Department of gastroenterology has been doing many medical researches on the physiologic and pathologic changes of the colon and its nerve system. Researches on the invasiveness and neovascular formation factors associated with gastric and colon cancer and the association of adiponectin and gastroenteric tumors are being carried out. They are also actively participating in multicenter trials on colon polyps and gastroenterologic diseases using capsule endoscopies and clinical trials on the association between female hormones and gastroenterologic diseases. They are researching with a functional gastrointestinal disorders(FGIDs) cohort, especially aboutepidemiology and the biomarker of FGIDs, such as adipokines and eosinophils. In 2009, population based clinical trials on irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) has been started with the support from the national evidence- based healthcare collaborating agency (NECA), trying to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of IBS.

In addition, colonoscopy simulation training program has been developed in collaboration with KAIST (Korea Advance Institute of Science and Technology ). Until now, KAIST-Ewha Colonoscopy simulation version 4 has been completed, and clinical studies on each versions are under way. They are also developing new ideal instruments to improve the GI endoscopic function.

In the department of hepatology, acute hepatitis A, that has been rapidly increasing recently, is being actively studied. They have published journals on the importance of hepatitis A vaccination and they are involved in multicenter studies on chronic hepatitis B and C, to develop an effective antiviral agent. Researches on the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are also actively done.

Since the opening of gastroenterology center in 2005, department of gastroenterology is working hard to establish a more professional and differentiated clinical research and treatment.

In the department of cardiology, animal studies on neovascularization has been carried out, using hepatocyte growth factor and they are participating actively in international multi-center clinical trials using Fondaparinux (OASIS-5 study), and other trials such as CHAMPION, OASIS-8, HOPE-3. Recently, they are planning on proceeding a clinical trial on the hyperplasia of the intima-media of the carotid artery, on the endothelial cell function of the brachial artery and on the stiffness index of the carotid artery and the first clinical trials of gene therapy in critical limb ischemia as principal investigator.

Other studies such as the effectiveness of nicorandil as an adjunctive cardioprotective agent in patients with acute myocardial infarction, effectiveness of Cypher and Pico stent, systemic innate immune suppression due to bisphosphonates and ways of decrementing in-stent neointimal hyperplasia are actively being researched. Basic medical science and clinical researches on the stem cell therapy using cord blood is also actively being proceeded. And performed imaging studies in coronary atherosclerotic disease using optical coherence tomography and vertual histology IVUS.

The mission of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is both to provide optimal clinical care, and apply clinical and translational research discoveries to understanding the pathogenesis of lung diseases and improving treatment.

Our clinical and research programs focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, and interstitial lung disease. We also have active clinical and research programs in pulmonary thromboembolism and critical care medicine. We are committed to delivering superior clinical care and translating our research discoveries into new and effective treatments for respiratory disease.

Endocrinology course starts from the second year of medical school and clerkship starts from the third and fourth year. Integrated course on metabolism and nutrition is started from the first year of medical school and problem based learning (PBL) program is also being held.

Department of endocrinology has initiated a large cohort study on polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), supported by the ministry of health and welfare. Through this clinical research, they are trying to find out the prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors of PCOS. They are also trying to establish a diagnostic criteria and find out the hereditary factors of PCOS, one of the most important disorder in child bearing women.

Endocrinology course starts from the second year of medical school and clerkship starts from the third and fourth year. Integrated course on metabolism and nutrition is started from the first year of medical school and problem based learning (PBL) program is also being held.

Department of endocrinology has initiated a large cohort study on polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), supported by the ministry of health and welfare. Through this clinical research, they are trying to find out the prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors of PCOS. They are also trying to establish a diagnostic criteria and find out the hereditary factors of PCOS, one of the most important disorder in child bearing women.

In the department of nephrology, faculty are involved in research activities that include clinical, translational and basic research to find out the pathogenesis and mechanism of various kidney disorders. Especially, studies are ongoing on hypertension, chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation and prevention of vascular occlusion on arteriovenous fistula. Furthermore, joint researches in this field have also been carried out actively with the department of pediatric nephrology, vascular and transplantation surgery, intervention radiology, anatomical pathology, clinical pathology and anatomy.

Since the opening of nephrology center in 1995, the department of nephrology has been working hard to establish a more professional and differentiated clinical research and treatment.

Department of hemato-oncology has been researching for many years on stem cell ex vivo expansion model, to effectively broaden the stem cell transplantation, through cord bloods and stem cells. They are also continuously updating new researches every year, through presentations on international medical institutes.

The department of oncology has been doing joint researches in clinical medicineand experimental researches are being carried out with the society of chemotherapy. They are actively presenting new researches in institutes in the United States and Europe.

In the asthma and allergy clinic, they are actively diagnosing and treating patients with asthma, chronic cough, rhinitis, skin allergy, drug allergy and food allergy. Major clinical researches are being done on the pathophysiology of allergic inflammatory reactions. Studies on cytokine regulatory mechanism of T cell and TNK cell are being presented and published in international institutes and journals every year. Recently, cohort and guideline research study on asthma in Koreans has been started, with the support of the ministry of health and welfare.

• Overview

  The Division of Rheumatology at Ewha Womans University School of Medicine has been recognized for the study and treatment of rheumatic diseases and mentoring and training women leaders in rheumatology since 2000.

• Mission

  • Provide excellent clinical care to patients

  • Train next generation of academic and community rheumatologists

  • Teach the highest clinical care standards and professionalism to students and residents in an environment motivated by clinician-scientist

  • Provide exceptional research experiences both in the lab and in a clinic

• Member of the Division

  
  
  
  

  Member of the DivisionThis table demonstrates Member of the Division through Medical specialty and Research focus

  Medical specialty	Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gout, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, other systemic connective tissue diseases and arthritis related conditions
  Research focus	B cells in autoimmune diseases, Mechanisms of autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus

The division of infectious diseases is in charge of diagnosis and management of the diseases caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, and febrile diseases including fever of unknown origin. Various kind of infectious diseases, commonly affect the people, like pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infection, influenza, and cystitis are on our interest. Moreover, rare infectious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever, imported infectious diseases (Dengue fever, falciparum malaria, Lyme diseases) are also covered by our division. We also cover the management of immune compromised host including solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, cancer patients and AIDS patients. We provide the information about adult vaccination and vaccination prior to overseas travel.

Research area of the division of infectious diseases include the pathogenesis of bacterial infection, molecular epidemiology of healthcare associated infection and multi-drug resistant bacteria, and treatment of HIV-infected patients. In our laboratory, we use Staphlyococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii and research of molecular pathogenesis and genetic variabilities of bacteria are actively done. We focus on pathogenesis of invasive infection and metastatic infection such as infective endocarditis and central nerovous system infection. Research papers are being presented every year on national and international medical institutes.