보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Announcement of 7 New Projects

under the Korean ARPA-H Initiative

 

- Call for proposals to address challenges in unconquered diseases, biohealth, welfare and care,

and essential medical services (Oct. 18–Nov. 18) -

 

- Investment ranging from KRW 13 billion to KRW 23 billion per project over five years -

 

On Friday, October 18, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Cho KyooHong) and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI, President Cha SoonDo) announced seven new projects under the Korean ARPA-H initiative and issued a call for research and development proposals to implement them.

 

The Korean ARPA-H initiative aims to tackle national challenges through ambitious endeavors, driving transformative changes in healthcare and health services that are tangible to the public

 

For 9 years from 2024 to 2032, a total of KRW 1.1628 trillion will be allocated to support innovative and challenging R&D efforts to address challenges in carrying out five designated imperative missions.

 

* The five missions are: ① Establishing Health Security, ② Overcoming Unconquered Diseases, ③ Securing Leading-Edge Technologies in Biohealth, ④ Improving Welfare and Care, and ⑤ Advancing Essential Medical Services

 

In July, the government launched the first phase of the Korean ARPA-H initiative, announcing three projects* under the missions of establishing health security and improving welfare and care. A call for R&D proposals aimed at achieving the objectives of each project was made in July, and the selection process was completed in September.

 

* The three projects are: ① Developing ultra-long-term vaccine storage technology, ② Establishing a decentralized vaccine production system, and ③ Developing multi-modal therapeutic techniques for sarcopenia

 

In September, project managers (PMs)* were appointed for the missions of overcoming unconquered diseases, securing cutting-edge technologies in biohealth, and advancing essential medical services. Under the leadership of these PMs, seven new projects were planned through demand surveys, big data analysis, and expert consultations. The projects include the development of ten early screening technologies for cancers affecting people in their 20s and 30s, the development of innovative medical technologies in space medicine to overcome medical challenges, and the creation of an AI-enabled regionally comprehensive emergency patient classification and transport system.

 

* The appointed project managers are Kim YoonBin, former president of the RIGHT Fund Foundation (Overcoming Unconquered Diseases); Cho Young-Jae, professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (Biohealth); and Lee Chang-Hyun, professor at Seoul National University Hospital (Essential Medical Services). ///