The institute was established in December 1996 to focus on research into the prevention, elucidation of the causes, and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic measures for cancers with a high incidence among the people of this country. We are conducting basic and clinical cancer research with cancer professionals from the College of Medicine and from the eight affiliated hospitals of the Catholic Medical Center altogether. We aim to conduct research which will ultimately be applicable to cancer treatment, facilitate collaboration with other research institutes, establish a system of cooperation with other cancer research institutes at home and abroad for the exchange of manpower and research information, and create a more competitive cancer research institute at both the national and international levels.