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KIST Transfers MERS Quarantine Technology to Woojung BSC (2016.08.30)
- Date : 2016-11-09
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KIST Transfers MERS Quarantine Technology to Woojung BSC (2016.08.30)
- The transfer is expected to create a new market for responding to zoonotic viruses -
On August 29, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Green City Technology Institute and Woojung BSC Co., Ltd. entered into a licensing agreement, initially valued at 300 million KRW, for conducting technology transfers and research collaborations involving quarantine equipment for responding to MERS outbreaks.
Formerly, whenever new infectious diseases that reared their ugly heads, research institutes spent a great deal of money developing cures and reagents. Yet, these efforts still failed to stop new diseases from spreading, such as in the case of the MERS outbreak in Korea last year.
The KIST research team led by Dr. Lee Kang-bong developed quarantine equipment for dealing with MERS―equipment that instantly disinfects hot-zone areas and prevents further spread of the virus. Whereas the conventional aerosol method only partially sterilizes contaminated spaces like hospital wards, the new equipment sterilizes them completely, preventing secondary infections from occurring among hospitalized patients and helping to contain the disease.
A domestic patent was applied for under the following title:
Evaporator Device for Sterilant, Patent application No.: 10-2016-0086781
According to Dr. Lee Kang-bong, “By developing core technology to stop the spread of deadly viruses and minimize secondary infections at hospitals, our research serves as a great example of how such projects can work to resolve social issues. This technology can be utilized by the military in preparation for biochemical warfare, and its innovative nature should produce a substantial ripple effect in creating new markets.”
Dr. Lee Kang-bong’s team received financial support for their project from both KIST and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.