Nurturing Holistic Talent Who Will Help Build a Healthier 21st Century
Working to be at the Global Forefront of Biomedical and Food Science
Introduction
Korea University’s School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science has an educational and research system that organically links the various disciplines of foundational biomedical science and those of biofood science and technology, with an aim to nurture the future leaders of the global biomedical and biofood industries—industries that have a limitless potential to become new growth engines of the future.
Human Health Designer, School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science
Mankind has always pursued happiness. Biosystem and biomedical science is a discipline that studies the basic principles of vital organic functions to help improve people’s health, and to discover scientific ways to commercialize this knowledge. The School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science explores the nature of biological phenomena at the cellular and molecular levels, both experimentally and analytically. Its ultimate aim is to develop better ways to prevent diseases and promote health by conducting macroscopic and comprehensive research into biodiversity and into disease-inducing factors influenced by genetics and the environment; to develop better diagnostic tools using bio-markers; on this basis to develop drugs and cell therapy products; to determine the functionality of food components and natural substances; to analyze food hazards and food safety issues, and the physical chemistry of food components; and to help improve people’s quality of life through the development of better diets.
Subsidiary Disciplines
The interpretation of highly complex biological phenomena requires an understanding of the interactions of organisms. Therefore, the study of biological phenomena must include an understanding of not only basic science (e.g. biology, physics, genetics, and molecular cell biology) but also applied science (e.g. population genetics, food science, nutrition, toxicology, food culture, sociology, and ecology). Biosystem and biomedical science is concerned with investigating the principles of life and researching biological phenomena, ranging from the molecular level to those those pertaining to large populations, all of which are necessary to understand the interaction between life and the environment.
Biomedical Industry
The biomedical industry is a growth engine of the next-generation medicine and functional cosmetic industries. The convergence between cutting-edge life science technologies and medical science is contributing to new medicine development and the diagnosis of rare or intractable diseases. In this regard, the School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science is playing a critical role in the development of Korea’s healthcare industry.
Biofood Industry
The biofood industry is one of the national new growth engine industries and part of the field of convergence science technology. Wide-ranging research into the nutritional value, palatability, safety, and health effects of food is now underway thanks to recent developments in biofood science and growing public interest in health and wellbeing. Biofoods with various physiological functions are expected to represent a major component of the biotechnological market, along with medicine. And biofood science will play a critical role in commercializing biofood.