Tag: Taipei Medical University

From a trained pharmacist to a former drug reviewer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and ultimately a leader in innovative drug development, Jane Ching-Liu Jan has dedicated more than two decades to advancing Taiwan’s biotechnology industry on the global stage.

Jane Ching-Liu Jan, Distinguished Alumna of Taipei Medical University, Chairperson of PharmaEssentia

During her tenure at the FDA, Jane was directly involved in drug evaluation and regulatory review, gaining extensive insight into global regulatory standards and clinical assessment processes. This experience later became a critical foundation for establishing PharmaEssentia and shaping its international regulatory and research strategies.

One of the company’s most significant achievements was the U.S. FDA approval of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b, the world’s first long-acting interferon of its kind for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV). This milestone not only marked a major breakthrough for the company, but also demonstrated Taiwan’s growing capabilities in innovative drug research and global regulatory advancement.

The journey of new drug development was not without challenges. Regulatory complexities, international arbitration, and market uncertainties tested both leadership and organizational resilience. Throughout these challenges, Jane and her team remained committed to scientific rigor, long-term value creation, and patient-centered innovation.

Today, her professional journey stands as a compelling example of how expertise, global perspective, and sustained commitment can enable Taiwan’s biotechnology sector to engage confidently with the international community and contribute meaningfully to global health innovation.

For more information, please refer to the original Mandarin article:

https://bookzone.cwgv.com.tw/article/34665

Dean Nai-Wen Kuo of the College of Management at Taipei Medical University (TMU) has been named a recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award by Johns Hopkins University (JHU), recognising his contributions to healthcare leadership, public health, and international collaboration.

The honour, one of JHU’s highest alumni distinctions, was presented during the university’s 150th anniversary celebrations in Baltimore in October 2025. It recognises individuals whose work demonstrates sustained professional excellence, public service, and global impact.

Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University is widely regarded as the first modern research university in the United States and continues to rank among the world’s leading institutions. In the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it is placed 16th globally.

A graduate of JHU’s public health doctoral programme, Dean Kuo has built a career that spans academic leadership, healthcare management, and international health cooperation. He previously served as Deputy Superintendent (Administration), Taipei Medical University Hospital, and Deputy CEO of the Taipei City Hospital Administration Center, where he led system-wide initiatives in quality improvement and financial management.

At TMU, he has played a key role in advancing international engagement. During his tenure as Dean of the Office of Global Engagement (2011–2016), he expanded the university’s global academic network and established a number of cross-border collaboration and exchange programmes. He later served as Dean of the College of Public Health, strengthening partnerships with leading institutions including JHU, Yale University, and the National University of Singapore, while contributing to national health policy and research initiatives.

His work also extends to broader public health and social impact efforts, including international collaborations on epidemic preparedness and tuberculosis control in Southeast Asia, as well as nationwide initiatives in Taiwan to improve healthcare accessibility.

Reflecting on the recognition, Dean Kuo described the award as deeply meaningful, noting that his experience at Johns Hopkins shaped his professional path and inspired his long-term commitment to improving health and advancing social justice.

The recognition underscores not only his individual achievements but also the longstanding academic and public health ties between TMU and Johns Hopkins University, highlighting TMU’s continued engagement in global health, education, and research collaboration.

Summary

A recent study led by researchers at Taipei Medical University(TMU) examines how trust affects AI use in nutrition education, particularly the actual use of AI chatbots among dietetic students. The findings suggest that students are more likely to integrate AI tools into their learning when they perceive them as reliable and useful, highlighting the importance of building digital literacy and critical thinking skills alongside technical training in healthcare education.

AI in Nutrition Education: Why Trust Matters for Future Dietitians

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare, universities face a new challenge: preparing future professionals not only to use AI tools, but to use them wisely. For students in nutrition and dietetics, this means learning how to engage with AI chatbots and digital assistants that can provide dietary information, support clinical reasoning, and streamline learning tasks.

At Taipei Medical University, researchers set out to understand a key factor behind students’ willingness to adopt these technologies: trust. While AI tools such as chatbots are widely available, not all students choose to use them in their studies or future practice. Understanding what drives real-world adoption is crucial for designing effective digital health education.

Trust as a driver of AI adoption

The study explored how dietetic students perceive and use AI chatbots as virtual nutrition assistants. Rather than focusing only on whether students had access to AI tools, the research examined the psychological and behavioral factors that shape actual usage.

The results showed that trust plays a central role. Students who believed that AI tools were reliable and helpful were significantly more likely to incorporate them into their learning. In contrast, students who were uncertain about the accuracy or appropriateness of AI-generated information tended to use these tools less, even when they were readily available.

This finding suggests that simply introducing AI into classrooms is not enough. How students perceive these tools—and whether they feel confident evaluating AI-generated information—can strongly influence whether AI becomes a meaningful part of their learning process.

Structural model showing key factors associated with students’ actual use of ChatGPT for learning and nutrition-related tasks.

Beyond technical skills: building critical digital literacy

The research highlights an important implication for medical and health professions education. Training future healthcare professionals to work with AI requires more than teaching them how to operate digital tools. Students must also develop the ability to critically assess AI outputs, understand limitations and potential biases, and integrate algorithmic suggestions with professional judgment.

In nutrition education, where advice can directly affect patient health, this balance is especially important. AI chatbots may offer rapid access to information, but students still need to evaluate whether recommendations are evidence-based and appropriate for individual patients.

Implications for AI-enabled healthcare education

As AI-supported systems become more common in hospitals and clinics, students who are comfortable working with digital tools—and who understand both their value and their limitations—will be better prepared for future practice. The study suggests that universities should place greater emphasis on fostering trust through transparent AI use, clear guidance on ethical and safe applications, and training that strengthens students’ confidence in navigating AI-supported environments.

By addressing both the technical and human dimensions of AI adoption, institutions like Taipei Medical University aim to cultivate healthcare professionals who can work alongside intelligent systems while maintaining professional responsibility and patient-centered care.

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Original Article: Trust Predicts Actual Use of AI Chatbot as a Virtual Nutrition Assistant Among Dietetic Students in Taiwan: A Path Analysis

Original Article: Trust Predicts Actual Use of AI Chatbot as a Virtual Nutrition Assistant Among Dietetic Students in Taiwan: A Path Analysis

The Global Business Fast-Track program launched by Taipei Medical University’s College of Management creates new international study pathways for students.

Taipei Medical University (TMU) continues to expand its global academic partnerships as its College of Management establishes dual degree collaborations with three internationally recognized business schools: Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine).

All three institutions are ranked among the world’s top universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, with Johns Hopkins University ranked 16th, UIUC 41st, and UC Irvine 97th. With these agreements, the TMU College of Management becomes the first and currently the only management school in Taiwan to hold dual degree partnerships with three business schools from universities ranked within the global top 100.

The initiative began in 2025, when TMU signed its first dual degree agreement with UIUC’s Gies College of Business, enabling bachelor’s–master’s and master’s–master’s study pathways. The university later expanded its international network through additional agreements with UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, creating broader opportunities for international academic exchange.

According to Dean Nai-Wen Kuo of the TMU College of Management, the partnerships aim to connect TMU students with leading global business education while expanding international career opportunities. Many of the partner programs are designated STEM programs in the United States, allowing international graduates to remain in the country for up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation.

The dual degree collaborations also provide TMU students with a dedicated fast-track admission pathway to partner schools. Because of the established institutional partnerships, applicants from TMU are reviewed through a streamlined process rather than competing within the general global applicant pool. In some cases, admission decisions may be issued in as little as two weeks after application submission.

Recruitment brochure for the 2026 dual degree program between UIUC Gies College of Business and the TMU College of Management.

In addition, partner institutions offer several application benefits for TMU students. GRE and GMAT requirements and application fees are waived, and some partner schools also waive recommendation letter requirements. Scholarships may also be offered based on applicants’ academic qualifications.

Because the agreements are established at the school-to-school level, TMU students may apply to multiple graduate programs within each partner business school. This arrangement provides students with greater flexibility to pursue different areas of specialization and expands opportunities for interdisciplinary study.

Dean Kuo noted that global partners recognize TMU’s strengths in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, healthcare data analytics, research capacity, and smart healthcare management. By building partnerships with leading international business schools, TMU aims to provide students with broader interdisciplinary learning opportunities and stronger global career prospects.

Dean Ian Williamson of the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and Dean Nai-Wen Kuo of the TMU College of Management at Taipei Medical University Hospital.

Left: Executive Vice President Jan-Show Chu continues to lead TMU’s sustainability vision. She also led 40 senior administrators to obtain certification as Climate and Health Managers. Right: Ling-Chu Chien, Chief Sustainability Officer of Taipei Medical University.

According to Ling-Chu Chien, the university’s Chief Sustainability Officer, sustainability is embedded across the institution’s governance, education and clinical systems.

“TMU does not treat sustainability as a peripheral or short-term initiative,” Chien says. “Instead, sustainability is positioned as a core guiding principle, shaping institutional governance, medical education and clinical operations.

TMU has been a leading medical institution in Taiwan for more than 60 years. It has more than 6,600 students enrolled in its 11 colleges, with seven affiliated hospitals and institutions. The university is careful to ensure that all of its institutions take a coherent approach to sustainability in their operations, curricula and leadership. “By aligning governance structures and resource allocation across the university and its affiliated hospitals and institutions, TMU ensures that sustainability strategies are implemented consistently across academic units, administrative systems and clinical settings,” she says.

TMU also ensures that its initiatives are benchmarked against international best practices and mechanisms published by the International Organization for Standardization. These standards guide its greenhouse gas inventory verification, energy management systems and circular economy programmes.

The university has established a comprehensive sustainability governance framework, which includes a dedicated Office of Sustainability Development, a university sustainability committee and designated sustainability personnel and monitoring mechanisms within each college and administrative unit. “This structure ensures that sustainability considerations are substantively integrated into curriculum design, research planning, infrastructure investment and daily operational management,” Chien says.

However, education remains the main driver of TMU’s sustainability transformation, Chien says. In 2024, it offered more than 1,900 sustainability-related courses that covered the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Through issue-based learning, interdisciplinary curricula, microcredential programmes and MOOCs, TMU cultivates students’ systems thinking and practical problem-solving capability,” she says. 

The university is also raising sustainability awareness and skills among senior administrators and academic leaders, with more than 230 executives completing formal sustainability leadership training.

At the same time, the university is addressing disparities in healthcare access. Its outreach medical teams, social responsibility initiatives and student service programmes focus on underserved and rural communities. In 2023, 22 student service teams and 950 participants were involved in medical services, health promotion and preventative care.

TMU’s success in sustainability relies on extensive collaboration with other partners, Chien says. “By integrating resources from government, industry and international partners, TMU advances sustainability actions that are both systemic and scalable.”

At a government-level, the university collaborates with several ministries and the National Science and Technology Council, engaging in policy research, talent development and technology commercialisation. With industry, TMU has built a biomedical innovation ecosystem that integrates academic research, clinical environments and entrepreneurship. This ecosystem has supported the establishment of 28 start-up companies, with a combined capital of NTD 2.35 billion (£55 million), she says. “These collaborations translate sustainable healthcare, health technologies and innovative applications into real-world solutions, expanding the scale and impact of sustainability outcomes.”

Similarly, the university’s extensive international collaborations allow it to promote sustainable capacity building and health system resilience, among other issues. Looking to the future, the institution is leading by example to showcase its model for health-related sustainability. 

“By advancing smart, low-carbon healthcare and clinical practices, TMU seeks to develop a demonstrative sustainable healthcare system that can serve as a key reference for healthcare transformation in Asia,” Chein says. “TMU’s future role will extend beyond being a sustainable medical university to becoming a key Asian hub that integrates education, healthcare, technology and policy.”

For more information about TMU’s sustainability initiatives,

please visit the Office of Sustainability Development website: https://sdgs-en.tmu.edu.tw/

New research demonstrating the impact of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) shows that excessive intake can disrupt lipid metabolism and alter gut microbiota composition, highlighting potential metabolic risk associated with obesity.

Prof. Wei-Lun Hung, School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition

The study, led by Associate Professor Wei-Lun Hung from Taipei Medical University (TMU)’s School of Food Safety, was supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council and published in Food Chemistry, an international journal with a 2024 impact factor of 9.8, ranking in the top 3.5% of the Nutrition & Dietetics category.

AGEs are widespread in everyday foods, particularly processed products. While previous studies have linked AGEs to oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases, the mechanisms by which dietary AGEs influence metabolism and gut ecology under obese conditions have remained unclear. TMU’s research provides new evidence that excessive dietary AGEs intake may have a direct and detrimental impact on metabolic health.

Using a high-fat diet–induced obesity mouse model, the research team investigated the physiological effects of different forms of AGEs. The findings revealed that additional dietary AGEs intake significantly interfered with lipid metabolic pathways and reshaped the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Mice receiving high-AGE diets gained more weight and exhibited elevated AGE accumulation in the liver. Metabolomic analysis showed widespread disturbances in metabolic profiles, particularly in lipid-related metabolites.

Gut microbiome analysis further revealed that AGEs substantially increased the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, two bacterial families previously associated with metabolic disorders. At the same time, gut metabolite profiling demonstrated a marked rise in secondary bile acids, compounds known to influence lipid absorption and inflammation.

Integrated analyses demonstrated a positive correlation between shifts in gut microbiota composition, changes in bacterial metabolites, and disturptions in host lipid metabolism. These findings offer valuable insights into how dietary AGEs may elevate metabolic risks in individuals with obesity.

The study underscores the importance of nutritional strategies and food-processing improvements aimed at reducing AGE exposure. By clarifying the interactions between AGEs, metabolic regulations, and gut health, this research provides a scientific foundation for the development of future interventions to support improved metabolic outcomes.

Original Research Article:

Distinct effects of methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone 1, Nε-carboxyethyllysine, and an advanced glycation end product-rich diet on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and secondary bile acids in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Research Process Flowchart

Summary

A nationwide study led by researchers at Taipei Medical University shows that early warning signs of life-threatening risk among older motorcycle and scooter riders can be identified at the crash scene, supporting faster, data-driven decisions by emergency medical services.

As populations age, older adults are increasingly involved in traffic crashes, particularly those riding motorcycles and scooters. In Taiwan, nearly half of traffic deaths among people aged 65 and above involve two-wheeled vehicles. Ensuring that these riders receive the right level of care at the right time has become a growing challenge for emergency systems.

For emergency medical services (EMS), early decisions—such as whether to transport a patient to a major trauma center—can strongly influence survival. Yet these decisions are often made at the roadside with limited information.

The challenge in emergency care

Assessing injury severity in older adults is particularly difficult. Because older adults are physiologically more fragile, they may appear stable immediately after a crash but deteriorate rapidly hours or days later. In this sense, serious injury in older riders can resemble a delayed alarm—everything may seem quiet at first, while the risk is already building beneath the surface.

“Older patients do not always show clear warning signs at first,” said Prof. Hon-Ping Ma, corresponding author of the study from Taipei Medical University. “This makes early triage decisions especially challenging for emergency teams.”

The solution: data analysis and a practical scoring system

To address this gap, the research team analyzed nationwide data by linking police-reported crash records, hospital admissions, and national death registry data in Taiwan. The study examined more than 120,000 crashes involving motorcycle and scooter riders aged 65 and above, alongside a hospital-based cohort of over 92,000 patients.

Unlike many previous studies, the analysis captured deaths occurring within 30 days of a crash, including victims who died before reaching hospital. The results identified consistent predictors of mortality, including head and neck injuries, advanced age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and behavioral factors such as helmet non-use, alcohol involvement, and unlicensed riding.

Application in real-world emergency response

By translating the analysis into a simple scoring system, the study offers a practical tool for frontline use. Because older adults can appear stable at first but decline rapidly, this approach allows EMS teams to make objective, data-driven decisions about which victims should be rushed to major trauma centers, even if injuries do not look immediately fatal.

“This tool is designed to support—not replace—clinical judgment,” Prof. Ma said. “It helps emergency responders recognize hidden risk early, when timely escalation of care can make a real difference.”

Looking ahead

By incorporating crash-scene information, this research provides a more complete view of mortality risk among older riders. As motorcycles and scooters remain an important mode of transport for older adults, integrating such prehospital screening tools into EMS protocols could strengthen trauma systems and help reduce preventable deaths.

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Original Reaserch Article: Early identification of high-risk older two-wheeler riders: A dual-sample approach for 30-day mortality prediction

By combining hyperspectral imaging with deep learning-based wavelength selection, the research team successfully created a new approach to egg quality assessment. The technology is the result of collaboration between a research team led by Associate Professor Yung-Kun Chuang from the TMU School of Food Safety and Professor Pauline Ong from the Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

The research findings were published in Current Research in Food Science, an international journal with a 2024 impact factor of 7.0, ranking in the top 9.9% of the Food Science & Technology category. The publication highlights TMU’s growing influence in global food safety research and advanced AI applications.

Associate Professor Yung-Kun Chuang, School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University

Eggs are one of the most vital and complete protein sources in our daily diet—rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. However, the freshness of eggs, which is key to their nutritional value, safety, and overall quality, can be compromised during storage, transportation, and distribution. Traditional evaluation methods rely on destructive laboratory testing, making them unsuitable for real-time or large-scale monitoring along the production and supply chain. This has driven the need for rapid, accurate, and non-destructive technologies that can assess egg quality without breaking the shell.

Research Workflow and Data Analysis Summary

To overcome these limitations, the research team developed a novel wavelength selection technique that integrates distance correlation analysis with a convolutional neural network model. This approach analyzes hyperspectral images of eggs to reduce spectral variability, identify the most informative wavelengths, and to enhance the accuracy of freshness levels. Compared with commonly used wavelength selection regression models, this innovative method demonstrated stability, reliability and overall performance, offering strong potential for real-world industrial adoption.

The achievements of this international collaboration pointed a new era in egg quality control. The AI-powered hyperspectral egg scanner provides fast and non-destructive testing, and provides quantifiable freshness assessments, and adaptable across production, processing, and distribution.

assessments, and adaptable across production, processing, and distribution. 111modernization of the egg industryalso reinforces TMU’s leadership in food safety research and artificial intelligence applications.intelligence applications.

Dr. Tian-Shin Yeh, Associate Professor and attending physician at Taipei Medical University (TMU), recently shared her academic perspective on the relationship between dairy consumption and cognitive health in an editorial published in Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Tian-Shin Yeh is Associate Professor and attending physician at Taipei Medical University, with expertise in epidemiology and evidence-based interpretation of long-term health studies.

In the article, titled High-Fat Dairy and Cognitive Health: What Are the Alternatives, Dr. Yeh examined findings from a long-term cohort study investigating the potential association between dairy intake and dementia risk. Drawing on her expertise in epidemiology and evidence-based interpretation of population studies, she highlighted several methodological considerations that are important when interpreting the study’s conclusions.

Dr. Yeh noted that the research relied on dietary data collected at a single time point and that the reported associations lost statistical significance in certain follow-up analyses. These limitations, she explained, suggest that the findings should be interpreted with caution and should not be taken as definitive evidence that high-fat dairy products are inherently neuroprotective.

Instead, Dr. Yeh emphasized that broader dietary patterns and food substitutions may play a more meaningful role in long-term brain health. In particular, replacing processed or high-fat red meats with foods of higher nutritional quality may contribute more substantially to cognitive health outcomes.

Her commentary reflects TMU researchers’ active participation in international scientific dialogue and their commitment to promoting evidence-based perspectives on nutrition and dementia research.

Dr. Tian-Shin Yeh’s editorial:

High-Fat Dairy and Cognitive Health: What Are the Alternatives

https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214587

Summary

A new study from Taipei Medical University, led by Assoc. Prof. Jihwan Myung of the Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC), reveals how disrupted sleep, mood stabilizers, and artificial light interfere with women’s menstrual cycles and mental health—highlighting the need for rhythm-aware treatments that align the body’s daily and monthly clocks.

This study reveals how disruptions in the body’s internal clock (caused by modern life and certain mood medications) can interfere with women’s hormonal health and potentially worsen mood disorders. This research underscores the need for more rhythm-aware treatments that balance mental health and hormonal well-being.

Sleep Loss, Shift Work, and Mood Drugs Disrupt Menstrual Cycles in Millions of Women

Millions of women experience disruptions in their menstrual cycles due to irregular sleep patterns, shift work, jet lag, and mood stabilizers. These disruptions not only affect reproductive health but can also signal or worsen mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. The study calls for a better understanding of how biological timing systems regulate both mood and menstruation—information that could shape how doctors manage mental health in women.

New Insights Reveal How the Body’s Daily Clock Governs Monthly Hormonal Cycles

The study outlines several vital discoveries that explain how circadian rhythms and reproductive cycles are intertwined and how this relationship can be disrupted. The circadian clock refers to the body’s internal 24-hour timing system, which helps regulate sleep, hormone release, and other essential bodily functions.

• Disrupted rhythms affect cycles: Exposure to artificial light at night and irregular schedules can interfere with the body’s circadian clock, which in turn can disrupt menstrual cycles.
• Mood stabilizers have hormonal side effects: Lithium, a common drug used to treat bipolar disorder, was shown to lengthen circadian rhythms and disturb hormonal cycles, possibly contributing to menstrual irregularities.
• Timing systems are deeply connected: The brain’s master clock (in the hypothalamus) not only keeps daily time but also interacts with reproductive systems that operate on monthly cycles.
• Photoperiod matters: Shorter daylight periods tend to lengthen reproductive cycles, while longer daylight periods shorten them—suggesting our internal systems are sensitive to seasonal changes.

“Our biological clocks don’t just govern when we sleep. They deeply shape how we feel and how our bodies function. By understanding how daily and monthly rhythms interact, we can begin designing treatments that support both mental and hormonal health, rather than forcing women to choose between the two,” said Prof. Jihwan Myung, lead author of the study.

Study Combines Human and Animal Data to Show How Mood Drugs Disrupt Hormonal Rhythms

The study drew on existing anatomical and physiological research, combining insights from animal models and human data. It reviewed how various biological clocks, daily (circadian) and monthly (ovarian), interact in the brain and reproductive system. Special focus was placed on how mood medications like lithium alter these rhythms. The author advocates for future models that integrate multiple timescales to predict and manage these effects more accurately.

Bridging the Gap: Why Mental Health Treatments Must Consider Women’s Hormonal Rhythms

This research highlights a critical but often overlooked intersection between mental and reproductive health. Understanding how the body’s clocks operate together opens the door to more personalized, rhythm-informed treatments—helping women manage mood disorders without compromising hormonal health. This research perspective was published in Chronobiology in Medicine in June 2025, contributing valuable insight to the growing field of chronobiological research.

Original Research Article: Integrating Circadian and Reproductive Rhythms in Mood Regulation

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Original Article: Integrating Circadian and Reproductive Rhythms in Mood Regulation