Date: 2017-05-09
Academician Michael Ming-Chiao Lai was awarded 2017 Nikkei Asia Prize for Science and Technology. The committee of the prize admired Dr. Lai for his long-term dedication to the research on coronavirus, hepatitis C and D viruses; and especially for his great contribution to the prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. The Nikkei Asian Review announced the news on May 1 and will hold the award ceremony on June 4 in Tokyo.
The Nikkei Asia Prize was established in 1996 in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the Nikkei Inc.. The prizes were designed to recognize outstanding achievements that contribute to the region's sustainable development and to the creation of a better future for Asia. The prizes are awarded once a year in three areas: Economic and Business Innovation, Science and Technology, Culture and Community. Each winner will be awarded an award certificate and three million yen.
Academician Lai is internationally renowned for his research on molecular biology and virology, and has long been honored as “Father of Coronavirus”. He served as Vice President of Academia Sinica during 2003 to 2006 and is now a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica and a chair professor in China Medical University. Academician Lai was not only the 7th Taiwanese awardee of the prize, but also the 5th one in Academia Sinica after academicians Chun-Yen Chang, Ding-Shinn Chen, Maw-Kuen Wu and former President Chi-Huey Wong.
-
Link