4 new academicians in life sciences are all women; Chen Ruey-hwa: Science requires cross-disciplinary effort

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shufen, Taipei, July 9) The Academia Sinica today announced 19 new academicians for its 35th session. All four academicians in the life sciences group are women. Chen Ruey-hwa, a distinguished research fellow at the Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, said that science has no boundaries and requires cross-disciplinary cooperation to strive together.

Born in 1961, Chen Ruey-hwa said at the press conference that 2026 will mark her 30th year back in Taiwan establishing her laboratory and her 20th year joining Academia Sinica. Being elected an academician at this time holds significant meaning for her. This honor belongs to the entire team, and she especially thanks her family, particularly her husband, for his long-term encouragement in her freedom and research.

Chen Ruey-hwa expressed her joy at the election of many women scientists as academicians this year. She believes that science has no boundaries, for example, engineering and life sciences are interconnected. She has had many collaborations with Chen Yu-ju, who was elected as an academician in the mathematical and physical sciences group. Current scientific development requires the integration of different expertise, just as Academia Sinica President Dr. Tsai Ing-wen said, forming a national team to strive together.

Chen Ruey-hwa mentioned that her research focuses on protein ubiquitination and signal transduction. She explained that protein ubiquitination primarily explores the fundamental molecular mechanisms behind various phenomena within cells. Taking cancer treatment as an example, when proteins undergo detrimental modifications, signal transduction involves finding pathways for removal. Targeted therapy is developed from research in signal transduction. Compared to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, targeted therapy can improve treatment efficacy and maintain patients' quality of life.

The other three newly elected academicians in the life sciences group include: Ding Yan-ping (born 1974), currently a professor of Genetics, Biology, and Chemistry at Stanford University in the United States, whose expertise covers chemical biology, biochemistry, synthetic biology, and molecular and cellular biology.

Academician Song Ching-hua (born 1962) is currently the Betty Neuwirth Lee and Chilly Professor of Stem Cell Research at Weill Cornell Medicine in the United States, and also a professor of Ophthalmology, Cell and Chemical Biology, and Developmental Biology. His expertise includes ophthalmology, cell biology, and neuroscience.

Academician Sun Tai-ping (born 1958) is currently the John Carlisle Kilgo Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biology at Duke University in the United States, specializing in plant molecular biology and genetics. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150709

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