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News & Events
Institut Pasteur Korea to Host International Symposium Commemorating the 140th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Korea and France
2026-05-28
Institut Pasteur Korea to Host International Symposium Commemorating the 140th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Korea and France
- Plenary lectures by Prof. Carla Saleh, Chair of the Institut Pasteur Virology Department and Dr. V. Narry Kim, Director of the Center for RNA Research at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) -
- Expected to strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation and
global partnerships for infectious disease response -
- Expected to strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation and
global partnerships for infectious disease response -
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(May. 28, 2026, Gyeonggi-do, Rep. of Korea) Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) announced on XX that it will host the international symposium “Crossroads of Basic and Translational Research in Biomedical Science” on June 5, 2026, at the Science and Technology Convention Center (ST Center), in Seoul, in celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.
Organized by IPK and the Institut Pasteur, the symposium will feature scientific sessions covering topics ranging from infectious disease vaccines and therapeutics to cutting-edge biotechnology, alongside an official signing ceremony between the IPK and the Institut Pasteur. The event is expected to provide a platform for sharing the latest research achievements and global technology trends while further strengthening the complementary partnership between the two institutes.
The symposium will open with plenary lectures by leading experts in biomedical science. Prof. Carla Saleh, Chair of the Department of Virology at the Institut Pasteur, will present recent findings on how viral infections accelerate biological aging under the title “Enteric viral infections accelerate aging in Drosophila.”
This will be followed by a plenary lecture from Dr. V. Narry Kim of the Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), titled “mRNA Control: Insights from Viruses and Implications for Medicine,” highlighting virus-derived insights into mRNA regulatory mechanisms and their potential medical applications.
Session 1, “Translational Research Toward First-in-Class Therapeutics,” will explore strategies for translating research discoveries into industrial applications and novel drug development. Speakers include Dr. Pascale Jordan and Dr. Ivo Gomperts Boneca of the Institut Pasteur, as well as Kiyean Nam, CEO of Qurient, a spin-off biotech venture from the IPK, who will present advances in therapeutic research and development.
Session 2, “Vaccine Innovation: Legacy and Future,” will focus on next-generation vaccine platforms and global collaboration strategies. Dr. Daniel Larocque of Sanofi, Dr. Guillemette Masse-Ranson of the Institut Pasteur, and Dr. Euiho Kim of IPK will share the latest developments in vaccine research and innovation.
Organized by IPK and the Institut Pasteur, the symposium will feature scientific sessions covering topics ranging from infectious disease vaccines and therapeutics to cutting-edge biotechnology, alongside an official signing ceremony between the IPK and the Institut Pasteur. The event is expected to provide a platform for sharing the latest research achievements and global technology trends while further strengthening the complementary partnership between the two institutes.
The symposium will open with plenary lectures by leading experts in biomedical science. Prof. Carla Saleh, Chair of the Department of Virology at the Institut Pasteur, will present recent findings on how viral infections accelerate biological aging under the title “Enteric viral infections accelerate aging in Drosophila.”
This will be followed by a plenary lecture from Dr. V. Narry Kim of the Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), titled “mRNA Control: Insights from Viruses and Implications for Medicine,” highlighting virus-derived insights into mRNA regulatory mechanisms and their potential medical applications.
Session 1, “Translational Research Toward First-in-Class Therapeutics,” will explore strategies for translating research discoveries into industrial applications and novel drug development. Speakers include Dr. Pascale Jordan and Dr. Ivo Gomperts Boneca of the Institut Pasteur, as well as Kiyean Nam, CEO of Qurient, a spin-off biotech venture from the IPK, who will present advances in therapeutic research and development.
Session 2, “Vaccine Innovation: Legacy and Future,” will focus on next-generation vaccine platforms and global collaboration strategies. Dr. Daniel Larocque of Sanofi, Dr. Guillemette Masse-Ranson of the Institut Pasteur, and Dr. Euiho Kim of IPK will share the latest developments in vaccine research and innovation.
Session 3, “Transformative Technology Innovation,” will highlight emerging technologies shaping the future of biomedical R&D, including generative AI, deep learning, and 3D human disease models. Prof. Yong Ho Kim of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology & Department of Nano Engineering, School of Pharmacy), Dr. Christophe Zimmer of the Institut Pasteur, and Dr. Barbara Fonseca of the Institut Pasteur will introduce their latest technology-driven research initiatives.
The final session, “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Biomedical Research,” will feature discussions on expanding diversity and inclusivity in the global research ecosystem. The panel will be moderated by Heisook Lee of the Korea Center for Gendered Innovations for Science and Technology Research (GISTeR), with participation from symposium speakers and researchers from Korea and abroad.
“IPK has served as a key platform for scientific and technological cooperation between Korea and France,” said Sung Key Jang, CEO of the IPK. “As we commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we hope this symposium will further expand the foundation for sustainable international collaborative research, and we welcome the active interest and participation of researchers from around the world.”
The symposium will be held as an in-person event, and pre-registration will be available through June 1. More information can be found on the IPK website.
- About the Institut Pasteur
A non-profit foundation established in 1887 by Louis Pasteur, the Institut Pasteur is a world-class biomedical research center dedicated to studying and combating disease, particularly infectious diseases. From the invention of the rabies vaccine to the identification of HIV and the discovery of messenger RNA, some of the most significant breakthroughs in modern biomedical science were achieved here. The excellence of Pasteur’s research has been recognized with 10 Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine. The Institut Pasteur employs more than 3,100 staff members representing nearly 100 nationalities, including 1,700 scientists and engineers. Its Paris campus hosts hundreds of researchers from other organizations, notably Inserm and the CNRS, and it collaborates with numerous leading international research institutions, including EMBL, the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, Rockefeller University and UCSF.
A member of a network of more than 30 institutes across five continents- the Pasteur Network- and host to nearly ten WHO Collaborating Centres, the Institut Pasteur works on the ground alongside communities to advance public health worldwide.
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
PRESS CONTACTS:
Institut Pasteur: Press Office, Aurélie Perthuison – presse@pasteur.fr
The final session, “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Biomedical Research,” will feature discussions on expanding diversity and inclusivity in the global research ecosystem. The panel will be moderated by Heisook Lee of the Korea Center for Gendered Innovations for Science and Technology Research (GISTeR), with participation from symposium speakers and researchers from Korea and abroad.
“IPK has served as a key platform for scientific and technological cooperation between Korea and France,” said Sung Key Jang, CEO of the IPK. “As we commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we hope this symposium will further expand the foundation for sustainable international collaborative research, and we welcome the active interest and participation of researchers from around the world.”
The symposium will be held as an in-person event, and pre-registration will be available through June 1. More information can be found on the IPK website.
- About the Institut Pasteur
A non-profit foundation established in 1887 by Louis Pasteur, the Institut Pasteur is a world-class biomedical research center dedicated to studying and combating disease, particularly infectious diseases. From the invention of the rabies vaccine to the identification of HIV and the discovery of messenger RNA, some of the most significant breakthroughs in modern biomedical science were achieved here. The excellence of Pasteur’s research has been recognized with 10 Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine. The Institut Pasteur employs more than 3,100 staff members representing nearly 100 nationalities, including 1,700 scientists and engineers. Its Paris campus hosts hundreds of researchers from other organizations, notably Inserm and the CNRS, and it collaborates with numerous leading international research institutions, including EMBL, the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute, Rockefeller University and UCSF.
A member of a network of more than 30 institutes across five continents- the Pasteur Network- and host to nearly ten WHO Collaborating Centres, the Institut Pasteur works on the ground alongside communities to advance public health worldwide.
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
PRESS CONTACTS:
Institut Pasteur: Press Office, Aurélie Perthuison – presse@pasteur.fr