The SNU College of Pharmacy arranged the ceremony held behind Building #20, and a presentation on the project overview of the plans for the center as well as its current progress was given at the ceremony.
The new building, consisting of 6 floors (1 underground and 5 above ground, totaling 8,969㎡), will serve as an advanced multipurpose research center, sharing its technology base while at the same time providing a setting for new drug development starting from the detection of action points to clinical trial testing, including animal testing. An animal testing room, high technology analysis room, efficacy testing laboratory, medicinal ingredient research laboratory, and medicinal chemistry laboratory, as well as lecture rooms, seminar rooms, and professors’ offices are to be located in the Center for New Drug Development, built with a project fund of 16 billion and 488 million KRW.
Dean SEO Young-Ger of the College of Pharmacy explained that “The establishment of the Center for New Drug Development has been a long-awaited project for the SNU College of Pharmacy, with expectations that it will lead the development of pharmacy not only at SNU but nationwide,” adding that “I believe that the center will be a place for new drug development technologies to integrate contributing greatly to Korea’s new drug development, while at the same time providing a stepping stone for the SNU College of Pharmacy in becoming one of the world’s greatest.” Dean Seo expressed his sincere thanks to all the supporters of the center for their interest and support leading to the groundbreaking ceremony.
President OH YeonCheon praised the beginning of the construction of the Center in his congratulatory speech, saying that “The future will be in the bio and life sciences, and therefore this groundbreaking ceremony marks the foundation for a more productive future,” and continued on to say,"The SNU College of Pharmacy is small but still a strong leader with world-class authority in research, and it will lead the bio and life sciences with the Center for New Drug Development having a pivotal role.”
CHUNG JiSuk, the president of the College of Pharmacy Alumni Association also emphasized that “A new drug of a blockbuster scale creates great added value. The Center for New Drug Development must prepare the infrastructure needed to perform complete clinical testing in developing new drugs meeting high global expectations.”
Approximately 70 guests, including in-school figures such as President OH YeonCheon, Vice President PARK Myung-Jin and Vice President LEE Seung Jong, main figures in the field of pharmaceuticals such as Alumni President CHUNG JiSuk, Board Director YOON YeoPyo of the Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, Director KIM SeungHee of the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, President Jang YongTaek of Shinpoong Pharm. Co. Ltd., former President LEE YeShig of Kukdong Pharm. Co. Ltd. and President LEE Sae Young of Samik Pharm. Co. Ltd., as well as members of academia such as Chairman KIM DaeKyung of the board of directors at the Korean Association of Pharmacy Education, Dean KIM Chong Kook of the Inje University College of Pharmacy, Dean LEE Myung G. of the College of Pharmacy at the Catholic University of Korea, Dean KO Kwang Ho of the College of Pharmacy at Cha Medical University, and Dean PARK YoungIn of the Korea University College of Pharmacy, were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The construction of the Center for New Drug Development is scheduled for completion in December 2013.
Written by KIM Eun Young, SNU English Editor, eykim09@gmail.com ?
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com