Feb. 26, 2015, Gyeonggi Province, Rep. of Korea

Institut Pasteur Korea and the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital collaborate in research and discovery for infectious diseases threatening military personnel

Institut Pasteur Korea and the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital have signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering various scientific collaborations in fighting against infectious diseases affecting military personnel.

With strategic focuses on drug discovery and development of effective diagnostic methods for bacterial and viral infections related to military fields, Institut Pasteur Korea and the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital will initiate collaborative research projects, support with research facilities and laboratory techniques and exchange human resources and scientific information.

Military personnel who share a communal life and often put under a great deal of stress during the service are vulnerable to infectious diseases. According to the infectious diseases control data collected by the Korea Center for Disease Control & Prevention and the Ministry of National Defense, tuberculosis, malaria, scrub typhus and hepatitis A were prevalent for past two years at military camps. Influenza, an epidemic infectious disease, also causes a major problem as it is quickly transmitted through respiratory system and can deteriorate to pneumonia if not properly treated. Thus, prompt diagnosis and treatments as well as preventive controls are important.

Dr. Hakim Djaballah, CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea, said, “We are thrilled to build a new synergetic partnership with the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital throughout this military-private R&D collaboration. To promote healthy and safe life of the military personnel devoted in national defense of Korea, Institut Pasteur Korea will combine its advanced drug discovery technologies and know-hows in the field of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, influenza and hepatitis, with the clinical expertise of the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital.”