• Keynote draws more than 400 attendees and sparks collaboration inquiries from researchers worldwide
• Ongoing lectures in Korea and abroad introduce K-Cell research and its potential applications
• Presentation outlines strategies spanning donor selection, stem cell generation, and AI-assisted cell matching

BUSAN, South Korea - November 2026 - Dr. Kwang Yul Cha, Chairman of CHA Global Research Institutes at CHA Medical Center and CHA Bio Group, delivered a keynote address at the 16th World Congress of the International Society for Immunology of Reproduction (ISIR), held at BEXCO in Busan from November 5 to 8. Dr. Cha presented strategies for using K-Cells to develop treatments for intractable diseases, with a longer-term vision of extending healthspan and lifespan. The keynote drew more than 400 attendees and received an enthusiastic response, generating a range of collaboration inquiries from researchers around the world.

Founded in 1975, ISIR is an established international scientific society with more than 50 years of history in reproductive immunology. Robert G. Edwards, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing in vitro fertilization, was among its co-founders. The congress brings together clinicians and researchers worldwide to share advances in the interactions between reproduction and the immune system, including infertility, implantation, and pregnancy maintenance.

Since 2025, Dr. Cha has delivered lectures on K-Cell and longevity at scientific conferences, universities, and companies in Korea and abroad. Through these engagements, he has highlighted Korea’s capabilities in stem cell and regenerative medicine research and shared his vision for future healthcare. His ISIR keynote introduced specific approaches to obtaining K-Cells and explored their potential applications in reproductive aging research.

In the presentation, titled “Longevity & Reproductive Aging Using K-Cells,” Dr. Cha identified the development of treatments for intractable diseases as a primary goal of K-Cell research, while also emphasizing its potential for advancing longevity. K-Cells are cell resources selected and developed to meet the functional and quality requirements of specific diseases and therapeutic applications. The strategy is to establish a strong foundation for disease-specific and patient-specific therapeutic development, then expand research into longevity and lifespan extension.

Dr. Cha outlined a comprehensive donor selection strategy that goes beyond basic eligibility assessments, such as medical history reviews and infectious disease screening. It integrates donor age and clinical characteristics, three-generation family history, and whole-genome sequencing data. Genetic variants associated with beneficial health traits and those linked to increased disease risk are evaluated alongside cellular function to identify cell resources suited to particular therapeutic goals.

He also discussed genetic engineering approaches and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) as potential methods for obtaining stem cells with improved characteristics. SCNT involves transferring the nucleus of a selected somatic cell into an oocyte whose nucleus has been removed to generate embryonic stem cells. These approaches connect donor selection with stem cell generation to support the development of cells tailored to specific therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Cha highlighted ovarian aging as a key research focus for advancing both fertility and longevity. Drawing on studies associating later menopause with longer lifespan, he explained that addressing ovarian aging could offer an important avenue for extending women’s healthspan, given its connections to cardiovascular and bone health across the life course.

Drawing on CHA Medical Center’s research achievements in oocyte cryopreservation and stem cells, he shared an overview of early clinical research at Bundang CHA Medical Center investigating umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for premature ovarian insufficiency. He noted that the findings represent early observations and that further validation of efficacy and safety is required.

Dr. Cha also outlined plans to connect K-Cell sourcing, manufacturing, and clinical development through CGB(Cell Gene Bioplatform), scheduled to open in early next year. The strategy includes establishing banks of diverse stem cells and immune cells and using artificial intelligence to recommend and match cells to specific diseases and functional requirements. These resources would be supplied to researchers, hospitals, and biotechnology companies worldwide.

CHA Medical Center and CHA Bio Group will continue presenting K-Cell research strategies and potential applications at international scientific forums, prioritizing treatments for intractable diseases while expanding research into longevity and lifespan extension.

* Photo. Dr. Kwang Yul Cha, Chairman of CHA Global Research Institutes at CHA Medical Center and CHA Bio Group, Delivers Keynote Address at the 16th ISIR World Congress

(Photo Caption) Dr. Kwang Yul Cha, Chairman of CHA Global Research Institutes at CHA Medical Center and CHA Bio Group, delivers a keynote address at the 16th ISIR World Congress held at BEXCO in Busan, South Korea, on November 6, 2026.