NCKU College of Medicine Launches Biomedical Excellence & Synergy Center at its 40th Anniversary
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center
Opening Ceremony of NCKU College of Medicine Biomedical Excellency & Synergy Center
National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine aims to “Surpass Thirty, Achieve Forty, Envision Fifty.” On August 3rd, the college celebrated the grand opening of its second research building, as its first and only new construction project in 40 years: the Center of Biomedical Excellency & Synergy in Taiwan.
Left to right: Former Dean of College of Medicine Jang-Yang Chang. Superintendent of NCKU Hospital Jing-We Lee. Dean of College of Medicine Yan-Shen Shan. NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen. Former NCKU President Huey-Jen Jenny Su. Chairman of Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Shaw-Jenq Sean Tsai.
This 11-story building serves not only as a teaching facility but also as inspiring research hubs. Aligning with domestic and international medical development, this building houses six major research hubs, including the CYCH-NCKU Geriatric Medicine Research Center, the Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medical Center, the Innovative Biomedical Materials and Diagnostic Medical Platform, and more. The resources and energy of NCKU headquarters, College of Medicine, and the affiliated NCKU Hospital will be combined to boost related research and applications. Additionally, collaborative efforts with the industry will be pursued to promote the advancement of the biomedical technology sector and foster new economic models.
NCKU, as a comprehensive university with a national level medical center, holds the responsibility of addressing the healthcare needs of southern Taiwan. The Center of Biomedical Excellency & Synergy in Taiwan encompasses six major research areas: the CYCH-NCKU Geriatric Medicine Research Center, Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medical Center/GTP Laboratory, Core Instrument Laboratory/Single Cell Printer and CyTOF Analysis Center, Innovative Biomedical Materials and Diagnostic Medical Platform/Comparative Medical Center, Microbiota Core Laboratory, and Functional MRI for Experimental Animal.
The CYCH-NCKU Geriatric Medicine Center is a collaborative effort between the NCKU College of Medicine and the Chia-Yi Christian Hospital. By integrating healthcare, community medicine, and basic medical research capabilities, it aims to create a promising new frontier in geriatric medicine research and care. The center’s goal is to assist the government in establishing policies and directions for geriatric healthcare. The Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medical Center utilizes the resources of the NCKU medical center and will collaborate with industry partners for clinical validations, as well as cooperate with renowned universities in the United States and Japan to develop innovative treatment methods. This initiative is set to establish the NCKU College of Medicine as a leading force in the Asia-Pacific region for research and development in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.
Distinguished guests at the opening ceremony
Opening Ceremony, August 3
The opening ceremony of NCKU Biomedical Excellence & Synergy Center took place at 10 a.m., attended by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, Dean of College of Medicine Yan-Shen Shan, Superintendent of NCKU Hospital Jing-We Lee, former NCKU President Huey-Jen Jenny Su, former Medical School Dean and current Superintendent of TMU Taipei Cancer Center Jang-Yang Chang, and the Chairman of Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Shaw-Jenq Sean Tsai. The ceremony and the distinguished guests witnessed the College of Medicine’s a new chapter.
Vice President of Taiwan and a Distinguished NCKU alumnus, Lai Ching-Te, sent his congratulations, saying, “for a long time, the College of Medicine has actively upheld the mission of advancing with the times, drawing knowledge from international publications, enhancing clinical diagnosis and treatment, providing comprehensive specialty internships, and nurturing the next generation of medical professionals.”
NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen looked back on the ten-year journey of constructing the building with joy and gratitude. He expressed his thanks to everyone who worked diligently, overcoming many challenges and pressures that were often insurmountable. With astonishing speed, they successfully navigated through seven complex administrative procedures. He also expressed deep gratitude to the then-Mayor of Tainan, who is now Vice President, Lai Ching-te, for his timely support, which secured nearly one-third of the building’s funding from the Ministry of Education. Throughout the construction process, many individuals from the business sector also lent their assistance, making it a journey characterized by ‘self-help, community help, and divine help.’
Dean of College of Medicine Yan-Shen Shan stated in his speech that the NCKU College of Medicine bears the mission of elevating the medical care standards in southern Taiwan and bridging the healthcare gap between the north and south of Taiwan. The Biomedical Excellency & Synergy Center integrates efforts from industry, government, and academia to outline six major critical medical research areas. This initiative not only enhances the international competitiveness and visibility of domestic scholars in Taiwan, but also focuses on research in holistic care and the development of integrated studies in digital intelligence and precision medicine. By providing scientific evidence and combining it with clinical experiments, it assists the government and the people in exploring innovative lifestyles, improving the well-being of the nation, and establishing a brand-new research ecosystem in southern Taiwan.
Former President Huey-Jen Jenny Su pointed out that it took 10 years to forge this endeavor. As the second building of the College of Medicine in 40 years, its construction received silent support and valuable assistance from numerous individuals. NCKU dedicated extensive time and effort to plan new frontiers in medicine, directions in serving the public, and the crucial role it will play in southern Taiwan. She expressed hope that in the future, everyone will continue to strive for further development.
The Center of Biomedical Excellency & Synergy in Taiwan is located in the Cheng-Hsing Campus, adjacent to Dongfeng Road and Changrong Road. It is situated between the Teaching Building of the College of Medicine and the under-construction NCKU Geriatric Hospital. The building features a reinforced concrete (RC) structure, spanning eleven floors above ground and two below. Construction commenced in August 2018, and the building obtained its permit by the end of June 2022. With the College of Medicine, NCKU Hospital, the Center of Biomedical Excellency & Synergy in Taiwan, and the forthcoming NCKU Geriatric Hospital, NCKU has established itself as a leading medical cluster of the nation.
The HAN-TAI Lecture Hall with a “Cloud-based Smart Medical Imaging Teaching Platform”
Cellular Therapy and Regenerative Medicine
This Center accommodates the Core Instrument Laboratory/Single Cell Printer and CyTOF Analysis Center, equipped with a single-cell rapid isolation system, capable of swiftly and effectively isolating and cultivating stem cells, with a survival rate of up to 90%. It serves as a powerful tool for sample preparation at the forefront of cellular therapy. With collaborations with experts in the field, the center aims to develop innovative analytical principles and applications for clinical evidence-based medicine.
The Innovative Biomedical Materials and Diagnostic Medical Platform/Comparative Medical Center is a long-term endeavor of the College of Medicine and NCKU Hospital, focusing on the development of novel medical devices and utilizing AI modules for future medical diagnosis and treatment. The College of Medicine collaborated with the Tainan veterinary medicine system to establish the nation’s only world-class comparative medicine center. The research outcomes can be applied to medium-sized animal testing, effectively shortening the timeline for the development and market launch of medical devices and new drugs.
The Microbiota Core Laboratory will partner with the Comparative Medical Center to verify its findings, which can be transferred to the industry for applications in human and veterinary medicine. This will be the first research and development unit of the nation to employ a modular approach in investigating relations between microbiota strains and their related metabolites with various organs of the body. Functional MRI for Experimental Animal is a pioneering initiative in the nation to apply fMRI for experimental animals in joining basic medicine and geriatric medical research. It tackles the problem with the aging population structure and disease development from the perspective of evidenced-based imaging medicine.
NCKU Biomedical Excellency & Synergy Center also serves as an educational facility, equipped with eight classrooms and two distinctive lecture halls. The HAN-TAI Lecture Hall emphasizes digital interaction and incorporates a “Cloud-based Smart Medical Imaging Teaching Platform.” In this lecture hall, instructors and students can operate software on touchscreen displays to conduct case-based teaching and discussions, marking it as an innovative teaching model pioneered by NCKU College of Medicine. The FENG-PEI Lecture Hall, with its tiered classroom layout, meets general teaching needs and can also host international seminars.
Unveiling ceremony of the “40th Anniversary Commemorative Pillar”
40th Anniversary of NCKU College of Medicine
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the College of Medicine, a special “40th Anniversary Commemorative Pillar” was unveiled in the central courtyard. NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, Dean of College of Medicine Yan-Shen Shan, Superintendent of NCKU Hospital Jing-We Lee jointly unveiled the pillar and witnessed to this precious moment of “Achieving Forty.”
For 40 years, the NCKU College of Medicine has nurtured numerous talents in the field of medicine for the nation. Dean Yan-Shen Shan and Dr. Shih-Min Wang from NCKU Hospital are both alumni of the School of Medicine. They have grown alongside the College of Medicine and share a particularly profound emotional connection, and the proposal of a 40th-anniversary commemorative pillar for the College of Medicine received enthusiastic support from Zhang-Min Yang, an alumnus from the Class of 1992, who generously donated the full amount for its setup.
The “40th Anniversary Commemorative Pillar for NCKU College of Medicine
The commemorative pillar, facing north and standing on the map of Tainan, symbolizes the deep-rooted development of the NCKU College of Medicine in Tainan. It stands at a height of 300 centimeters and is made of stainless steel. On top, there are stacked blocks with the numbers “40” and the letters “NCKU MED”. Each letter is angled to catch the light differently, and under the brilliant sunlight of southern Taiwan, they shine in varying ways according to the time and angle of the sun. The College of Medicine currently has 7 departments, 18 master’s programs, and 8 doctoral programs. The shining letters on the commemorative pillar symbolize that National Cheng Kung University embraces diverse talents, just as rivers converge into the sea, nurturing countless outstanding individuals for the nation.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2023-09-14
