The government is to collect blood, tissue, cells, DNA, and pathogenic microbes of 500,000 people to build a human body resource database. This will enable scientists to build a genetic map of Koreans, and will help identify the correlation between genetic information and common diseases among Koreans. It is eventually hoped to help develop new treatments.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said Sunday it plans to invest W200 billion (US1$ = W996) over the next five years into the project. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will play the central role in the project, and the central headquarters will be established there. Six branches will be set up in Chungnam National University Hospital, Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonam National University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University Hospital, and Gyeongsang National University Hospital to collect data and build the network to facilitate collaboration.

The government will sample 300,000 healthy people and 200,000 sufferers from various diseases, and gather necessary information with their consent. Any researcher in the field of biotechnology will have free access to the information database. Abroad, the British government is leading the U.K. Biobank project, and Japan is trying to build a BioBank with DNA and sera from 300,000 individuals.

(englishnews@chosun.com )