The Frontier of Nanotechnology Founded in 2004, Yonsei University’s Nanomedical Research Center is a “Nanomedical National Core Research Center” designated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation. Research conducted at the center brings together various fields in engineering and medical science. Center Director Yoo Kyung-hwa (Professor of Physics) says, “When Yonsei University applied for the nanomedical program, it was just beginning worldwide. We started off the field almost at the same time as the U.S. and Japan.” The Center’s goal is to be recognized as one of the top 10 nanomedical research centers in the world. Professor Yoo has high hopes for next year’s international conference on nanomedical technology, which will be hosted by the Center. Japan hosted the first conference last year, and the second will be held next year in Seoul as the “NanoBio Seoul” (tentative name) Conference. The Conference will provide an opportunity for the Center to showcase its current achievements and future research potential, and thereby to attract global research partners. Nanomedical technology uses nanotechnology, which manipulates materials at the molecular or atomic level, for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical problems. This synergy of the two fields of nanotechnology and medical science has opened up an entirely new field. “In the past, diagnosis and treatment were separate steps. Our goal is to create a versatile nano-FT which allows us to use nanotechnology to treat problems as they are being diagnosed, and monitor treatment as it is being performed.” Professor Yoo states that the secret to the Center’s success as a pioneer in the field lies in Yonsei’s competitive research environment. Not many universities in the world have both a top-class College of Engineering and a top-class College of Medicine on the same campus. A collaborative research laboratory in the Advanced Science and Technology Building and the collaborative degree program form an important part of the Center’s present and future success.