“The Nanomedicine Center Building is designed to be the home for a Center without barriers by breaking down limitations of space, research, knowledge, and culture. I will work tirelessly to create and shape a new basic science paradigm and make the Center one of the top 10 institutions in the world.”

▲ At the inauguration, director Cheon Jinwoo of the Center for Nanomedicine explained, “The most importance aspect of the design was to allow effortless convergence between scientific fields with different identities, such as natural science, engineering, and medicine, which in turn will give birth to astonishing innovation and excellent science.”

Director CHEON Jinwoo of the Center for Nanomedicine shared his latest goal at the inauguration of the Nanomedicine Center Building. The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) hosted the inauguration ceremony on May 11 at Yonsei University’s Sinchon campus. Groundbreaking ceremony occurred September 2016 and the construction was complete in late February of 2018. The four-story building with one basement floor covers 4,300m².

The Nanomedicine Center Building has places for research, up-to-date measurements, and communication. The building has an open lab area where one whole floor is dedicated to researchers working on one topic. There are no partitions isolating researchers. To promote a free flow of conversation between researchers working at different floors, a venue for communication is set up and they can share their thoughts on the topic of nanomedicine. The measurement facility is an ultra-low vibration, temperature, and humidity controlled space which is designed to be functional while keeping partitions at the minimum.

▲ Nanomedicine Center Building is located in between Yonsei Science Hall and the Advanced Science and Technology Center. It is a wide open structure which allows sunlight everywhere. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art fire prevention equipment and other features to secure safety and convenience while also inducing creativity.

▲ President Kim Doochul giving congratulatory remarks at the inauguration.

At the event, IBS President KIM Doochul said in his speech, “It is very meaningful that the Nanomedicine Center Building, which will serve as the hub for convergence research, is located at Yonsei University. I commend the university for its work which made the construction a success. With the creative research culture of the Center for Nanomedicine and an open research environment which will fuel convergence research, I am confident that the Center will make its name in the global research community.”

President of Yonsei University, KIM Yong-Hak shared his thoughts at the event as well. He said, “As the building is now up and running, we can say we have established the foundation for connectivity between diverse fields of study centering on researchers. I believe the connectivity will work as the heart of nanoscience and medicine. New paradigm-shifting science and internationally recognized convergence research will be introduced at this very building.”

Center for Nanomedicine studies nanomaterials and nanomedicine convergence research to embody unexplored possibilities of medicine. It is working to come up with advanced paradigm for medicine by developing and studying nanoscience based precision nanosystem which is essential in diagnosis and precision treatment.

On May 11, the Center for Nanomedicine hosted the Global Leader Symposium as part of Yonsei’s 133^rd Anniversary Celebration. Esteemed researchers and a Nobel laureate participated in the symposium under the theme of Nanoscience: Expanding our Understanding of Life, Driving Innovation for the Future. Randy Schekman, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in physiology, of UC-Berkeley; Joan Valentine of UCLA, the editor of Accounts of Chemical Research, one of the most respected academic chemistry journals; Joachim Spatz, director of the Max Planck Institute, and professor at University of Heidelberg took the stage as speakers at the event.

▲ A tree planting event was held at the inauguration.