Research and Innovation at Academia Sinica: Taiwan’s Hub for Interdisciplinary Integration in Science and Technology

Academia Sinica, a renowned research academy in Taipei, Taiwan, has launched a range of cutting-edge research facilities designed to push the boundaries of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical science. These facilities cover a wide spectrum of research, including gene editing, RNA technology, preclinical testing, and the development of nucleic acid vaccines. Among the key resources are Taiwan’s only RNA Technology Platform, the Taiwan Mouse Clinic for preclinical trials, and the BioTReC Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant, which specializes in mRNA vaccine production. Additionally, Taiwan Biobank provides valuable biological data for research into precision medicine. Together, these facilities support both academic and industry research, helping to speed up discoveries that could shape the future of healthcare.

RNA Technology Platform and Gene Manipulation Core Facilitate Gene Regulation and Viral Vector Innovation

The RNA Technology Platform and Gene Manipulation Core is Taiwan’s only platform integrating gene regulation tools and viral vector resources. It offers technical services to academia, healthcare, and industry. Supported by the National Center for Biotechnology Facilities (NCFB), the platform provides one-stop services. These services include gene regulation tools such as RNAi, miRNA, CRISPR/Cas, and cDNA. These tools support gene function regulation and expression experiments.

The platform develops viral vectors, including lentivirus (LV), retrovirus (RV), adeno-associated virus (AAV), rabies virus, and virus-like particles (VLP). These vectors meet various experimental needs. Additionally, the facility has created a high-performance AAV capsid resource library. This library offers a variety of AAV types and sequences for experimental design.

Furthermore, the platform offers the Split-AAV-CRISPR vector system. This system provides high-precision gene editing for specific cells and tissues. It also supports various gene editing experiments, including knockout, overexpression, activation, and epigenetic modifications. The platform thus fosters basic research and applied science development.

For animal models, the platform uses in vivo mouse screening technology. This technology helps discover more specific novel AAV capsids for gene therapy research.

Taiwan Mouse Clinic & Animal Facility: Preclinical Services for Advanced Research

In line with animal testing advancements, the Taiwan Mouse Clinic & Animal Facility provides a comprehensive platform for preclinical services. It integrates several high-standard facilities, including the Taiwan Mouse Clinic, Academia Sinica’s Animal Imaging Facility, and the National Cheng Kung University’s Experimental Animal Center, covering northern, central, and southern Taiwan.

The facility offers services such as small animal imaging, behavioral studies, immune profiling, and drug response testing. These services are tailored to meet the needs of both industry and academia. The facility also emphasizes professional consultation and experimental design, supporting the process from animal breeding to data analysis for new drug development.

Small animal tests include physiological testing, cardiovascular analysis, immune response evaluation, and behavioral observations. The facility also provides IVC sterile breeding environments, precise drug dosage control, and mouse imaging services, helping industry and academic units meet drug development goals and receive reliable experimental evaluation reports.

BioTReC Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant: Advancing mRNA Vaccine Development and Quality Control

The BioTReC Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant specializes in developing nucleic acid vaccines and drugs. It focuses on mRNA vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2. The facility has mastered mRNA process scale-up and clinical manufacturing technologies. It supports the development and application of nucleic acid drugs both domestically and internationally.

The plant provides rapid GMP-scale production of nucleic acid vaccines, including drug substances (DS) and drug products (DP). It ensures 100% quality control (QC) during the release process. The nucleic acid process includes in vitro transcription (IVT) and encapsulation technologies. Efficient lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulation ensures stability and bioactivity analysis of nucleic acid drugs.

The facility offers various nucleic acid quality testing services, including RNA purity, particle size distribution, and encapsulation efficiency. It also provides biocompatibility assessments. Equipment such as Fragment Analyzer UPLC, RT-PCR, and DLS (dynamic light scattering) supports comprehensive CQA (Critical Quality Attributes) analysis. This facilitates the transition of drugs from research to clinical application.

Taiwan Biobank: A Key Resource with Over 283,000 Participants Driving Biomedical Research

Taiwan Biobank is a major biological data storage platform with over 283,201 participants. It collects comprehensive data to support health research and disease prevention. The biobank gathers information on participants’ lifestyle, diet, Chinese medicine constitution, demographics, allergies, and family medical history. It also emphasizes women’s health, creating a diverse data set.

Serum tests assess liver and kidney function, as well as metabolic markers like blood sugar and lipids. Additionally, urine testing and blood pathogen screening help evaluate health risks. Physical exams include height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and bone density. They provide a detailed picture of participants’ physiological health.

To enhance its data, the biobank offers services such as whole-genome genotyping, sequencing, and gene expression testing. It also provides blood metabolite and gut microbiome analysis, supporting advanced research. The biobank stores 26,423 records of medical imaging, including ECGs and ultrasounds.

In terms of biological samples, the biobank holds 20,865,010 micrograms of DNA, 1,651,135 plasma tubes, and 958,620 urine tubes. This extensive resource supports precision medicine and big data analysis efforts.

Core Facilities for Translational Medicine: Advancing Clinical Research with Cutting-Edge Technology

The Core Facilities for Translational Medicine support clinical research with state-of-the-art facilities and technical expertise. They help research units achieve optimal outcomes through consulting and technical assistance. The High-Dimensional Advanced Imaging Core Facility provides high-resolution imaging services, including sensitive microscopy and 3D scanning. It also supports time-lapse imaging, spectral imaging, FRET, and full-spectrum excitation analysis. These services meet various research needs across different fields.

In summary, Taiwan’s research facilities, including the RNA Technology Platform, Taiwan Mouse Clinic, BioTReC Nucleic Acid Pilot Plant, and Taiwan Biobank, offer cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive resources. These platforms support advancements in gene regulation, preclinical testing, mRNA vaccine development, and precision medicine. Through high-resolution imaging, gene editing tools, and extensive biological data, they foster collaboration between academia and industry. Together, they drive forward clinical and biomedical research, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes and accelerate scientific discoveries.

Author

Bernice Lottering