The purpose of the establishment of the Lee Gil Ya Cancer & Diabetes Institute is to solve a big medical assignment, that is to free mankind from the pain of cancer and diabetes. It was opened on May 9, 2008. The year 2008 is the 10th anniversary of Gachon University Medical School and the 50th anniversary of Gachon University Gil Hospital. Until 2008, Gil Hospital and Medical School had focused on medical care and education, so they could not concentrate on research.

However, Hospital and Medical School established this institute since they realized that without research, they can neither develop and nor have any reason for their existence. Cancer and diabetes are causing the greatest pain for many people now and in the future. Considering the ability of Hospitals and Medical school at the time, these two diseases were focused as the study subjects since intensive studies and outstanding achievements on the two diseases are considered to be the most efficient way to benefit many people and also to lead to its growth as a global leader.

In the early stages of the establishment, This institute had focused on research only, but as the research capacity is improving, it has to decided to participate in education of basic medicine of Medical School (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, immunology, preventive medicine). More importantly, in order to educate and produce the scientists of bio-medical field, the Institute established GAIHST (Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology) in March, 2016, which is running the program of Health Sciences and Technology in the Graduate School.

Through GAIHST, this institute is is responsible for the convergence education of medical and life science at Gachon University Medical Campus where Medical School, the Institute for Cancer & Diabetes, Hospital and The College of Health Sciences are located. GAIHST teaches students in three majors: medical life sciences, brain sciences, and medical biotechnology.