Taiwan Bio-Development Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at promoting the development of the nation’s biotechnology industry, on Thursday announced the four winners of this year’s biotechnology awards.
One of the youngest winners was National Taiwan University Department of Mechanical Engineering associate professor Fan Shih-kang (范士岡), aged 40. He was selected for a study into whether microchips can imitate the function of human cells.
If his research is successful, Fan said the chips could be used to test the effects of new drugs on people, sparing animals from being involved in the drug testing process.
Photo: CNA
Academia Sinica Genomics Research Center research fellow Lin Kuo-i (林國儀), also 40, won an award for his research into plasma cells, which produce antibodies.
He said he hopes his work can contribute to the development of new vaccines.
Academia Sinica Institute of Biomedical Sciences associate research fellow Patrick Hsieh (謝清河), 48, was the third winner.
Hsieh was recognized for his study of drugs aimed at driving stem cells to become heart muscle.
If he succeeds, heart transplants will no longer be needed, he said.
National Taiwan University College of Life Science dean Kuo Min-liang (郭明良), 54, was given the award for a study regarding the manner in which malignant tumors spread.
Kuo said he hopes his research contributes to the development of targeted drugs to fight cancers.
Each of the winners is to be given research grants of NT$25 million (US$794,360) over a 10-year period.
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