Selected for the National Research Foundation of Korea’s 2026 Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) Program

Professor Boram Gu’s laboratory at Chonnam National University has been awarded a new research grant under the 2026 Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).

The project, titled “Development of Novel Hollow-Fiber Membranes and Integrated Module Design for Ultra-Low-Priming-Volume ECMO Oxygenators Using Bayesian Optimization” will receive KRW 1.5 billion in total funding over three years, from July 2026 to June 2029.

This research aims to develop ultra-low-priming-volume oxygenators for pediatric and neonatal patients. By reducing the volume of fluid required to prime the extracorporeal circuit, the project seeks to reduce hemodilution and address the limitations of conventional extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems through novel hollow-fiber membranes with enhanced hemocompatibility and optimized module designs.

The collaborative research team comprises Professor Boram Gu of Chonnam National University, Professors In Seok Jeong and Hwa Jin Cho of Chonnam National University Medical School, and Professor Heseong An of Sunchon National University. The project will establish an interdisciplinary research framework spanning materials development, design optimization, module fabrication, and preclinical validation, with the aim of developing foundational technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of pediatric and neonatal ECMO.

We warmly congratulate the research team on this BRL grant award and look forward to fruitful collaboration and meaningful research outcomes.