Tag: South Korea

A research team involving Jun Seok Park, a professor of Medicine at Kyungpook National University, has developed an “exosome analysis method in the blood that can diagnose colon cancer using electrochemical-based sensors.”

Professor Jun Seok Park conducted joint research with Jong Min Park, a Chemistry major at Kangwon National University, and Hak Ho Lee, a Medical professor at Harvard University in the U.S., and analyzed and combined colon cancer-specific protein markers (EpCAM, EGFR, CD24, GPA33) and diagnosed colon cancer with 96% accuracy.

Furthermore, the team used immunomagnetic electrochemical analysis to analyze the exosomal protein markers in a small amount of blood in just one hour. This method is a next-generation diagnostic technology that can overcome the long analysis time that was presented as a weakness of existing exosomal analysis technology.

Until now, a colon cancer diagnosis has been mainly done through colonoscopy, but due to the hassle of the test method, the appropriate timing of diagnosis has often been missed. However, blood analysis alone is expected to lead to early detection of colon cancer.

In addition, the research team conducted an exosome analysis using plasma samples from a total of 142 patients at Kyungpook National University’s Colon Cancer Center and found that they could predict the possibility of cancer recurrence five years later as well.

Professor Park said, “We expect that using this technology, we will be able to detect colorectal cancer early through blood tests conducted every year at health checkups.”

Kyungpook National University held the “2021 KNU International Day” on May 14 at Cheomseongin Square in front of Kyungpook National University’s Central Library, where students and foreign students can take time to interact with each other.

Students from 11 countries, including the United States, Germany, France, and Russia, set up booths for each country to introduce their own overseas universities and cultures to students and promote international exchange programs organized by universities.

In addition, international exchange student ambassadors consisting of students also played simple mini-games related to internationalization programs. The event was held under the Covid-19 quarantine guidelines, and about 80 students participated.

Currently, about 1,740 foreign students, including 1,134 from 59 countries, live in Kyungpook National University as a regular degree program.

Se Bin Kim, a physics student who participated in the program, expressed satisfaction, saying, “I thought there was no opportunity to do international exchange activities at school because of Covid-19, but through this event, I learned that I could have enough international exchange experience without leaving the country.”

Tae Hwan Kwon, director of the International Exchange Department at Kyungpook National University, said, “Because of Covid-19, students have limited opportunities to visit overseas universities. I hope this event will naturally foster an international sensation with foreign friends living together on campus and be interested in various internationalization programs run by Kyungpook National University and overseas universities.”

Kyungpook National University has been selected as the “SW-centered university” organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Kyungpook National University was selected for the second phase of the project following the first phase in 2015. It is going to lead the advancement of SW education innovation by receiving a total of 11 billion won for up to 6 years.

SW-centered university, which was first started in 2015, has been leading the training of SW professionals such as reorganization of SW curriculum due to industrial demand, expansion of SW major quota, and training SW convergence personnel. Starting this year, the second phase of upgrading the SW education system will begin, including strengthening education on new technologies such as artificial intelligence and preparing differentiated SW curricula by affiliates and levels.

A total of nine universities were newly selected for the second phase of the project, including seven general track universities, including Kyungpook National University (4:1 competition ratio) and two special track universities (5.2:1 competition ratio).

Kyungpook National University plans to strengthen on-site education based on industrial demand by forming and co-operating SW-sharing universities with universities in Daegu and Gyeongbuk and establishing SW industry-academic research clusters in industrial complexes. In addition, SW Education Center, which is the first stage of SW business, will be promoted to SW Education Center.

In order to strengthen convergence education, the SW Convergence Education Committee will be established as the vice-chairman. It is going to install AI Computing Major (Track) in the Department of Computer Science and strengthen AI-related SW major education by majoring in artificial intelligence, data convergence computing, and artificial intelligence convergence education.

Won Hwa Hong, the president of Kyungpook National University said, “As the first SW-centered university was selected in 2015, it has transformed university education into SW-centered, training related professionals and strengthening SW competitiveness in companies and regions. Based on performance and infrastructure, we will take the lead in realizing an SW-oriented society by not only fostering internationally recognized professionals but also spreading SW values.”