KAIST, IVI to collaborate on global vaccine research

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) announced on Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) for global vaccine research collaboration.

The two institutions will co-work on four projects: vaccine immune response analysis, joint research with global health partners, strengthening research and education in the fields of medicine and life sciences, and improving healthcare and vaccine accessibility in developing countries.

In particular, KAIST's accumulated human immune response analysis technology platform will be utilized for the vaccine immune response analysis project.

The goal is to expedite effective vaccine development by jointly undertaking immune response analysis for various vaccines currently under development by IVI, including the vaccine for the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, the hantavirus vaccine and the adenovirus vaccine.

The collaboration will extend to the analysis of cell immune responses at the molecular level, the discovery of biomarkers for vaccine immune responses and mutual cooperation in areas such as analysis technology education support.

"The global networking capabilities of IVI and the excellent research capabilities of KAIST will create synergies," IVI Director General Jerome Kim said. 

"This collaboration will enhance capabilities in the medical science fields such as vaccines and immunology and contribute to global health," KAIST President Kwang-Hyung Lee remarked.

Write to Hae-Sung Lee at ihs@hankyung.com