The roots of the institute can be found in the Catholic Leprosy Service Laboratory of St. Marys Hospital, which was established with the financial assistance of a Catholic priest, Joseph A. Sweeny, M.M. and member of the Maryknoll Mission Family and the Korea Catholic Leprosy Relief Association, in 1961. Since that time, we have been doing our best to treat and rehabilitate patients with Hansens disease through the management of the patient consultation clinic and a roaming consultation project. We also conduct basic and clinical research into Hansens disease.