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Tag: Taiwan

NTU Finds Key to Boost Cancer Immunotherapy

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As global healthcare faces significant challenges in treating advanced malignancies, overcoming immunotherapy resistance has become a paramount goal. National Taiwan University (NTU) has achieved a major medical breakthrough by uncovering a crucial mechanism that drives tumor fibrosis. Published in Nature Communications, the study led by Professor Kai-Chien Yang at the NTU Graduate Institute of Pharmacology reveals how the endoplasmic reticulum protein TXNDC5 modulates cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), offering unprecedented hope for mesenchymal-type colorectal cancer.

The university’s breakthrough addresses the dense fibrotic barriers in the tumor microenvironment that typically block immune cells. By analyzing human and murine data, Professor Yang’s team found that high TXNDC5 levels stabilize the TGFβ receptor (TGFBR1), creating a malignant loop of continuous fibroblast activation. When researchers depleted TXNDC5 in specific models, tumor stiffness decreased dramatically. This dismantled the suppressive barrier, reduced vascular compression, and successfully allowed cytotoxic T cells to infiltrate the tumor.

Looking forward, this vital remodeling of the tumor microenvironment not only curbs tumor growth but also significantly enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy. By illuminating this critical signaling axis, NTU and its dedicated researchers continue to leverage pioneering biomedical capacity to address complex clinical challenges, establishing a scalable foundation for next-generation targeted cancer treatments.

NTU Platform Maps New Cellular Ion Currents

Posted on by National Taiwan University

Endolysosomes, historically viewed merely as cellular recycling centers, are now recognized as crucial intracellular ion signaling hubs. Their ion channels regulate a multitude of physiological processes, from organelle trafficking to immune responses. A research team led by Assistant Professor Cheng-Chang Chen at National Taiwan University (NTU) has successfully established a highly specialized whole-endolysosome patch-clamp electrophysiology platform. This technique allows researchers to directly record single-organelle ion currents, overcoming the limitations of whole-cell indirect measurements.

Their recent findings, published in Nature Communications, uncover a novel regulatory mechanism of the lysosomal ion channel TPC2. The team discovered that O-linked glycans function as a “molecular brake,” effectively limiting channel opening and ion permeability. When this glycosylation is impaired, TPC2 becomes hyperactive, profoundly altering lysosomal morphology and cellular movement. By integrating calcium imaging, point mutation analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations, the NTU team provides a comprehensive understanding of lysosomal ion homeostasis, paving the way for innovative therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

NCU-Led TULIP Joins NASA SSERVI Partnership

Posted on by NCUSEC

National Central University (NCU) has joined the international partnership network of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) through the Taiwan Universities Lunar Investigation Project (TULIP), led by Academician Wing-Huen Ip of NCU’s Graduate Institute of Astronomy.

This new partnership marks an important step in strengthening Taiwan’s lunar science research capabilities and establishing long-term international collaborations to support future exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Building on Taiwan’s existing expertise in lunar science, the collaboration will promote closer scientific exchanges between Taiwanese researchers, NASA researchers, and the international lunar exploration community. TULIP aims to advance internationally competitive lunar research, develop sustainable research partnerships, and strengthen the scientific and technological capabilities needed for future lunar and Martian exploration missions. The project builds upon years of lunar research conducted by Taiwanese scientists and their established international collaborations.

TULIP brings together four complementary research areas spanning fundamental lunar science and technologies relevant to future exploration: lunar impact flash monitoring, volatile transport and lunar exosphere modeling, imaging observations of the Moon’s extended sodium atmosphere, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Together, these research activities will expand Taiwan’s engagement with the global lunar science community while helping train the next generation of scientists and engineers involved in lunar exploration.

By integrating ground-based observations, theoretical modeling, and technological development, the project will investigate the Moon’s present-day impact environment, the transport and retention of volatile materials, and the interactions between the lunar surface and exosphere. The ISRU component will further connect fundamental scientific research with future exploration applications by examining the potential use of lunar regolith as a source of materials for construction and other purposes.

The partnership is also expected to create new opportunities for Taiwan to contribute to international lunar science. Observations conducted at Taiwan’s Lulin Observatory can complement lunar impact flash monitoring programs in the United States and Europe. Planned observations and theoretical studies of the lunar exosphere will provide additional opportunities for collaboration between Taiwanese researchers and the international SSERVI research community.

Through its participation in the SSERVI international partnership network, TULIP seeks to strengthen Taiwan’s role in global lunar research, foster long-term scientific cooperation, and contribute to the knowledge and capabilities required for future exploration of the Moon and beyond.

NTU Achieves 2D Semiconductor Breakthrough

Posted on by National Taiwan University

An international research collaboration spearheaded by Professor Yi-Chia Chou at National Taiwan University (NTU), in conjunction with the University of Tokyo and Academia Sinica, has achieved a monumental breakthrough in 2D materials. Published in the prestigious journal Nature, their study demonstrates the successful synthesis of wafer-scale monolayer p-type boron carbon nitride (BCN) semiconductors.

While high-performance n-type 2D semiconductors have seen significant progress, developing comparable p-type materials has remained a major challenge for the integration of next-generation micro-transistors. The research team overcame this hurdle by precisely doping carbon atoms into a single-layer boron nitride lattice at the atomic level. This innovative atomic substitution alters the electronic state, granting the BCN semiconductor exceptionally high hole mobility characteristics. By carefully controlling the reaction pathways, the researchers successfully scaled this atomic structure to a 2-inch wafer size. This pioneering achievement effectively bridges the gap between atomic-level material design and wafer-scale semiconductor manufacturing, holding tremendous potential for the future of compact, three-dimensional integrated electronic circuits.

NTU Maps Flying Rivers for Water Policy

Posted on by National Taiwan University

While traditional water resource management fundamentally relies on terrestrial catchments, understanding atmospheric moisture transport is increasingly recognized as a critical scientific imperative. An interdisciplinary team from National Taiwan University (NTU) has successfully mapped the hydrological systems of South America’s “flying rivers,” publishing their novel findings in Nature Communications. This breakthrough study challenges boundary-centric governance by quantifying how land-use changes thousands of kilometers upwind dictate regional water security.

Led by Dr. Wei Weng, Dr. Kai-Chih Tseng, and Dr. Li-Pen Wang, the NTU researchers pioneered the “moisture drainage curve”—an advanced mathematical framework that objectively identifies critical upwind basins. Moving beyond arbitrary percentage-based metrics of the past, the team successfully conceptualized these aerial rivers into distinct hydrological regimes: headwater, drainage, outfall, and plain areas. This structural stratification accurately delineates the heavy dependencies of terrestrial rainfall on distant forest evapotranspiration.

By dynamically linking atmospheric moisture convergence with terrestrial river systems, NTU provides a robust scientific paradigm for ecological governance. As climate change and deforestation accelerate globally, this novel framework arms policymakers with the empirical evidence needed to integrate distant upwind forest conservation directly into localized, cross-border water security protocols.

Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov Visit

Posted on by NCUSEC

National Central University (NCU) held a Nobel Bench Dedication Ceremony on September 22 to welcome Prof. Sir Konstantin Novoselov, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics, to campus. NCU President Hsiau, Shu-San joined Professor Novoselov in unveiling the Nobel Bench, with faculty members, students, and distinguished guests gathering to witness the occasion.

 

In addition to attending the dedication ceremony, Professor Novoselov delivered a Nobel Laureate Lecture titled “From 2D Materials to Industrial Futures: How Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Moves Beyond the Lab,” sharing insights into advances in graphene and two-dimensional materials as well as their potential future applications. The event was jointly organized by National Central University and the University Alliance in Talent Education Development (UAiTED), with support from the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation.

 

President Hsiau noted that Professor Novoselov’s pioneering research on graphene ushered in a new era of two-dimensional materials, transforming the direction of materials science while exerting a profound influence on emerging fields including electronics, energy, nanotechnology, and quantum materials.

 

Professor Novoselov’s visit offered NCU faculty members and students a rare opportunity to engage closely with a world-class scientist and gain insight into his research journey and approach to scientific inquiry. Through the Nobel Bench and the Nobel Laureate Lecture, NCU hopes to embed the spirit of knowledge, exploration, and innovation more deeply into campus life, inspiring younger generations to ask bold questions and venture into the unknown—and perhaps allowing the next scientific idea that changes the world to take root right here on campus.

NTU Decodes Plant Symbiosis to Fuel Farming

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As global agriculture confronts severe environmental stress and the imperative to reduce synthetic fertilizer dependency, unlocking the natural mutualisms of crop ecosystems has emerged as a paramount scientific pursuit. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis—a pervasive mutualistic relationship between plants and soil fungi—enables crops to trade carbon for vital subterranean nutrients, particularly phosphate. Following an eight-year investigation, a research team led by Associate Professor Shu-Yi Yang from the Institute of Plant Biology at National Taiwan University (NTU) has published a breakthrough study in Nature Communications. Titled “OsIDD7 integrates signaling networks for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis,” the research uncovers how the transcription factor IDD7 serves as a master molecular nexus governing this ancient partnership in rice.

While AM fungi develop branched arbuscules within root cells to facilitate reciprocal nutrient delivery, how host plants coordinate internal hormone cascades with phosphate signals to sustain these structures has long remained elusive. The NTU team demonstrated that IDD7 expression surges in arbuscule-containing root cells; without it, fungal colonization collapses, disrupting lipid synthesis and nutrient exchange. Mechanistically, IDD7 collaborates with SLR1—a DELLA protein that relays gibberellin hormone signals—and PHR2, a primary transcription factor governing phosphate starvation responses. Together, this tri-protein complex efficiently activates key symbiotic genes, with IDD7 simultaneously modulating PHR2 expression, confirming its indispensable role at the epicenter of the symbiotic transcriptional network.

By delineating how crops integrate hormonal and nutrient cues to foster microbial symbiosis, NTU’s discovery offers profound implications for food security and climate-resilient farming. Deepening the understanding of these symbiotic pathways provides an actionable genetic roadmap to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and stress tolerance in essential cereal crops. As the research team explores IDD7’s broader epigenetic mechanisms, NTU continues to translate fundamental plant science into scalable agricultural solutions, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through pioneering ecological innovation.

NTU Reveals How Bacterial Promoters Tune RNA

Posted on by National Taiwan University

In molecular biology, the prevailing paradigm of gene regulation has long placed transcription factors at the helm, treating promoters on DNA sequences as passive docking sites. Challenging this conventional view, an interdisciplinary research team led by Associate Professor Hsin-Hung David Chou from the Department of Life Science at National Taiwan University (NTU)—in collaboration with Distinguished Professor Nei-Li Chan (NTU College of Medicine) and Associate Professor I-Ren Lee (National Taiwan Normal University)—has published landmark findings in Nature Communications. Their study establishes that bacterial promoters intrinsically dictate the dynamic range and evolutionary trajectory of gene transcription, operating with the precision of an integrated audio system.

Utilizing Escherichia coli as a model organism, the team systematically synthesized and evaluated a comprehensive library of 16.8 million promoter sequence variants, integrating massive empirical datasets with biophysical modeling and single-molecule kinetics. The analysis uncovered a distinct operational dichotomy: the “–10 element” acts as an ON/OFF power switch essential for basal activation, while the “–35 element” functions as a fine-tuning volume knob that scales expression magnitude. Crucially, transcription factors dynamically modulate this volume knob’s engagement with RNA polymerase. The researchers also identified a vital trade-off rule—only promoters with intermediate basal expression attain maximal fold-change regulation—resolving an ongoing academic controversy stemming from prior conflicting hypotheses in Science.

By reaffirming the promoter’s active, autonomous role at the center of transcriptional control, the NTU-led breakthrough provides foundational design principles for synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. The discovery underscores the indispensable value of holistic, high-throughput empirical data in systems biology, avoiding fragmented conclusions. Supported by NTU’s advanced core instrumentation, this research exemplifies how high-impact basic science translates into precise genetic blueprints, driving forward next-generation biotechnology and sustainable biomanufacturing solutions.

NTU Finds GLP-1 Drugs Slash Cancer Risk

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As obesity continues to be a major risk factor for various malignancies, integrating innovative medical approaches has become crucial for public health. A multinational research team led by National Taiwan University (NTU) Hospital recently achieved a significant breakthrough, publishing their findings in the top-tier oncology journal Annals of Oncology. The study reveals that non-diabetic obese adults using GLP-1 receptor agonists—commonly known as weight-loss injections like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide—experience a remarkable 41% reduction in the risk of developing obesity-associated cancers (OACs) compared to those receiving only diet and exercise counseling.

The research’s advancement is anchored in a comprehensive analysis using the TriNetX global health research network. Spearheaded by Dr. Heng-Cheng Hsu from NTU Hospital and Dr. Ying-Cheng Chiang from the Hsinchu NTU Branch, in collaboration with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Houston Methodist Hospital, the team analyzed over 160,000 matched individuals from 2014 to 2025. By employing advanced statistical models like Propensity Score Matching (PSM), the researchers successfully transformed complex electronic medical records into a high-quality “emulated clinical trial.” Their findings demonstrated broad protective benefits against 13 types of cancers, regardless of gender, a BMI over 40, or the specific GLP-1 drug used.

Looking toward the future of preventive care, this breakthrough holds profound implications, particularly for highly obesity-linked diseases such as endometrial cancer. While the study highlights the massive cancer-preventive potential of weight management in non-diabetic populations, researchers caution that clinical evaluation is still required, as these drugs do not yet have an official indication for cancer prevention. By leveraging real-world data and advanced biostatistics, NTU continues to provide critical scientific evidence to address complex medical challenges, establishing a solid foundation for future precision medicine and public health policies.

TMU AI Improves CT Decisions in the ER

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

In busy emergency departments, every minute and every medical resource matters. An AI-driven prediction model developed by Taipei Medical University may help physicians determine more efficiently whether patients need CT scans, supporting faster decision-making, reducing unnecessary imaging, and improving hospital resource use.

The model learns from real-world emergency department records, including mixed languages notes, abbreviations, and fragmented symptom descriptions. By turning unstructured medical language into practical decision support, the system demonstrates how artificial intelligence can assist frontline clinicians in complex and fast-paced care settings.

The study was led by Professor Yung-Chun Chang from the Graduate Institute of Data Science at Taipei Medical University (TMU), in collaboration with Dr. Ting-Yun Huang from the Emergency Department of Shuang-Ho Hospital.

Addressing Emergency Department Overcrowding

Emergency department overcrowding remains a critical global healthcare challenge affecting treatment efficiency, patient flow, and medical safety. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is essential for diagnosing serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, but previous studies have estimated that 20–40% of CT scans may be unnecessary. Overuse of CT imaging can increase healthcare costs, place pressure on hospital resources, and expose patients to avoidable radiation.

To address this issue, the research team developed an AI-based predictive system designed to support early clinical decision-making and optimize medical resource allocation.

Turning Clinical Language into AI Decision Support

A key innovation of this study lies in its ability to tackle the complexities of real-world emergency departments. Clinical records in Taiwanese hospitals often include mixed Chinese–English terminology, domain-specific abbreviations, and institution-specific expressions. In emergency settings, these notes are often brief, fragmented, and highly unstructured due to time constraints and urgent clinical workflows.

To overcome these challenges, the research team developed a comprehensive clinical language engineering pipeline capable of processing multilingual and highly heterogeneous medical text. The system performs automated language normalization, terminology standardization, correction of inconsistent clinical expressions, and semantic representation learning from noisy narrative data

This enables the model to extract meaningful diagnostic information from incomplete or irregular documentation and improves its robustness in real-world clinical settings.

The proposed framework integrates large-scale clinical text processing, multimodal feature fusion, prompt-based feature representation, and data augmentation using large language models. Unlike conventional prediction methods that rely mainly on structured numerical data or laboratory results, the system leverages unstructured clinical narrative text—such as chief complaints, symptom descriptions, medical history, and pain severity—as the primary source of predictive information. This design allows the model to capture subtle clinical patterns and contextual relationships often overlooked by traditional machine learning approaches.

Using 165,391 emergency department records from Shuang-Ho Hospital, the model demonstrated strong predictive performance, achieving an AUROC of 0.88. It showed high reliability in identifying patients who were unlikely to require CT imaging and outperformed traditional machine learning methods as well as existing biomedical language models.

The system was also developed with practical clinical implementation in mind. After training, the model can operate on standard hospital computing infrastructure and has the potential to be integrated with electronic health record systems, enabling real-time clinical decision support in diverse healthcare environments.

Advancing AI-Enabled Healthcare Innovation

This research highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between AI engineers and frontline clinicians. It also demonstrates the transformative potential of large language models in healthcare system optimization.

By addressing the complexities of multilingual and unstructured clinical data, the study provides a foundation for future AI-driven medical decision support systems. The research was supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council and published in Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, an international journal with a 2024 impact factor of 8.0 and a ranking in the top 2.5% of the Engineering, Multidisciplinary category. These achievements reflect TMU’s growing impact in AI-enabled healthcare innovation and its commitment to advancing precision medicine and intelligent healthcare.

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