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Infectious diseases are one of the major issues not only in Korea but all around the world. In recent years, the world has been suffering from infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, 2002), avian influenza (2003, 2013), swine flu (2009), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS, 2012), Ebola disease (2014). In 2015, Zika virus disease was prevalent mainly in Central and South America, and it left complications such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. In addition, these novel infectious diseases are easily spread to other countries through frequent international exchanges. In fact, the 2015 Korea outbreak of MERS resulted 186 cases, 38 deaths, which was transmitted through a person who traveled and returned from the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the prevalence of subtropical and tropical infectious diseases is also a big concern due to climate change and global warming. If the subtropical and tropical climatic regions are expended, there is a possibility that subtropical and tropical infectious diseases such as dengue fever and tropical malaria could spread worldwide. In 2014 in Japan, 162 autochthonous dengue cases were reported for the first time in nearly 70 years.
The epidemic of infectious diseases causes great damage to many sectors of a country. In addition to human loss, there are serious side effects such as social pathology and economic downturn. Therefore, it is important to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases to the best of their ability, and if they do occur, respond quickly and well in the early stages to prevent further spread. In order to prevent the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases, research on infectious diseases must be activated. It is necessary to actively conduct basic and clinical research on infectious diseases, such as the development of diagnostic methods and clinical verification, treatment drug development and clinical trials, prevention vaccine development, and clinical trials.
However, in order to activate basic and clinical research on these infectious diseases, it can be difficult with the ability of a country. For example, in developing any good diagnostic method, it is necessary to verify the sample obtained from the actual clinical practice and apply it to the patient. In some countries, even though they are equipped with a good research environment and capable of developing the diagnostic method, but they don't have enough clinical resources for the infectious disease. On the other hand, in some countries where there are many infectious diseases and clinical resources, but they don't have a proper research environment for developing diagnostic methods, drugs, and vaccines. Therefore, in order to properly respond to infectious diseases, it is necessary to put together efforts to develop and put into practice new diagnostic methods, treatments, and vaccines through international cooperation.
The Ministry of Science, ICT in Korea launched a project to recognize this problem and establish an international cooperation network for infectious diseases in late 2015. The mission was then delegated to Inje University, KOICID.
KOICID, Inje University which was founded in 2015, was transferred to Chungnam National University in March 2020
The purpose of this institute is to promote the cooperation, cooperation between government agencies, universities, research institutes, and hospitals related to infectious diseases in Korea and other countries, to develop a diagnosis, treatment, and prevention methods for infectious diseases, and to suppress the spread of infectious diseases among countries.