Sahmyook University Obtains IRB Re-Certification from Ministry of Health and Welfare

Laying the Foundation for Government R&D Incentives and External IRB Review Services

Sahmyook University has demonstrated its external credibility by being officially recognized for having the highest level of research ethics environment in the Institutional Review Board (IRB) evaluation organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Sahmyook University campus. Sahmyook University

On June 4, Sahmyook University announced that it had successfully obtained re-certification by passing the rigorous evaluation standards in the "2026 First Half Institutional Review Board Evaluation and Certification."

With this certification, Sahmyook University will maintain its IRB status for three years until April 27, 2029, and will gain substantial advantages in securing government research and development (R&D) projects, thereby achieving an overwhelming competitive edge in large-scale research.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an autonomous and independent ethics committee established within an institution to ensure bioethics and safety when conducting research involving humans or human-derived materials.

According to the revised "Bioethics and Safety Act" in 2013, researchers conducting relevant studies must obtain prior approval from the IRB.

The committee serves as the central command by thoroughly reviewing research proposals and rigorously monitoring the research process and outcomes to protect the rights and safety of research subjects.

In particular, the IRB evaluation and certification system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare was introduced to foster an ethical research environment that meets international standards. After a pilot evaluation in 2013 and mandatory assessments in 2016, the system became an official certification program in 2021, ensuring precise and rigorous quality management of institutional review boards.

Sahmyook University first earned certification during the first round of evaluation (2021–2024), laying a solid foundation, and this year it achieved consecutive re-certification in the first half evaluation.

This result signifies that Sahmyook University has been directly recognized by the government for its thorough and reliable research system that actively protects research subjects in the fields of clinical research and biotechnology.

With this certification, Sahmyook University not only strengthens its internal research capabilities but also gains the authority to officially undertake and perform IRB review work for other institutions.

Additionally, the university will enjoy practical incentives such as additional points when applying for major government projects like healthcare technology R&D initiatives, further driving its future growth.

Within and outside the academic community, Sahmyook University's IRB re-certification is seen as evidence that the university's bio and healthcare research ecosystem has advanced to a higher level, aligning with global standards.

Seungwon Lee, Chairperson of the Sahmyook University Bioethics Committee, stated, "This re-certification is the valuable result of the continuous efforts of all members to establish an internationally recognized bioethics environment and a trustworthy advanced research infrastructure. We will continue to prioritize the protection of research subjects' rights and safety, and as an institutional review board, we will further strengthen our role and support so that campus researchers can responsibly conduct world-class research in an ethical and safe environment."

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