infectious disease crises.

To this end, last month the institute concluded a multilateral memorandum of understanding with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and major domestic infectious disease research institutions. Through this agreement, it will be reborn as an institution that plays a pivotal role in rapid response to crises involving the spread of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

The agreement involved 15 national research institutes and international organizations across 10 ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. From the Ministry of Education, JBNU's Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics was the sole participant.

As a result, the institute will serve as a central member of the infectious disease consortium, taking the lead in conducting and coordinating various studies on infectious agents using its Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facilities.

Accordingly, the infectious disease research institutions consortium, including JBNU's Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, will pursue multilateral cooperation in areas such as the exchange of research, technology, and information; sharing, dissemination, and joint utilization of results to secure timely outcomes; and conducting joint research.

In particular, the consortium plans to establish an emergency response system that can prioritize and carry out nationally requested, on-demand research for diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines in the event of an infectious disease crisis.

Because JBNU's Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics has established large-animal BSL-3 facilities not available at other institutions, as well as large-scale medium- and small-animal BSL-3 facilities, it is expected to provide momentum for therapeutic and vaccine R&D within the consortium by conducting specialized research distinct from other institutions.

Director Eo Seong-guk of JBNU's Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics said, 'By participating as a key member in this national infectious disease consortium, the Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics will truly assume a central role in responding to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. As the only hub national university recognized as an important research institution for national infectious disease crisis response, we will play a vital role in maintaining the national research ecosystem for high-risk pathogens together with the recently established Zoonosis Core Research Support Center.'