ChosunBiz will host the 2026 Healthcare Innovation Forum (HIF 2026) under the theme “The future opened by longevity: From obesity to anti-aging and Alzheimer’s innovation” at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Josun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 4
Beyond living long, aging healthily—”longevity” (long life and healthy lifespan)—is a key issue in the global healthcare industry. As research and development and investment to extend healthy lifespan accelerate, from technologies that slow aging and prevent disease to obesity treatments, new Alzheimer’s drugs, and regenerative medicine, related industries are also growing rapidly
This forum will closely examine development trends and innovation outcomes of key technologies driving longer healthy lifespans, as well as the outlook for future industries. It will also discuss investment strategies and the role of capital markets to support the sustained growth of the biohealth industry
The first keynote will be delivered by Paul Matthews, professor at Imperial College London and director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute
Professor Matthews, who leads the Rosalind Franklin Institute, a national life sciences research institute funded by the U.K. government, is a world-renowned authority in neuroscience and brain imaging research
He served as the founding director of the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) and worked for about nine years as a vice president at GSK plc. He also served on the governing board of the UK Biobank, participating in research that leveraged large-scale human data and brain imaging information
Matthews will speak on “A double hit to the brain: Inflammation and energy failure in Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.” He will examine how inflammatory responses and energy metabolism abnormalities in brain disorders affect neuronal damage and disease progression, and present a new perspective for understanding neurodegenerative diseases
The new drug development journey and innovation strategy of U.S. big pharma Eli Lilly and Company, which produced the Alzheimer’s treatment Kisunla, will also be introduced. Hideaki Katagiri, M.D., medical department, Eli Lilly and Company, will give a presentation titled “Lilly’s 35-year journey of challenge and innovation in Alzheimer’s disease.”
Katagiri is a neuroscience clinical development expert who played a leading role in the development of Kisunla (donanemab) from global phase 1 through phase 3. In this talk, he will share lessons learned and innovation strategies from the new drug development process, as well as next-generation therapeutic development challenges, based on Lilly’s 35 years of research experience and clinical outcomes.
Advances in Alzheimer’s diagnostic technology and challenges in new drug development will also be examined. Sung Ji-yeon, executive director of clinical science at Roche Diagnostics Korea, will present on “The paradigm shift in Alzheimer’s diagnosis,” introducing early diagnostic technologies using blood biomarkers and changes in diagnostic systems
Chung Jae-joon, chairman of AriBio Group, will present on “Development of an oral Alzheimer’s treatment: Completing global phase 3 and beyond.” He will review AriBio’s research results and tasks for commercialization after completing, as the first Korean company, the global phase 1–3 development journey for an Alzheimer’s new drug
In the following open talk, experts from industry, academia, research, and government will discuss the changes that advances in early Alzheimer’s diagnosis and broader treatment options will bring to patient care and dementia policy, and the remaining tasks. Chung Ji-hyang, president of the Korean Dementia Association, will moderate, with Choi Bong-geun, director general for senior policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Choi Ho-jin, professor at Hanyang University College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology, and Sung Ji-yeon, executive director of clinical science at Roche Diagnostics Korea, participating.
Strategies for using AI to improve the efficiency of new drug development will also be introduced
Yoon Tae-young, CEO of Proteina (professor at Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences), will present on “AI era: Biofoundries to reduce bottlenecks in new drug development and future strategies.” The talk will outline the development direction of biofoundries that combine protein–protein interaction analysis technologies with AI and automated experimental systems to increase the efficiency of discovering and validating drug candidates.
In the afternoon, the forum will highlight the bio ecosystem to implement longevity technologies as real industries and the growth potential of the anti-aging industry
The third keynote will be delivered by Cha Kwang-ryeol, head of the Global Research Institute at CHA Hospital and CHA Bio Group. Under Cha’s leadership, CHA Hospital and CHA Bio Group are promoting the establishment of a longevity center for aging research and extending healthy lifespan, along with related businesses
Focusing on the K-Cell genome-tailored stem cell platform, Cha will present a blueprint for a bio ecosystem that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and robots to identify patient-appropriate cells, manufacture them precisely, and connect them to clinical practice. He will also introduce strategies to extend cell technologies accumulated in infertility and reproductive medicine to aging research and healthy lifespan, and to broaden the potential of cell-based therapies.
The impact of advances in obesity treatments on extending healthy lifespan will also be a key agenda item
Choi In-young, head of future growth (executive vice president) at Hanmi Pharmaceutical, will present on “A new paradigm in obesity treatment: Beyond weight loss to healthy aging.” Recent obesity drug research is expanding beyond weight loss to improvements in metabolic health and cardiovascular and renal health
From the head of research and development at Hanmi Pharmaceutical(128940), which has demonstrated Korea’s new drug development capabilities through large-scale global technology exports, attendees will hear about the evolution of obesity treatments and strategies for developing next-generation drugs
Advances in regenerative medicine and medical aesthetics will also be highlighted
Lee Ju-hee, distinguished professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine (chair of the Korea Human Tissue ECM Bioindustry Association), will give a talk titled “Longevity and human tissue ECM Re2O: A game changer in global medical aesthetics.” Lee is a vice chair at L&C BIO(290650)
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a substance surrounding cells that maintains tissue structure and regulates cellular functions and activities. Lee will introduce the principles of tissue reconstruction technologies using ECM extracted from human tissues and its potential applications in skin regeneration and medical aesthetics
Next, Hong Ki-yong, professor of plastic surgery at Seoul National University Hospital, will take the stage to present on the scope of applications for human tissues and biomaterials and the growth potential of related markets
Hong conducts clinical practice and surgeries while researching tissue reconstruction and regenerative medicine using adipose stem cells, exosomes, and human tissues. Hong earned a doctorate from the KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering and has studied wound healing and tissue regeneration using adipose-derived stem cells, as well as the efficacy of human tissue–based biomaterials.
The forum will discuss investment strategies and the role of capital markets to support the growth of the longevity industry. For biotech to move beyond research results and grow into real industries, a funding system is needed to sustain long-term research and development, clinical trials, and commercialization
Hwang Man-soon, CEO of Korea Investment Partners, will give a talk titled “Growth of Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry: The role of VCs and capital.” New drug development requires long periods and large amounts of funding from early research through clinical trials and commercialization. Hwang will present the investment role of venture capital (VC), stage-by-stage financing strategies for domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and ways to strengthen industrial competitiveness.
Choi Ji-woo, senior managing director and deputy head at the KOSDAQ Market Division of the Korea Exchange (KRX), will present on “Plans to grow the biotech industry through the KOSDAQ market.”
The session will review measures to strengthen the KOSDAQ market’s competitiveness and the direction of future system changes, and will examine tasks to facilitate the entry of high-quality biotech firms into capital markets and ensure sustained growth after technology-track listings. It will also share the Korea Exchange’s KOSDAQ market system direction and proposals
The final open talk will be moderated by Lee Byung-geon, special advisor at Flagship Pioneering. Panelists Hwang Man-soon, CEO, and Choi Ji-woo, deputy head, along with Cho Hyung-jin, head of the strategy consulting group at Kearney Korea, will exchange views on strengthening competitiveness in Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industries, invigorating investment, and developing the capital market.
Registration and detailed event information are available on the official Healthcare Innovation Forum website
Event overview
Event: 2026 Healthcare Innovation Forum
Date and time: Dec. 4, 2026 (Fri.) 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m
Venue: Westin Josun Hotel, Sogong-dong, Seoul, Grand Ballroom
Theme: The future opened by longevity: From obesity to anti-aging and Alzheimer’s innovation
Host: ChosunBiz
Registration and fees: https://e.chosunbiz.com
Registration and inquiries: 02-724-6157, event@chosunbiz.com
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