Cell therapy and Regenerative Medicine & Immunotherapy

Saving Kids with Stem Cells

Research briefing

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death for newborns. Although survival rates have improved for babies born before the 37^th week, their immature lungs remain vulnerable to inflammation, infection, and sepsis. Standard procedures using steroids and mechanical ventilation can cause further oxidative stress and lead to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Children with BPD may suffer from recurrent lung infection and require extended stays in the ICU, and often see decreased lung function and higher susceptibility to infection as they age. As treatments for prematurely born infants have advanced, so has the incidence of BPD, a problem Director of the TMU Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics Dr. Chun-Ming Chen has watched grow in a career spanning close to 35 years. But standard treatments, according to Dr. Chen, are lacking in effectiveness.

Research team leader : Dr. Chung-Ming Chen

A Path to Phage Display

Research briefing

Dr. Yang was recruited to TMU in 1994, in time to have earned a reputation as a researcher in time for the SARS scare of the early 2000s. With Taiwan and the world facing the “terrifying” danger of an airborne epidemic, Dr. Yang was assigned by then TMU President Chung-Yi Hsu to work closely with Wanfang Hospital and the department of Medical Laboratory Science to explore possible treatments. Using his knowledge of phage display techniques, Dr. Yang successfully constructed a phage library that could be used for diagnostics and therapeutic treatments. Luckily SARS didn’t become a global pandemic, but Dr. Yang’s work published in 2007 both provided a basis for further SARS research and showed the viability of using phage display technology to produce mono- and poly-specific antibodies

Research team leader : Dr. Yi-Yuan Yang

Seaweeds, stem cell therapy, and health of liver disease patients

Research briefing

Dr. Ming-Shun Wu began his interest in medicine at a young age. From in childhood, he accompanied his grandfather, learning how to use Chinese herbs and traditional techniques. When he was older he brought his interest in healing to TMU, where he earned his MD and PhD in clinical medicine. He holds licenses in both Chinese and Western medicine, and has served at Wanfang Hospital for the past 26 years. Director of TMU’s Department of Gastroenterology since 2015, he also teaches at the TMU Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine. His eclectic background is reflected in a broad range of research interests that span traditional TCM diagnoses and treatments, basic research in colon cancer, clinical research on components of herbal remedies, and stem cell therapy for cancer treatment.

Research team leader : Dr. Ming-Shun Wu

A Step Beyond CAR-T: Culturing Bispecific Antibodies

Research briefing

The future of Dr. Chuang’s non-viral bispecific antibody culture method looks bright. With help in part from TMU’s Office of Business Development in providing support services for finding funding, facilitating tech transfers, academia-industry liaising, and making patent applications, the team has been working to promote their work around the world. They will present their findings at the Immuno-Oncology Summit Europe next March, as well as at next year’s BioJapan and BioUS exhibitions, and have already been approached for research collaborations and to develop new bispecific antibody therapies with industry players.

Research team leader : Dr. Kuo-Hsiang Chuang

Breakthroughs in Niche Microenvironments and Cell Culture Processes

Research briefing

Two-time winner of Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology Outstanding Young Scientist Research Grant and holder of two stem cell related patents, Dr. Rita Yen-Hua Huang has made quite a name for herself as a star researcher. After 20 years studying embryonic pluripotency, cancer stemness and drug resistance, and cell therapy products. Dr. Huang brings her expertise to TMU’s Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine and GTP Lab where she and her team are global leaders in the development of safe and effective cell therapy products, and have developed a novel method of culturing stem cells safely and effectively for use in research and treatments.