Kakao Healthcare said Monday that it has expanded its research alliance by adding three new institutions -- Konyang University Hospital, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, and Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital. 

The company held the second agreement ceremony for the alliance last Friday, bringing the total number of participating hospitals to 17.

Launched in August last year, the research alliance aims to lead global healthcare research through technologies like big data and AI. The expanded network features institutions, including Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Korea University Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Yonsei University Medical System, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Chonnam National University Hospital, and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital.

These leading regional hospitals are expected to enhance research diversity and contribute to reducing healthcare disparities across different regions, Kakao Healthcare said. 

The company stressed that it is playing a crucial role as a technology partner, supporting research innovation and the implementation of precision medicine through its medical data analysis platform. This platform incorporates data standardization, artificial intelligence, machine learning, federated learning, and large language models for natural language processing, it added.

Kakao Healthcare is also actively engaging in real-world evidence (RWE) research contracts with global pharmaceutical companies and undertaking various projects. The research alliance operates on the principle of open innovation, allowing any willing hospital to participate to join the network. It ensures autonomy and independence in all collaborative research, whether conducted within hospitals, between hospitals, or in partnership with corporations. 

"We have successfully validated the effectiveness and safety of our pilot projects and are already progressing with global research initiatives,” Kakao Healthcare CEO Hwang Hee said. “By collaborating with global IT companies and hospitals, we aim to play a pivotal role in research innovation and generate significant social value."