Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital

The following article announcing the opening of the 3rd Hallym-Uppsala International Symposium was run in the Korea Herald on May 2, 2010:-Ed.

Hallym University Medical Center and Sweden's Uppsala University will host a medical symposium at the COEX in Seoul tomorrow.

During the 3rd Hallym-Uppsala International Symposium, medical experts from both institutions will share their thoughts on artificial biological skin for burns, artificial bone and cartilage, and dental implants under the main theme of "Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine."

The participants from Uppsala include Uppsala president Anders Hallberg; Kjell Oberg, former dean of the faculty of medicine; Bengt G. Gerdin, professor and head consultant of the burn center; orthopedic surgery professor Sune Larsson.

Hallberg plans to speak on "fast chemistry to peptidomimetics."

The Uppsala president, who is also professor in medicinal chemistry, has been playing a crucial role in orchestrating the two-way relationship with Hallym over the last three years. During his visit this time, he also plans to meet Prime Minister Chung Un-Chan.

About 300 participants from local universities, hospitals, clinics, private and state-run research institutes have signed up for the academic event.

Hallym's collaboration with the Swedish university dates back to February 2008, when Hallym medical delegates first visited the university to tap the possibility of launching and promoting academic exchange programs.

Dr. Kjell Oberg, the then-dean of Uppsala's faculty of medicine, responded by visiting Hallym in the spring of 2008, which made the bilateral cooperative relationship between the two institutions gain further steam.

Their continued efforts for cooperation finally brought about a tangible result -- the first Hallym-Uppsala Symposium in Seoul in October 2008.

In May 2009, a 14-member Hallym delegation visited Uppsala for the 2nd joint symposium. Uppsala University, founded in 1477, is the oldest university in Scandinavia, northern Europe. For centuries, Uppsala has been holding an important place in science and medicine.

For further information, visit the website (upsymp2010.hallym.or.kr).

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldm.com)