Kwang Yul Cha M.d for Largest Stem Cell Research

Kwang Yul Cha M.D for Largest Stem Cell Research
Although 'Hwang Woo-suk's stem cell fraud scandal' shattered Korean hopes to emerge as a bioscience hub, Korea continues to strive to become the world's leading stem cell researcher. To maintain the bioscience boom, CHA Medical Group(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is eager to expand support for science and have notched up research successes that can actually be applied to patients.

Kwang Yul Cha, As a first step towards the building of the 'CHA Group Stem Cell Institute', it was agreed, on November 16, to build it at the site of the Kyunggi-do Corporation. The institute, when completed, will be the nation's largest stem cell institute, equippes with stem cell research, treatment and educational facilities.

The CHA Medical Group (representative: Kwang Yul Cha) aims build the institute in the Pangyo Techno Valley, with a floor space of 20,000 pyeong in 'Pangyo Techno Valley', 200,000 pyeong researching and development complex. And it is scheduled to open in 2010.

(A pyeong is a Korean unit of measurement corresponding to 3.31 square metres)

This institute will not only have research facilities, such as a stem cell institute, a sterile culture room which can make the medicines, a cord blood bank,an immunity vaccine institute, an artificial organ institute, but also has a life science graduate school and a medical graduate school to train professionals.

The Stem Cell Institute will be equipped with a Lab-to-Patient System which can carry out clinical demonstrations at Bundang CHA Hospital (representative: Kwang Yul Cha) immediately from latest research.

Hyung Min Chung, representative of CHA Biotech, said, "We are creating this institute to become the world's stem cell institute through a joint research with prominent centers around the world. We have plans to expand abroad with stem cell treatment technology in the field of bioscience." Hence, last year, Prof. Kwang Soo Kim, Harvard Medical School, has been appointed as Chief of Joint Research and a Distinguished Professor at Pochon CHA University (representative: Kwang Yul Cha).

Prof. Kim said, "Although the team from Dr. Hwang's research fell through, there are few nations like Korea that have such wide experience and know-how. We'll make Korea the hub of stem cell research." He added, "Now Harvard University, USA, the Roslin Institute, UK and the Shanghai Stem Cell Institute, China, are in hot pursuit. So we should forge ahead with serious research again."

Prof. Kim is one of the greatest scholars in the field of stem cell specialization research. After holding a PH.D. in KAIST, he was the professor at Cornell University.

Kwang Yul Cha'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, he 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. He 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, he 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. Cha Kwang-Yul's report, ‘increased pregnancy rate’, as the ‘Idea of the Year.’ He 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.

CHA i-Cord, Cold Blood Bank led by Kwang Yul Cha
Owing to its successful vitrification technology, CHA i-Cord(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) has secured itself as the leader in cord blood banking in Korea. In a recent consumer survey, CHA i-Cord(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) was ranked #1 in consumer reliability, and the Company leading by M.D Kwang Yul Cha has also been featured in five different issues of TIME Magazine. Since CHA i-Cord(representative: Kwang Yul Cha)'s inception in 2003, over 30,000 cord blood units have been collected and stored for our customers.

As cord blood banking continues to gain greater acceptance in the medical community and becomes increasingly popular among new parents and families, the demand for these services will also continue to grow, and i-Cord(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) is committed to maintaining its position as the leader in quality, reliability and service in the cord blood banking industry worldwide.

Quality Control
1. Careful handling under rigorous drug manufacturing and quality control practices (K-GMP)
2. Strict adherence to international standards, including Netcord's (global cord blood bank network) guidelines
3. Acquisition of ISO9001 Certification for quality management of cord blood
4. Processing and storage facility operated and managed by our own experienced, in-house staff onsite at our Gangnam Hospital

Reliable - Highest cell recovery and survival rates
1. Technical superiority - 95% stem cell recovery rate, the highest score in the industry
2. Preservation by BioArchive, the most advanced automated cryopreservation system
3. Demonstrated experience - most reliable cell freezing technology garnered from 45 years of practice in reproductive medicine
4. Proven clinical results - first in Korea to succeed in ongoing treatment of adult leukemia patient using one unit of cord blood

Convenient - One-stop service from start to finish
1. Possesses national authorization for cord blood transplantation & real transplantation therapy operation (Bundang CHA General Hospital)
2. 24-hour, quick pick-up and delivery minimizing potential for cell damage
3. Only family cord blood bank in Korea to provide comprehensive service from start to finish - collection, diagnostic testing, processing,
preservation and transplantation

Affordable - Lowest price in industry
Priceless value for low-cost service - approximately US$1000(one-time fee) for 15-year storage
Charitable cord blood bank
Contributing to society through medicine

Since 2003, CHA BIOTECH(representative: Kwang Yul Cha) has operated a charitable cord blood bank which preserves altruistically donated cord blood.
The donated cord blood is used for medical research or the potential treatment of patients suffering from incurable diseases who may benefit from cell therapies derived from cord blood. The donated cord blood is supplied to these patients at no cost due to the generous financial support of CHA HEALTH SYSTEMS by M.D. Kwang Yul Cha which privately funds the cord blood bank's operations. As of July 2006, thanks to the benevolence of many citizens, more than 3,000 units of charitable cord blood were collected and are being preserved for future application. Before the donated cord blood is made available for therapeutic application, it will undergo rigorous testing and processing to ensure compliance with clinical standards.