CNU has been selected for the 2020 Regional Leading Research Center Project.

According to CNU, its Next Generation Patient-Specific Cardiovascular Nanotechnology Leading Research Center (Director: Professor Lee Dong-weon, School of Mechanical Engineering) was selected for the 2020 Regional Leading Research Center Project governed by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the National Research Foundation.

The project, with CNU as the host organization, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) as joint research institutes, will develop a world-class cardiovascular precision medical technology platform based on smart design/manufacturing and AI-based sensor technology. The budget for this seven-year project (from July 1st, 2020 to February 27th, 2027) is 15.4 billion won, including governmental contributions and response funds from the local government and local industries. 
 
CNU’s Next Generation Patient-Specific Cardiovascular Nanotechnology Leading Research Center consists of three research groups: a 3D printing-based patient-specific cardiovascular scaffold, a cardiovascular chip-based patient-specific drug screening platform, and a medical-grade next-generation smart stent with integrated complex sensor. In addition, seven companies such as Samwon Industrial Co., Ltd., and Siji Bio Co., Ltd., will participate in developing fundamental technologies related to digital biomedical materials and devices and distributing the results to regional industries by fostering 150 talented professionals to work for the participating companies.

As the Regional Innovation Leading Research Center (RLRC) was attracted to Gwangju, the center is expected to contribute to local industries by linkage of centers with integrated regional core competencies and related industries in the region. In addition, the center is expected to develop into a independent R&D hub center for life-cycle digital technology such as material development, design, production, and evaluation of digital biomedical fields, of which the innovation and development Gwangju is focusing on.

CNU’s Next Generation Patient-Specific Cardiovascular Nanotechnology Leading Research Center aims to secure more than 30% of the domestic market share in cardiovascular stents, which is the No. 1 item (in 90% of cases) for single medical device imports. Through developing the fundamental technology and securing intellectual property rights for next-generation smart stents and the development of patient-specific biodegradable stent materials, as well as developing smart production technologies, the research is expected to contribute to the creation of a new market for next-generation stents and to drive regional innovation growth.