Kwang Yul Cha Will Contribute His Whole Fortune for Stem Cell Research

Kwang Yul Cha, the president of the Pochon Cha University said, "After dying, people contribute their whole fortune to university, institute or hospital in abroad. I'll also contribute my whole fortune for stem cell research." "I staked all my fortune for stem cell research." Kwang yul Cha added.

Gangnam CHA General Hospital, Pochon Cha University, CHA Fertility Center in Los Angeles, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles and CHA Columbia Infertility Research Center in New York are owned by CHA Medical Group. Kwang Yul Cha who is leading the CHA Medical Group is the eldest son of Kyung Sub Cha, the executive of Pochon Cha University.
"The value of stem cell research still stands. The Korean Government supported only Woo-suk Hwang to research stem cell before. But after Hwang Woo-suk's stem cell fraud scandal, they haven't supported any researchers for the research of stem cell. This can't be make any advance."

Few days ago, CHA Medical Group, lead by Kwang Yul Cha, announced that they input hundred billions of dollar to 'Pangyo Techno Valley.' It is scheduled to open in 2010. After Stem cell institute is completed, it will be equipped with Lab to Patient System which can pursue clinical demonstration at Bundang CHA Hospital immediately from latest research. CHA BIOTECH, an affiliated organization of CHA Medical Group, already centered around the research of cord blood and stem cell.

Recently, 'The First International Stem Cell Symposium'(Chairman: Kwang yul Cha) held under the sponsorship of the Pochon CHA University in Sheraton Wallkerhill Hotel Convention Hall. 22 world's leaders in the various field of stem cell research participated and read a paper at the International Stem Cell Symposium. This network will get superior ability of Korean researchers and strengthen the complementary cooperation. So it will revitalize the stem cell research in Korea finally."Combination of Hospital and University will help the development of biotechnology in Korea. The Capable researcher is a kernel of research. Talented person is our hope after all."

Pochon Cha University(representative: Kwang Yul Cha M.D.) hired 10 new researchers in this year. So they are having 70 researchers who are newly hired including researchers at professor's office. Last year Prof. Kim Kwang-soo at Harvard Medical School was already appointed the chief of joint research and a chair-professor at the Pochon CHA University. And they have plan to make use of the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles and the CHA Columbia Infertility Research Center in New York as the hub of stem cell research.
Kwang Yul Cha said, "There are few nations like Korea that has wide experiences and know-how and stem cell research in Korea is the world-class already." And Kwang Yul Cha stressed, "Although it will take 5~10 years to put the theory in practice, it's not a long time in comparison with the value of stem cell research."

Kwang Yul Cha, Create 'Koreans Stem Cell Network'

CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) Holds the First International Stem Cell Symposium

Although 'Hwang Woo-suk’s Stem Cell Fraud Scandal' aroused criticism for a while, stem cell research is still the interesting field to the scientists and they also recognized that stem cell research is an epoch in treating a deadly disease.

‘Hwang Woo-suk’s stem cell fraud scandal’ shattered Korean hopes to emerge as a bioscience hub, however, many scholars are competing with each other for taking away the initiative in stem cell research. On this wise, Korea keep trying to overcome recent difficulties and create an active atmosphere for stem cell research.

CHA Medical Group holds the first international stem cell symposium for watching the current of stem cell research. Especially, CHA Medical Group invited the world's best-known Korean researchers who are in foreign countries now in the field of stem cell research to the symposium. They are producing an atmosphere for creating 'Koreans Stem Cell Researchers' Network'.

'The First International Stem Cell Symposium(Chairman: Kwang Yul Cha)' will be held under the sponsorship of the Pochon CHA University in Sheraton Wallkerhill Hotal Convention Hall on 8~9th of December. 22 world's leaders in the various field of stem cell research will participate and read a paper at this International Stem Cell Symposium. So it is hoped that the symposium will be the opportunity to see the trend of global stem cell research.

Some researchers such as Prof. Hans Keirstead(UC Irvine in US) who proved the world's first possibility that can treat spinal disease using stem cell engineering, Prof. Patrik Brundin(Lunt University in Sweden) who developed new treatment of Parkinson's disease, Prof. Shin-Ichi Nishikawa who found the world's first gene that can control unlimited multiplication function of human embryo and Prof. Antonios Mikos(Rice University) who is one of the world's best-known researcher in the field of bio tissue and internal organ using tissue engineering stand out among other researchers.

Especially, the coming symposium is raising public interest in setting the goal of creating 'Koreans Stem Cell Network' on a government level. This network will get superior ability of Korean researchers and strengthen the complementary cooperation. So it will revitalize the stem cell research in Korea finally.

Korean Researchers who are in foreign countries now such as Jakie Lee(Colorado University), John Yu(UCLA), Chester Koh(University of Southern California), Prof. Jin-pyo Lee(Burnham Institute), Prof. Kyung-hee choi(Washington University), Prof. Young-sub Yun(Tufts University) and Prof. Kwang-soo Kim(Harvard University) also will participate in this symposium.

About Kwang Yul Cha M.D.

Kwang Yul Cha(차광렬)(born 23 December 1952) is a South Korean medical doctor, an internationally known fertility specialist. Kwang Yul Cha received his medical degree from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. And performed Kwang Yul Cha's postdoctoral fellowship in endocrinology and infertility at the University of Southern California. Kwang Yul Cha also served as a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York.
Kwang Yul Cha was the first president of the Pochon Cha University. And Kwang Yul Cha is presently an active scholar in the field of alternative medicine at Columbia University in the US. Also, Kwang Yul Cha is leading the CHA Medical Group in Korea now.

Dr. Cha Kwang-yul 's Medical Achievement

Kwang Yul Cha succeeded the Nation’s first GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer) in 1986. Also Kwang Yul Cha firstly IVF produced in a private hospital in 1986. In 1987, Kwang Yul Cha succeeded Asia’s first pregnancy in a woman without ovaries and established the Sperm bank. In 1988, Kwang Yul Cha succeeded World’s first pregnancy from in vitro culture of immature oocytes collected from unstimulated ovaries.

Kwang yul cha won the best paper award by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - the first birth, in the world, from the embryo transferred in the fallopian tube in 1989. On TIME magazine, the American weekly news magazine, introduces the outcome of Kwang Yul Cha’s studies on infertility and reproductive medicine on the cover topic in 1991.

In 1994, Kwang Yul Cha succeeded Korea’s first ICSI baby delivery. And Kwang Yul Cha’s research on infertility introduced to public through TIME magazine Agreement with Monash University of Australia to establish infertility clinic in the USA, Japan and China. Also, Kwang Yul Cha’s research on infertility and immature oocytes reported as feature story in TIME magazine in 1996. Kwang Yul Cha promoted the foundation of Pan Pacific Infertility Society with UCI Infertility Center and first joint international symposium held in Hawaii.

In 1998, Kwang Yul Cha won the best paper award by the International Federation of Fertility Societies and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - restoration technique of minute fallopian tube using laparoscope. Also, Kwang Yul Cha won the excellent paper awarded by the International Federation of Fertility Societies and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - development of oocytes vitrification.

In 2000, Kwang Yul Cha won the best paper award in image by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

In 2002, the New York Times adopts Dr. Kwang Yul Cha's report, ‘increased pregnancy rate’, as the ‘Idea of the Year.’ Kwang Yul Cha received the research funds amounting to 5 billion won from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the ‘study on infertility and reproductive medicine and genital disease genetics’ of the Human Genetics Research Center of CHA General Hospital, led by Kwang Yul Cha.