Program Introduction
Co-organized with Academia Sinica
Given the significant shortage of talent in the field of translational medicine research in Taiwan, particularly of physician-scientists with advantageous qualifications to conduct such research, our university has collaborated with Academia Sinica to jointly establish a PhD program in translational medicine. Through the joint guidance of both basic and clinical faculty, the program helps students understand the concepts, ethics, regulations, and research methods of translational medicine. The program aims to address clinical problems through modern and innovative translational medicine research methods, exploring gene-related diseases and their molecular pathological mechanisms, from basic research to clinical trials—essentially from the laboratory to the patient. The findings based on these studies can lead to the development of innovative diagnostics or targeted therapies, thereby overcoming current bottlenecks in medical development.
This program was approved by the Ministry of Education in June 2011 and officially began enrolling students in August 2012. It is jointly managed by Academia Sinica and seven medical universities nationwide (including National Taiwan University and Kaohsiung Medical University in the 100th academic year; National Yang-Ming University, Taipei Medical University, China Medical University in the 101st academic year; and Tzu Chi University and National Defense Medical Center in the 103rd academic year). The program operates in the same manner across all seven universities, with both the medical universities and Academia Sinica appointing a joint chief convenor. An "Executive Committee" is established under which there are three subcommittees: "Admissions Committee," "Academic Affairs Committee," and "Student Affairs Committee," with members from both institutions serving on these committees. Advisory committee members are appointed as needed. The program also includes full-time faculty, joint appointments of internal and external scholars, several Academia Sinica academicians, distinguished professors, and guest professors with practical experience in the biotech industry to participate in teaching and guiding students.
Program Development Direction
The short-term goal (academic years 102-104) is to assist new faculty in establishing a research foundation at our university and integrating translational medicine concepts into distinctive courses at various levels, from undergraduate to graduate. This aims to build teaching experience among faculty and extend the basic concepts of translational medicine to undergraduate education. Based on student feedback and evaluations, the curriculum for the doctoral program will be regularly revised in collaboration with Academia Sinica. For example, required courses led by Academia Sinica have gradually included participation from full-time faculty at Taipei Medical University. Additionally, to align the program’s development with global trends and highlight its unique teaching and research features, the program will be divided into two tracks—Translational Medicine and Stem Cell Medicine—starting from the 103rd academic year, allowing students to choose specialized tracks. Furthermore, to enhance cross-departmental academic exchange and internationalization, the Institute of Medical Informatics plans to collaborate with this program in offering a Translational Medicine track within its master's and doctoral programs for international students starting from the 104th academic year, utilizing this program's faculty for teaching and curriculum planning. In terms of research resources, the university will allocate several research facilities used in translational medicine, including next-generation gene sequencers, in the program’s research space—the Translational Medicine Comprehensive Laboratory on the second floor of the Animal Center. The university will also provide multiple translational medicine project grants for new faculty and students to apply for and use. The program regularly organizes academic discussion meetings on the research achievements of full-time and part-time faculty, promoting innovative translational medicine research through interactions between faculty and students, cross-departmental collaboration, and partnerships with Academia Sinica and industry.
The mid-term development of the program will focus on showcasing distinctive research results, including assisting research groups in applying for integrated projects internally and externally, co-publishing high-impact research papers, applying for clinical trials, and filing patents and technology transfers for innovative research achievements. These research outcomes will contribute to faculty promotion, student thesis writing, graduate career planning, and deepening the academic collaboration between our university and Academia Sinica.
The long-term development of the program will encourage faculty, students, and alumni to actively participate in and establish professional associations related to translational medicine, plan innovative teaching modules, and develop industry-academic-research systems. The program aims to deepen the focus of key research areas, develop competitive advantages, and exert social influence through medical expertise. By fostering innovation in translational clinical research, revitalizing clinical medical research, training physician-scientists with translational medicine research capabilities, and promoting close interdisciplinary research collaboration and interaction, the program is expected to cultivate professional talents with concepts, ethics, regulations, and practical methods in translational medicine, enhance Taiwan's global competitiveness in biomedical research and development, and improve the quality of clinical diagnosis and medical care.