Consortium in South Korea to Utilize AI and Supercomputers for Lung Cancer Drug Discovery
South Korea has witnessed the formation of a consortium comprising top research institutes aiming to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and national supercomputers for the discovery of innovative drugs to combat lung cancer.
Participating Organizations
The consortium comprises the following prominent organizations:
- DAAN Cancer Research Institute under Yonsei University’s College of Medicine
- Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)
- Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT)
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
- Biotechnology company J INTS BIO
Research Phases
The research conducted by the consortium will be divided into four phases:
- Collection of lung cancer tissue and genomic samples by Yonsei University’s DAAN Cancer Research Institute
- Simulation and analysis of protein-drug interactions using supercomputers and AI at DGIST Core Protein Resources Center
- Synthesis of AI-identified drug candidates through pharmacological and toxicological assessments at KRICT
- Validation through clinical trials of AI’s predictive capability and accuracy
J INTS BIO will oversee the entire research process and lead the development of patient-specific treatment protocols for administering potential anti-lung cancer drugs.
Significance of the Initiative
This collaboration underscores the importance of utilizing AI and supercomputers to address challenges in anti-cancer drug discovery, such as low effectiveness and high toxicity.
AI’s ability to process vast biological datasets and apply machine learning for patient-specific predictions can significantly reduce clinical trial failure rates and accelerate drug discovery processes, as highlighted by KAIST professor Joung Ho Kim.
Furthermore, the integration of AI and supercomputers enables precise analysis of patient tissues and genetic profiles, facilitating the design of personalized treatments, as emphasized by Yonsei’s Severance Hospital professor Byoung Chul Cho.
Current Trends in South Korea
The South Korean government has made efforts to enhance research in cancer treatment, allowing researchers access to public and clinical data through the K-CURE service. Additionally, initiatives to develop and verify new drug targets for non-immune solid cancers are underway.
Private initiatives in AI-enabled drug discovery are also gaining momentum in South Korea, with companies like Standigm and Daewoong Pharmaceutical spearheading innovative research collaborations.
