Distinguished Research Fellow
Stem Cell Program Director

EDUCATION AND POSITIONS HELD:

• M.D., National Taiwan University, 1968
• Ph.D. Biophysics, University of Chicago, 1974
• Fellow in Biology, The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 1974–1977
• Director, Experimental Hematalogy, The Scripps Research Institute, 1998–2002
• Distinguished Research Fellow and Director of Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica
• Adjunct Professor, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University

HONORS:

• Board of Directors, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taiwan, 2003–present
• Advisory Board: NTHU/ITRI Joint Research Center; National Science & Technology Program in Biotech/Drug Research & Development; National Experimental Animal Center, 2003–present
• Advisory Board: Science & Technology Law Center, Institute for Information Industry, 2004–present.
• ROC committee, International Union of Biological Sciences, 2004–present.
• Chief Editor, Zoological Studies
• Editorial Board, J. Formosan. Med. Assoc.
• US NIH Special Grants Review Committee NIDDK, 1995–2000
• Review Committee for Small Business Innovation Research, 1997–1999
• Committee for Center of Excellence in Molecular Hemataolgy,1993Cell Biology & Physiology Study Section, 1989
• Established Investigatorship Award, Americna Heart Association, 1978–1983

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Stem Cell Biology/Regenerative Medicine

1. Stem Cell Biology:

The Stem Cell Program has been established as a dynamic multidisciplinary unit providing leadership at the forefront of stem cell research. The major focus consists of investigations into (1) cellular and genomic mechanisms of differentiation and plasticity, (2) reprogramming of stem cells from various sources, (3) derivation of primate/ human embryonic stem cells via novel technology development, and (4) somatic cell nucleus replacement. In striving for these goals, the Stem Cell Program recruits scientific expertise from abroad and facilitate platform technology transfer from academic institutes and/or biotech companies into Taiwan. A newly renovated research lab was opened, providing the up-to-date current facilities for research. We had established a core facility, which includes 8-fluorescence parameter FACSVantageDIVA, FACSCalibure, single cell assay/digital imaging, and confocal microscopy services. Currently, we hold weekly lab seminar with approximately 60 person attendance and offer a very popular graduate course on Stem Cell Biology for students from three major national universities in Taiwan.

2. Novel Experimental Animal Models for the Studies of Human Diseases and Drug Discovery:

We had developed a unique cell-based xenograft murine model of human primary leukemia for studying leukemia stem cells and prediction of clinical outcome. More recently, similar models have now been extended to include those solid tumors such as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, etc.

In addition, we have built a modern core facility for chemical mutagenesis and mutant screening of zebrafish. We are using zebrafish for drug discovery and prediction of biological function for novel genes. Using the transgenic zebrafish TG(fli1:EGFP) that express green fluorescent protein, we had isolated mutants and established the plateform technology of using zebrafish embroys for drug screening. The long term goal of these projects is to identify genes that can be targets for drug developmen.

Furthermore, using computational and evolutionary genomics, Dr. Li Wen-Hsiung at GRC had identified 13,711 KaKs-predicted exons which are present in both mouse and human genome. However, the existence of the transcript remains to be validated and biological functions have yet to be explored. We are using zebrafish to identify and characterize the biological functions of these new genes based on a novel zebrafish platform technology of assays. So far, we have identified several new genes expressed in specific tissues as well as in human malignancies.