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President Greeting

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President Greeting

President Greeting

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

NIID is committed to dedicating utmost effort to protecting citizens’ lives

by developing and researching treatment and prevention methods against infectious diseases.

 Emerging infectious diseases have continuously occurred in Korea, such as SARS in 2003, pandemic influenza in 2009, MERS-CoV in 2015, Zika virus disease in 2017, and COVID-19 in 2020.

 In addition to emerging infectious diseases, multidrug-resistant bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatment are widespread in hospitals and local communities. Moreover, zoonoses, such as tuberculosis, malaria, scrub typhus, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, are still prevalent in Korea.

 Over the last three years since 2020, Korea has experienced how a public health crisis caused by the prevalence of emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 threatened citizens’ lives and resulted in enormous socioeconomic losses.

 NIID will continue making the following efforts in order to reduce the time required in developing therapies and vaccines for emerging infectious diseases (Disease X) that will occur in the future, overcome the issue of antibiotic tolerance, and handle infectious diseases that are prevalent in Korea.

국립감염병연구소 소장

First, by prioritizing the R&D of new therapies and drugs for infectious diseases, we will focus on the development and commercialization of key diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment technologies (platforms).

Second, we will strive to create a number of excellent, internationally competitive research outcomes by strengthening our infectious disease research capabilities.

Third, we will contribute to establishing new therapies by restructuring clinical studies with focus on clinical trial rather than descriptive study.

Fourth, we will broaden the basis for infectious disease research and solidify domestic and international cooperation systems by strengthening cooperation with various research institutes, enterprises, and global funds in Korea and abroad including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the US.

President

Jang  Hee  Chang

Career records

Education
  • Graduated from the Dept. of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine
Experience
  • (Current) Chairperson of the IRB of KDCA
  • (Current) President of NIID
  • (Current) Professor at Chonnam National University Medical School/Chonnam National University Hospital
  • (Former) Director of Infections Management Division, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital
  • (Former) Member of the Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (Adult Sector) of KDCA
  • (Former) Adviser for the Institutional Biosafety Committee of the Yeosu National Quarantine Station
  • (Former) Member of the Question Preparation Committee for the Korean Medical Licensing Examination
  • (Former) Partner physician of KOICA for Bangladesh
  • (Former) Post-doctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital
  • (Former) Intern/resident/fellow at Seoul National University Hospital