The basis of innovative cell therapy in Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 was awarded jointly to Sir John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent." These works in stem cells marks a milestone in the development of regenerative medicine.

In recent years, our superintendent Professor Shinn-Zong Lin has been recognized as one of the top scientist physicians in the whole world to lead the study of stem cells in neuroscience. He is the first one to implant embryonic brain stem cells to patients suffered from severe Parkinson’s disease in Taiwan. He is also the first one in the world to implant peripheral blood CD34+ stem cells to the cerebral infarct areas in the treatment of severe ischemic brain stroke patients. He is the chief editor in the journal of “CELL TRANSPLANTATION”. He has been awarded many honorable members including American National Academy of Inventors (NAI), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIME). In Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center, Dr. Lin has recently finished two phase I clinical trials of “Autologous adipose stem cell in the treatment of liver cirrhosis”, and “Autologous adipose stem cell in the treatment of chronic ischemic brain stroke”. We are standing on these important basis of stem cells research to step forwards to the whole areas of cell therapy in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy.

Left picture:superintendent Professor Shinn-Zong Lin awarded AIMBE College Fellows.

Right picture:Innovative R&D team led by superintendent Professor Shinn-Zong Lin.