HomeDate: 2026-10-08
Academia Sinica has long promoted the translation of research into practical applications that address societal needs through intellectual property protection and technology transfer, strengthening Taiwan’s research and innovation capacity. Academician Chung-Hsuan Chen, former Director of the Genomics Research Center (GRC), founded the spin-off company iAnalyzer Inc., which received two honors at the 2026 Taipei Biotech Awards for a portable rapid-screening and high-precision analytical platform developed and licensed by Academia Sinica. The awards were the Gold Award in the Applied Biotechnology category of the Innovative Technology Award and the Taipei Biotech Star Award. The platform was developed with support from Taiwan’s Value Creation Program and commercialized through Academia Sinica’s technology licensing process, demonstrating the translation of basic research into practical applications.
During his tenure at the Genomics Research Center, Academician Chen collaborated with researchers including Senior Research Engineer; Dr. Jung-Lee Lin to expand the applications of mass spectrometry for the analysis of biological molecules and cells, laying the foundation for subsequent research translation and the development of advanced analytical instruments. The award-winning platform integrates a handheld ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with a portable liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system, enabling rapid on-site screening for applications including drug enforcement, border inspection, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Their portability reduces the need to transport samples back to laboratories and improves testing efficiency.
Academician Chen is an internationally recognized scholar in mass spectrometry. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1974, spent more than three decades at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and joined Academia Sinica in 2005, later serving as GRC Director from 2007 to 2016. His honors include Fellow of the American Physical Society (1995), the Outstanding Research Award from the Foundation for the Development of Outstanding Scholars (2005), International Scientist of the Year (2007), and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2009). He was elected an Academician of Academia Sinica in 2010, and his research achievements have also been recognized three times among the world’s top 100 research inventions.
Established in 2004 by the Taipei City Government, the Taipei Biotech Awards promote Taiwan’s biotechnology industry and its links with international markets. Entries are evaluated on technological innovation, R&D maturity, and market potential. The Taipei Biotech Star Award, introduced in 2024, is the program’s highest honor. Each year, this award recognizes one team for its research achievements and development potential.
