-

The Cancer Prevention Science and Technology Research Center is an interdisciplinary scientific institution that adopts an innovative and systematic approach to enhance public health by reducing cancer incidence before reaching the stages of clinical diagnosis and treatment. With a strong focus on “prevention” as the most effective and sustainable cancer control strategy, the center leverages extensive capacities across diverse scientific fields—including agricultural sciences, humanities, basic sciences, and engineering—to move beyond the traditional treatment-oriented perspective toward a proactive preventive approach.

In the field of agricultural sciences, the center investigates and develops strategies to reduce food pollutants, carcinogenic pesticides, improve healthy crop production methods, and promote sustainable agriculture. In the humanities, the focus lies on analyzing social behaviors, lifestyle factors, cultural influences, and public education to shift societal attitudes toward cancer risk factors. Basic sciences contribute to explaining and understanding biological, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that initiate cancer, while engineering and technology fields work on developing innovative tools for population screening, designing non-carcinogenic biomaterials, and creating systems for environmental monitoring.

To define the vision, mission, and research strategies of this center, it is crucial to recognize the fundamental distinction between prevention and clinical diagnosis or treatment. Unlike treatment methods that come into play after the disease is detected, prevention focuses on early interventions, environmental and societal approaches, and more cost-effective measures. Rather than concentrating solely on treating patients, the goal is to identify, reduce, or eliminate risk factors to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place. Accordingly, the center’s primary mission is to reduce cancer incidence through interdisciplinary research, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and integration of technology, education, and policy-making in the health system.

The center’s research approach is based on cross-disciplinary collaboration, integrating fields such as life sciences, social sciences, and engineering to produce practical knowledge and implementable solutions for cancer prevention. Key strategies include developing a national cancer prevention roadmap, designing early warning systems, monitoring environmental and behavioral changes, and maintaining close cooperation.