Smart medicine and precision health are major trends in the field of biomedical technology, and are also research areas that the National Science and Technology Council (NSCT) is committed to promoting. From Dec. 1 to 4, NARLabs, an organization under NSCT, participated in Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan along with five of its centers. There, they showed how strong research capabilities and top-notch core facilities help Taiwan's industrial, academic, research, and medical sectors jointly promote innovative technologies for smart medicine and precision health and accelerate industry development.
The National Center for High‑Performance Computing (NCHC) displayed its Taiwania Supercomputer R&D Service Platform, which provides software and hardware for the analysis of genomic and nucleic acid sequences and protein structures to help researchers accelerate clinical data analysis. In addition, NCHC showed the results of its Health Big Data Project, in which NSTC worked with major medical centers to store the genetic sequencing, clinical data, digital pathology, and medical imaging of eight types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases at NCHC. This information can be linked to the National Health Insurance database for use in biomedical research.
The National Laboratory Animal Center (NLAC) is developing a new generation of avatar medicine, using Taiwan's Patient Derived Xenograft Bank and humanized animal models to construct a tumor-focused avatar medicine platform. The platform accurately simulates human diseases and assists scholars in disease research and pharmaceutical development. Additionally, NLAC has set up a Circulating Tumor Cell and Tumor-like Tissue Pharmaceutical Screening Platform, using organs-on-chips to detect diseased cells or tissue, which can shorten personalized pharmaceutical screening time and assist in clinical drug use decision-making.
The Taiwan Instrument Research Institute (TIRI), which built an interdisciplinary integrated service model, exhibited technological upgrades achieved with help from its Medical Device Accelerator, including Inti Taiwan, Inc.'s Endometrial Receptivity Analysis, an assistive tool for IVF embryo implantation; MedFluid's antimicrobial susceptibility test, which helps physicians reference medication use for bacterial infections; and Affinity Sensing Technology Co., Ltd.'s rapid bacterial drug allergy test, which helps physicians determine medication use and significantly reduce death rates from disease.
Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) displayed a miniaturized gas sensor that detects gases produced by the human body when metabolic imbalances or organ dysfunctions occur, speeding up diagnosis and improving early detection. The core of this technology is the use of micro-electromechanical processes for micro-heaters, while metal catalysts and microstructure manufacturing technology enhance the sensor's accuracy.
The Science & Technology Policy Research and Information Center (STPI) showed off the achievements of the Stanford-Taiwan Biomedical Fellowship Program and SPARK Taiwan Program, which are talent training programs geared toward the development of medical devices. SPTI has established a long-term partnership with Stanford University to train talent in biomedical commodification in Taiwan through overseas and localized training. The center also helps train personnel to commercialize their research achievements, which will lead to innovation in Taiwan's biomedical industry and link it to the international market.
