Academia Sinica yesterday announced the launch of the Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC) Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant during an event unveiling plaques for the National Biotechnology Research Park (NBRP) Academy and the Academic Research Translation Office in Taipei.
The announcement was made during the second annual NBRP Pitch Day, which began yesterday at the NBRP and ends today. The event invites prominent professionals in the biotechnology field in Taiwan and abroad to share their experiences and exchange views with biomedical start-ups in Taiwan.
It is jointly held by Academia Sinica’s BioTReC, the National Health Research Institutes and China Medical University, and co-organized by 27 other academic or medical institutions.
Photo courtesy of Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica President James Liao (廖俊智) said the Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant meets international standards and is expected to expedite clinical applications in the research and development of nucleic acid-based drugs.
The plant is Taiwan’s first platform that can wholly connect and augment the production processes of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and mRNA lipid nanoparticles, meeting quality control criteria and tailored to industrial needs, Liao said.
Quality control testing techniques for more than 20 drug ingredients and products have been established for small-scale designs, production and clinical tests of nucleic acid-based medications for laboratory use, to facilitate clinical research in Taiwan in line with international standards, he said.
The NBRP Academy would provide entrepreneurial training programs for people with biomedical expertise or those who aspire to start their own biomedical business, he said.
By enhancing their ability to run and operate a business, the academy would help biomedical professionals carve out a smooth career from laboratory to industry, he added.
The Academic Research Translation Office, cofounded by 27 universities and hospitals, is expected to facilitate exchanges and collaborations between the biomedical academia and industry, Liao said.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although