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.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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