Two of the nation's leading research and medical institutes have clinched an accord on academic exchanges aimed at developing new treatments for incurable diseases through adult stem cell research.

The plan was announced Wednesday by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and the Catholic Medical Center of Seoul-based Catholic University.

Accordingly, the two organizations are expected to form a management committee for adult stem cell research in an effort to develop technology to treat fatal diseases and to ultimately commercialize successful research results.

Adult stem cells, also known as primordial cells, are currently being employed in clinical trials for their efficacy against fatal ailments like cancer and immune diseases.