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Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science appointed for a research service development project for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2020 Interview with Shin Han-seung, Director of Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research Institute |
Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science has been appointed for the third research service development project for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2020. The MFDS has recruited research institutes to manage service research and development projects in four areas: safety management of food; safety management of medicines; safety management of medical devices; and safety assessment methodology. Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science will receive 4.6 billion Korean won from the Ministry and is planning to conduct research on safety management of food and others for the next three years. We met Professor Shin Han-seung, the director of the Biomedical Convergence Research Institute and chairman of the Korea International Life Science Association (ILSI Korea).
▲ Professor Shin Han-seung, Director of Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research Institute
Q. Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science (Dongguk University Biomedi) has been appointed for a research service development project for the MFDS in 2020. Could you tell us about the project?
A. Dongguk University Biomedi won two large-scale research projects worth 4.6 billion from the MFDS in the first 6 months of 2020. We will investigate the contamination levels of hazardous pollutants for each food, supported by a fund of 2.8 billion won for 2 years, and we will establish test methods for hazardous pollutants in food, supported by a fund of 1.8 billion won for 3 years. Through these projects, we plan to secure data on the contamination levels for each food, to identify exposure levels of harmful pollutants in HMR products in response to changes in food consumption trends, and to develop measures to manage the public exposure to these substances. We expect that this research will allow us to periodically reevaluate standards of hazardous pollutants in consideration of changes in both the climate and in our eating habits. In addition, we will establish testing methods for a preemptive response to harmful pollutants in foods, such as heavy metals and new fungal toxins, and conduct pollutant surveys and risk assessments for hazardous pollutant investigation.
Q. These are large-scale projects in which 4.6 billion won as government subsidies is invested for 3 years from the MFDS. How do you think the money will help the research team specifically to conduct the research?
A. The project is an extensive survey of pollution levels conducted at a national level, reflecting the trend of the times and environmental food consumption trend. We will use high quality research equipment provided by Dongguk University Biomedi. The purpose of these projects is to strengthen safety management and enhance public safety through an evaluation of total human body levels of hazardous pollutants, including seven heavy metals, 29 dioxins, seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), eight fungal toxins, four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), and by re-evaluating the appropriate exposure standards. To achieve this research goal, researchers in various fields will participate in this study at the biomedical campus of Dongguk University, funded by large-scale government research grants for 3 years. Based on the results from this research, we expect that various bio-convergence studies necessary for the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of health will be enabled by accurate evaluation of human exposure to hazardous substances and by obtaining basic research data necessary for updating relevant laws and regulations.
Q. Recently, the eating habits of the Korean people have changed, given the increase in single-person households, with an emerging preference for convenience food. How do you expect this research will help our food culture?
A. With the recent increase in single-person households, alongside the Covid-19 pandemic, these effects are not limited to the food consumption patterns of consumers in Korea, but are also widespread abroad. This research reflects the changing trends of food consumption at home and abroad, and is expected to contribute to the preparation of national policies for healthier eating habits by evaluating human exposure to harmful pollutants in popular food, such as convenience foods, of which consumption has increased rapidly, and by securing basic research data for the safety management of hazardous materials.
Q. As interest in food increases, concerns about harmful pollutants in food have also increased. There seems to be a need for a different response other than the Food Sanitation Law. Is there a goal in this study in relation to this?
A. Given the recent developments in the industry, the need for national management has emerged owing to the continuous emergence of new harmful substances, such as environmentally-derived pollutants and unintentional side-product pollutants generated during the food manufacturing process. Consequently, serious social issues and conflicts have occurred, and huge management costs are being generated. One of the main objectives of this research is to perform pollution surveys and risk assessments by establishing test methods to assess the preemptive response to harmful pollutants in food and to investigate the actual condition of harmful pollutants, to prepare basic data to help establish food safety management policies, such as setting and reviewing laws and standards for hazardous pollutants in food, and to suggest relevant policies.
* The current food sanitation law suggests standards for food additives, but newly identified hazardous substances that are not included in the law require separate standards.
Q. If there is anything you would like to say to people of Dongguk University, please do so.
A. In 2019, Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research Institute established a new convergence research strategy as a new venture of the Institute to drive the specialization of the Biomedical Campus (BMC). In order to promote the convergence of research reflecting the latest trends in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, and oriental medicine, the center was reorganized into six sub-centers.
From now on, the institute will perform large-scale convergence research projects for biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, and oriental medicine; recruit excellent global research personnel; invest in advanced research equipment; commercialize our technology; and support R&D education for students at the Biomedi campus. Through these, we plan to accelerate the specialization of biotechnology.
By winning these projects, Dongguk University’s Biomedi is now able to focus more on research and development in biotechnology, one of our university’s specialized fields. Convergence research in various fields will achieve research goals and contribute further to specialization. At present, given the increased interest in health and food safety, we hope that the research conducted by our university research team will help provide a new foundation for food safety management.
Web reporter Park Hyun-jung (Department of Law)