Text by NCKU News Center　Photos provided by Wei-Hsuan Hsu

Associate Professor Wei-Hsuan Hsu of NCKU’s Institute of Food Safety, Hygiene and Risk Management focuses her research on gut microbiota and extracellular vesicle-mediated interspecies communication. Her work goes beyond examining how microorganisms affect human health to explore how microbes and their hosts communicate with each other, with applications extending to next-generation probiotics, food safety, environmental pollution, and precision health. Moving beyond the traditional research framework of explaining health and disease primarily through the composition of the gut microbiota, Prof. Hsu proposes that extracellular vesicles may serve as important messengers linking diet, the environment, gut microorganisms, and human health. Her research provides a new scientific foundation for disease prevention and health promotion and has earned her recognition with the 2026 Ta-You Wu Memorial Award.

Associate Professor Wei-Hsuan Hsu t has earned her recognition with the 2026 Ta-You Wu Memorial Award

Prof. Hsu said her team is developing new health intervention strategies that do not rely entirely on the colonization of live microorganisms, with the potential to improve the safety, stability, and precision of probiotic products. These strategies could eventually be applied to older adults, gut health, and personalized nutrition, advancing probiotics beyond the traditional concept of “supplementing beneficial bacteria” toward precision microbiome-based health management tailored to specific mechanisms of action and individual needs. The team’s research findings are also gradually moving from the laboratory into industry, with industry-academia collaboration helping translate their discoveries into practical applications in food biotechnology and the health sector.

Reflecting on the setbacks she has encountered in her research career, Prof. Hsu recalled that during the first year of her master’s program, an experiment stalled for several months. Despite investing considerable time and effort, she saw no results and at one point became deeply frustrated. With guidance from a senior doctoral student, who is now her husband, she began approaching the research from a different perspective and eventually achieved a breakthrough in her experimental data. She not only completed the research successfully, but also produced more substantial results and publications than she had initially expected.

Prof. Hsu faced another difficult period during her postdoctoral research. At the time, she wrote to her doctoral advisor, Prof. Tzu-Ming Pan, expressing her desire to return to Taiwan to pursue her career. His warm response and encouragement helped her regain perspective and find the motivation to keep going. These experiences taught her that research is never a smooth journey and that setbacks and obstacles are an inevitable part of an academic career.

Prof. Hsu also expressed her gratitude for the Young Scholar Fellowship Program launched under then Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Liang-Gee Chen, which gave her the opportunity to embark on an academic career. The program encouraged and supported young researchers in pursuing long-term, forward-looking, and innovative research, with the hope that they would go on to earn recognition through NSTC awards after completing the program. This support provided Prof. Hsu with the resources she needed to remain focused on specific research topics and pursue them over the long term.

Associate Professor Wei-Hsuan Hsu with her laboratory members

Throughout her journey, Prof. Hsu has been grateful to the many mentors and family members who have played important roles in her life. Her master’s and doctoral advisor, Prof. Tzu-Ming Pan, and Prof. Tang-Long Shen, who guided her later in her career, not only supported her professional and academic development but also showed her the importance of sincerity and warmth in relationships. Their outstanding achievements in both academic research and industrial applications also deeply influenced her commitment to translating research findings into practical applications.

Another important source of support has been her family. Prof. Hsu expressed her gratitude to her husband, who has been by her side every step of the way. From her senior in graduate school to her partner in life, he has contributed creative ideas to her research, broadened her perspective, and supported her in both daily life and academic work. “I’m so grateful to him. He shines as brightly as a star, yet always puts me in the spotlight and lets me shine.”

Prof. Hsu has observed that some students are quick to give up when they encounter difficulties in their research. Drawing on her own experiences, she encourages them to recognize that the courage to try is essential. “Try out new ideas and don’t be afraid of getting things wrong. What truly matters should not be defeated by hesitation. There is no research without failure; if you have never failed, you probably have not been innovative enough. No one likes to fall, but every setback has meaning. Those frustrations are building momentum for what’s still to come. Believe in yourself, take action, and have the courage to try—that is how breakthroughs happen.”

When facing challenges in research and in life, Prof. Hsu reminds herself, “There is no need to worry about what has already happened, and no need to worry yet about what has not happened.” Her motto, “Be present. Enjoy the moment,” likewise reminds her to stay focused on the here and now and appreciate each moment. Prof. Hsu also shares this belief with young students, encouraging them to face the unknown with courage, make the most of the present, and move forward one step at a time.