Hallym University Medical Center begins joint research with Swedish research institutes to respond to antibiotic resistance
Dec 05, 2025
In order to cope with the problem of antibiotic resistance spreading around the world, Korea and Sweden are strengthening international joint research and academic exchanges.
Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (HIARC) and Sweden's Uppsala Antibiotic Center (UAC) held an international joint research launch meeting and the first joint symposium on antibiotic resistance from November 24 to 25, starting a multi-layered cooperation system that encompasses research, education, and policy on antibiotic resistance.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea's daily antibiotic use is 31.8 DID (one-day antibiotic use per 1,000 people), ranking second in the world as of 2023. This is much higher than the average (19.5 DID) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The problem of antibiotic resistance is also serious worldwide. As the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria accelerates, treatable antibiotics are limited, and the effectiveness of existing antibiotics is rapidly decreasing.
In particular, it is difficult for clinicians to quickly determine the optimal combination of 'antibiotic combination therapy', which uses two or more antibiotics, because numerous combinations can occur depending on patient condition, mycoma, and drug interaction. Research to reduce this complexity and find safe and effective combinations for patients is also considered an urgent task internationally.
To overcome this global health crisis, an international academic exchange venue was recently held involving the Hallim International Antibiotic Resistance Center, the Uppsala Antibiotic Center, and related researchers. On the 24th, the 'Eurostar Project Initiation Meeting' was held to launch the joint research project selected by Eurostars in earnest, and on the 25th, the first international symposium co-hosted by the two organizations was held.
◇'combiant' to find a combination of personalized antibiotics and prevent misuse
The Eurostar Initiation Meeting' held in the HIARC conference room of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital on November 24th was prepared when the joint research on the combination of personalized antibiotics (product name: CombiANT, Combiant)' which was being studied by both the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center and the Uppsala Antibiotic Center was finally selected as a Eurostars research project in August 2025.
Eurostar is an international joint research program jointly organized by the European Union (EU) and the Eureka Network, supporting international joint research between innovative SMEs and research institutes in Europe.
Combiant is a diagnostic tool that quickly informs which combination of antibiotics can have an synergistic effect on treatment for each strain and patient. This enables combined treatment of personalized antibiotics and prevents side effects arising from misuse thanks to the use of only the necessary antibiotics.
Following the selection of Eurostar, the two organizations will quickly analyze the interaction between antibiotics over the next three years to pursue research to find the optimal combination of combinations. This will lay the groundwork for more accurate and faster determination of complex antibiotic combinations in the clinical field.
At the launch meeting, multi-layered studies such as quantitative experimental research, pathogen big data analysis, and rapid diagnosis algorithm advancement were also discussed to increase the clinical reliability of the research. In addition, both organizations plan to further strengthen follow-up studies verifying Combiant's global commercialization potential and real-world clinical applicability.
◇HIARC-UAC Holds First Joint Symposium…Expanding the possibility of joint research by three countries
On November 25, the first international symposium officially held together by the two organizations, the "1st Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center-Upsala Antibiotic Center Joint Symposium", was held at Ilsong Culture Hall of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital.
Starting with the opening speech of Yoo Kyung-ho, president of the Medical School of Hallym University, ▲ A congratulatory speech (Kim Yang-soo, professor of infectious diseases at Seoul Asan Hospital) ▲ Introduction to the Uppsala Antibiotic Center (Project Coordinator of the Eba Garmendia Uppsala Antibiotic Center) ▲ Introduction to the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (Kim Yong-kyun, director of the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center) ▲ Joint project in progress (Nicos Podsys Uppsala Antibiotic Center researcher) ▲ Wearable bios.
In particular, Dr. Nguyen Thang, a doctor at Vietnam 175 Military Hospital, announced a joint study by the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center and Vietnam 175 Military Hospital, suggesting the necessity and possibility of joint research involving Korea, Sweden, and Vietnam based on common antibiotic resistance issues and data in Asia.
`Antibiotic resistance is a cross-border global health issue, and this joint academic program with the Uppsala Antibiotic Center will serve as an opportunity for Hallym University and Hallym University Medical Center to become an important hub for international antibiotic resistance research,' said Yoo Kyung-ho, president of Hallym University Medical School. `We will focus the capabilities of universities and medical centers to build a multi-national research network and achieve practical results.'
"This cooperation is an important turning point for sharing research infrastructure, data, and technology with each other and solving antibiotic resistance problems head-on," said Kim Yong-kyun, head of the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center. "We will strengthen international cooperation so that research on combined personalized antibiotics, including the Combiant research, can lead to results that change the paradigm of actual patient treatment."
The Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (HIARC) is a multidisciplinary convergence research center consisting of professional medical staff in various fields such as infectious medicine, cardiovascular thoracic surgery, intensive care medicine, and diagnostic and examination medicine, as well as the Hallym University School of Medicine, the School of Information Sciences, the School of Natural Sciences, and the Semiconductor and Display School. Based on joint research with the Uppsala Antibiotic Center, it plans to expand international cooperation projects and expand joint research on antibiotic resistance worldwide.
Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (HIARC) and Sweden's Uppsala Antibiotic Center (UAC) held an international joint research launch meeting and the first joint symposium on antibiotic resistance from November 24 to 25, starting a multi-layered cooperation system that encompasses research, education, and policy on antibiotic resistance.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea's daily antibiotic use is 31.8 DID (one-day antibiotic use per 1,000 people), ranking second in the world as of 2023. This is much higher than the average (19.5 DID) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The problem of antibiotic resistance is also serious worldwide. As the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria accelerates, treatable antibiotics are limited, and the effectiveness of existing antibiotics is rapidly decreasing.
In particular, it is difficult for clinicians to quickly determine the optimal combination of 'antibiotic combination therapy', which uses two or more antibiotics, because numerous combinations can occur depending on patient condition, mycoma, and drug interaction. Research to reduce this complexity and find safe and effective combinations for patients is also considered an urgent task internationally.
To overcome this global health crisis, an international academic exchange venue was recently held involving the Hallim International Antibiotic Resistance Center, the Uppsala Antibiotic Center, and related researchers. On the 24th, the 'Eurostar Project Initiation Meeting' was held to launch the joint research project selected by Eurostars in earnest, and on the 25th, the first international symposium co-hosted by the two organizations was held.
◇'combiant' to find a combination of personalized antibiotics and prevent misuse
The Eurostar Initiation Meeting' held in the HIARC conference room of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital on November 24th was prepared when the joint research on the combination of personalized antibiotics (product name: CombiANT, Combiant)' which was being studied by both the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center and the Uppsala Antibiotic Center was finally selected as a Eurostars research project in August 2025.
Eurostar is an international joint research program jointly organized by the European Union (EU) and the Eureka Network, supporting international joint research between innovative SMEs and research institutes in Europe.
Combiant is a diagnostic tool that quickly informs which combination of antibiotics can have an synergistic effect on treatment for each strain and patient. This enables combined treatment of personalized antibiotics and prevents side effects arising from misuse thanks to the use of only the necessary antibiotics.
Following the selection of Eurostar, the two organizations will quickly analyze the interaction between antibiotics over the next three years to pursue research to find the optimal combination of combinations. This will lay the groundwork for more accurate and faster determination of complex antibiotic combinations in the clinical field.
At the launch meeting, multi-layered studies such as quantitative experimental research, pathogen big data analysis, and rapid diagnosis algorithm advancement were also discussed to increase the clinical reliability of the research. In addition, both organizations plan to further strengthen follow-up studies verifying Combiant's global commercialization potential and real-world clinical applicability.
◇HIARC-UAC Holds First Joint Symposium…Expanding the possibility of joint research by three countries
On November 25, the first international symposium officially held together by the two organizations, the "1st Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center-Upsala Antibiotic Center Joint Symposium", was held at Ilsong Culture Hall of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital.
Starting with the opening speech of Yoo Kyung-ho, president of the Medical School of Hallym University, ▲ A congratulatory speech (Kim Yang-soo, professor of infectious diseases at Seoul Asan Hospital) ▲ Introduction to the Uppsala Antibiotic Center (Project Coordinator of the Eba Garmendia Uppsala Antibiotic Center) ▲ Introduction to the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (Kim Yong-kyun, director of the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center) ▲ Joint project in progress (Nicos Podsys Uppsala Antibiotic Center researcher) ▲ Wearable bios.
In particular, Dr. Nguyen Thang, a doctor at Vietnam 175 Military Hospital, announced a joint study by the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center and Vietnam 175 Military Hospital, suggesting the necessity and possibility of joint research involving Korea, Sweden, and Vietnam based on common antibiotic resistance issues and data in Asia.
`Antibiotic resistance is a cross-border global health issue, and this joint academic program with the Uppsala Antibiotic Center will serve as an opportunity for Hallym University and Hallym University Medical Center to become an important hub for international antibiotic resistance research,' said Yoo Kyung-ho, president of Hallym University Medical School. `We will focus the capabilities of universities and medical centers to build a multi-national research network and achieve practical results.'
"This cooperation is an important turning point for sharing research infrastructure, data, and technology with each other and solving antibiotic resistance problems head-on," said Kim Yong-kyun, head of the Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center. "We will strengthen international cooperation so that research on combined personalized antibiotics, including the Combiant research, can lead to results that change the paradigm of actual patient treatment."
The Hallym International Antibiotic Resistance Center (HIARC) is a multidisciplinary convergence research center consisting of professional medical staff in various fields such as infectious medicine, cardiovascular thoracic surgery, intensive care medicine, and diagnostic and examination medicine, as well as the Hallym University School of Medicine, the School of Information Sciences, the School of Natural Sciences, and the Semiconductor and Display School. Based on joint research with the Uppsala Antibiotic Center, it plans to expand international cooperation projects and expand joint research on antibiotic resistance worldwide.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
