SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Seoul National University Hospital (Chair: Youngbin Choi) hosted the Asia Pacific Biomedical Engineering Consortium 2026 Symposium (APBEC 2026) for two days, from August 20 to 21, at the Convergence Building of Seoul National University College of Medicine.

The Asia Pacific Biomedical Engineering Consortium (APBEC) is an international collaborative network established to promote research, education, and joint projects in biomedical engineering among leading universities in the Asia-Pacific region. Its member institutions include Seoul National University, the University of Tokyo, Tsinghua University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the National University of Singapore, and National Taiwan University. Through academic and personnel exchanges among member universities, APBEC aims to advance the integration of medicine and engineering and contribute to the development of future healthcare technologies.

A total of 118 participants—including 27 faculty members and 91 students, primarily from APBEC member institutions—attended this year’s symposium. The academic program featured four major themes: next-generation theranostics, from nanomedicine to bioimaging; advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine and neuromedicine; precision biomechanics and robot-assisted rehabilitation; and clinical AI and digital health. Participants shared recent advances in biomedical engineering and discussed opportunities for future collaborative research.

In the keynote sessions, Professor Taichi Ito of the University of Tokyo introduced the evolution of biomedical engineering research and education in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the university’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. Professor Youngbin Choi of Seoul National University Hospital presented a battery-free implantable technology for precision drug delivery. The program also included invited lectures by researchers from across the region and active participation by student researchers. In total, 68 student posters were presented, providing a valuable platform for emerging biomedical engineers to share their research.

More than a venue for presenting research findings, APBEC 2026 created meaningful opportunities for researchers and students across the Asia-Pacific region to engage directly with one another. The symposium also strengthened the foundation for international collaborative research and educational partnerships in future healthcare fields, including medical devices, biomaterials, rehabilitation robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital health. Professors Jinwook Choi, Hongki Kang, and Jooli Han of Seoul National University Hospital’s Department of Biomedical Engineering served on the organizing committee and supported the successful hosting of the symposium.