The Cell Death Disease Research Center at the Catholic University of Korea was established on September 1, 2002, and was designated as a Medical Research Center (MRC) by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The Center successfully completed all three phases of the MRC program (Phase 1: 2 years, Phase 2: 3 years, Phase 3: 4 years), bringing the 9-year project to a close on August 31, 2011. Since then, it has continued its research on cell death-related diseases. Over the past 20 years, a total of 34 professors—17 from basic medical sciences and 17 from clinical departments—have participated, together with around 90 collaborators, including postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master’s students, research assistants, professional researchers, and technical/administrative staff.

In February 2018, Professor Yong-Kyun Kim (Department of Internal Medicine) succeeded Professor Jin Kim (Department of Anatomy, retired) as director, leading active research  focused on kidney organoid differentiation and applications. The Center has published notable findings in major international journals through its development of original technologies. Building on its accumulated expertise in basic medical science, the Center established RGN Organo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in November 2021, spearheaded by Professor Kim, to advance technology transfer and commercialize its research outcomes.