The Vision and Mission of DPTERM
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine are among the most popular fields of study worldwide. Regenerative Medicine is especially promising; it has been listed as one of the top ten industries in the 21st Century by Time Magazine. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are emerging sciences that utilise biotechnological methods to regenerate organs for treatment and prognosis of human diseases. The areas involve diverse expertise in biomedical materials, cytology, physiology, molecular biology, clinical, surgical, pathology, animal science and veterinary science. By developing and utilising tissue-engineered constructs, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are aimed to promote tissue repair and organ function. The key to success is to ensure that stem cells will properly differentiate into useful tissues or organs. In addition to numerous growth factors, appropriate stress, electrical, magnetic, and thermal and other physical environments all affect gene expression. Advancement of biomaterial-constructed frames and bioreactors will be beneficial for the proper development of tissues and organs. This is truly interdisciplinary research!
Science and technology are the major driving forces for national development. The quality and quantity of scientific activities are important indicators for measuring a country's national power and modernization. Biomedical technology, semiconductor industry, material science, precision machinery industry, and information industry are in fast progress. The 21st Century will be the era of biotechnology. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine are two key areas highlighted in the “Challenge of national development plans in 2008.” This is the time when important scientific and technological innovations will flourish and expand in Taiwan. Henceforth, integration of interdisciplinary research is a vital and important issue for the nation.
NCHU, as one of the prestigious research university in Taiwan, has a very solid foundation in biotechnology. NCHU is also dedicated to the development of biomedical research. Since 2001, NCHU has established several new institutes to conduct research in biotechnological and biomedical fields. Those include the “Biotechnology Development Center,” the “Institute for Biomedical Research” and the “Rongxing” cooperation plan. The “Rongxing” plan in cooperation with the Taichung Veterans General Hospital has carried out 15 bilateral cooperation plans since 2002. NCHU further established the “Institute of Medical Technology” in 2006 and the “Biomedical Engineering Institute” in 2007 to expand its research capacity in the field of medicine. The “Tissue Engineering and Stem Cell Research Center” established in 2003 integrates all medical schools and hospitals in central Taiwan to conduct related research in stem cells. The centre began to operate a research program titled “Biological and Medical Technology Pilot-oriented personnel training program - Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering” found by the MOE-Taiwan in 2006. In short, the “Doctoral Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine” at NCHU is not only to meet the internal development of the university but also to enhance NCHU research capacity in medical science.
