South Korea Invests in Next-Generation Physician Scientists with New Programs
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A major push to cultivate physician-scientists is underway in South Korea, with the government announcing two new initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration between medical and scientific fields and bolstering the nation’s bio-health sector.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare, alongside the Korea Health industry Development Institute, unveiled plans for expanded training and research opportunities during the ‘2025 Physician Scientist NET-WORKSHOP’ held on Thursday, May 5th, at Seoul Dragon City. the workshop brought together approximately 100 prospective and established physician-scientists, professors, and representatives from leading medical organizations to discuss the future of this critical field.
Expanding the Pipeline of Medical Innovators
Recognizing the vital role physician-scientists play in translating laboratory discoveries into clinical solutions, the Ministry of Health and welfare will launch two new projects in 2026. The first, the ‘K-MediST Support’ project, seeks to bridge the gap between medicine and science and engineering. This will be achieved through the establishment of joint degree programs between medical schools and science and engineering graduate schools, offering students a uniquely integrated education.Following completion of the joint degree, collaborative research endeavors and the commercialization of resulting innovations will be actively supported through dedicated joint research institutes.
The second initiative, the ‘Physician Scientist leap Program’, focuses on building a robust ecosystem for talent development within the bio and health industries. This program will facilitate growth opportunities for researchers by inviting leading international bio and health scholars and providing training programs for young Korean doctor-scientists to gain experience at prominent global research institutions. A key component of the Leap Program will be an idea contest, designed to connect promising research concepts from students and early-career scientists directly with potential investment opportunities.
Building on Existing successes
These new programs build upon the foundation laid by the ‘Convergence Physician Scientist Training Project’, launched in 2019. This earlier initiative provided comprehensive support – from undergraduate research experiences to doctoral scholarships and research funding – to cultivate a new generation of convergence researchers. To date, the project has supported 165 doctoral students, resulting in the graduation of 79 MD-Ph.D. physician-scientists.
Further bolstering this commitment, the ‘global Physician Scientist Training Project’, initiated in 2024, offers customized research support to physician-scientists for up to eight years post-doctorate. This sustained funding aims to empower researchers to pursue groundbreaking discoveries and establish themselves as leaders in their respective fields.
“Physician scientists are key talents in the bio and health fields who can solve difficulties in clinical settings in the laboratory,” stated a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. “We will actively pursue securing budgets for business expansion and improving various systems.”
Cha Sun-do, director of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, emphasized the importance of community and support for these researchers, stating, “The path of a physician-scientist is never a l
