On the 30th, James C. Liao, President of Academia Sinica, announced the official launch of the institution’s international-grade nucleic acid pilot facility. This is Taiwan’s first fully integrated platform capable of scaling up mRNA and mRNA-LNP production processes. The facility meets industry standards for quality control and analysis, with over 20 Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product (DP) quality control testing techniques established. In the future, it will provide resources for the design, production, and clinical trials of small-scale experimental-grade nucleic acid drugs, accelerating clinical applications of research in line with international standards.
The second "NBRP Pitch Day National Biomedical Translational Selection and Matching Conference" was also held on the 30th at the National Biotechnology Research Park. The event was co-hosted by Academia Sinica’s BioTReC, the National Health Research Institutes, and China Medical University, with support from 27 academic and medical institutions. The event marked the opening of both the National Biotechnology Research Park Academy and the Translational Research Office, along with the official unveiling of Academia Sinica's international-grade nucleic acid pilot facility. The park is expected to become a hub for international-level research, production, and talent development.
James C. Liao emphasized that the newly launched nucleic acid pilot facility is Taiwan’s first comprehensive platform capable of scaling mRNA and mRNA-LNP production. It meets industry standards for quality control and analysis and has established over 20 DS and DP quality testing techniques. The facility will play a pivotal role in small-scale experimental nucleic acid drug design, production, and clinical trials, helping to accelerate the clinical application of research outcomes at an international level.
The National Biotechnology Research Park Academy and Translational Research Office were also inaugurated. The academy will offer comprehensive entrepreneurial training courses, encouraging individuals with biomedical expertise or aspirations to engage in startups, enhancing their business operation skills and reducing the gap between the laboratory and the marketplace. The Translational Research Office, formed in partnership with 27 universities and hospitals across Taiwan, will provide professional spaces for industry-academia collaboration, fostering exchange between biomedical academia and industry.
Pitch Day brought together innovative resources from across Taiwan, providing a platform for translational teams to showcase their technologies and ideas. It also rewarded teams with high commercialization potential. This year, 21 teams entered the final competition, and six potential teams were selected through competitions in "New Drug Technologies" and "Medical Device Technologies." Each winning team received a grant of NT$100,000 and a one-year mentorship at the park, including opportunities for investor matching, expert project guidance, and access to laboratory space, injecting new momentum into Taiwan’s biomedical innovation sector.
Han-Chung Wu, Director of BioTReC, noted that the event featured prominent guest speakers, including Dr. Ronald A. DePinho, a key figure in the U.S. "National Cancer Moonshot" initiative and a former President of MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. DePinho delivered a keynote titled "Biotech Industry: Translating Knowledge into Patient Well-being," exploring how scientific knowledge in biotechnology can improve public welfare. Mien-Chie Hung, President of China Medical University, presented on "Precision Medicine: Achieving Optimal Treatment through Serum Markers and Diagnostic Techniques," discussing the use of serum markers in early cancer detection. Dr. Lynda Chin, former Vice Chancellor of The University of Texas System, shared insights on "Technology-Driven Precision Healthcare," analyzing the role of technology in advancing precision medicine. These lectures provided new perspectives for Taiwan's biomedical startup teams.
Resource (mandarin): 中研院國際級核酸先導設施啟用 打造首座 mRNA 小工廠
