The 14th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC14) will be hosted in Seoul by two leading Korean institutions: the Korean Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (KoCVAM) and the Korea Biomedicine Industry Association (KoBIA). These organizations embody Korea’s commitment to ethical scientific innovation and international collaboration in the life sciences.
Korean Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (KoCVAM)
Korea Biomedicine Industry Association (KoBIA)
The Korean Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (KoCVAM), established in 2009 within the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, is dedicated to developing and validating innovative approaches that can replace or reduce animal testing. By promoting the 3Rs principle and advancing New Approach Methods (NAMs), KoCVAM plays a key role in both national and international regulatory science.
KoCVAM has successfully contributed to the inclusion of four Korean-developed test methods in the OECD Test Guidelines and is currently developing further alternatives for medical device safety evaluation with the goal of international recognition. In addition to research, KoCVAM provides education and training programs, and collaborates with organizations such as the OECD, ISO, and ICH to ensure global alignment.
The center actively fosters collaboration between government, industry, and academia, creating opportunities for innovation and accelerating the adoption of humane science. Through these partnerships, KoCVAM ensures that its work has a lasting impact on both domestic policy and international practice.
Leadership:
Dr. Jae-Ho Oh, Director of KoCVAM since 2022, is leading a national standardization project (2024–2028) to accelerate the practical adoption of alternative test methods. With extensive experience in toxicology and regulatory science, he is a strong advocate for the international harmonization of NAMs.
The Korea Biomedicine Industry Association (KoBIA), founded in 2011, is a nonprofit organization approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to support and advance Korea’s rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry. Today, KoBIA has more than 160 member companies and institutions across the entire value chain, including R&D, CDMOs, CROs, and logistics.
KoBIA acts as a crucial communication channel between industry and government, facilitating timely responses to regulatory and policy developments. It plays a central role in managing research projects aimed at improving safety and quality in the biopharmaceutical sector, fostering industry–academia collaboration, and supporting sustainable innovation.
KoBIA is currently conducting a major standardization study (2024–2029) for the practical application of alternative testing methods, promoted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The project is designed to reduce animal testing requirements and commercialize ethical and innovative testing methods that can drive regulatory change both domestically and internationally.
Leadership:
Dr. Jeong-Seok Lee, Chairman of KoBIA since 2020, has held key leadership roles within the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). His extensive expertise in regulatory sciences and health policy ensures that KoBIA remains at the forefront of innovation and global competitiveness.
WC14 Organizing Committee
- Korean Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (KoCVAM)
- Korea Biomedicine Industry Association (KoBIA)
- Korea Society of Toxicology (KOST)
- Korean Society for Alternatives to Animal Experiments (KSAAE)
- Humane Society International
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)
- Organodisciences
- Ewha Womans University