By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Samsung Medical Center opened the Samsung Cancer Research Institute, Monday, in a bid to fight cancer in a more "Korean" way.
Dr. Paik Soon-myoung, one of the pioneers of molecule target treatment for cancer, will head the institute.
Paik has worked as a director for the U.S. National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Bowel Project of the National Cancer Institute and contributed to developing target treatment for breast cancer. The drug Herceptin has halved the relapse rate of the disease.
He also developed an "Oncotype Dx" test to sort out patients who do not need anticancer treatment.
"His appointment will help the institute reach out to the world with the Samsung Cancer Center," the hospital spokesman said.
Samsung has reportedly invested 25 billion won into the establishment of the center, which has a staff of 430 people.
Paik said the institute will focus on clinical testing, a field that Korea needs to improve.
"We will work on providing specific treatment to individuals," he said.