AWARDS

1. This platform identified the critical dynamic binding mechanism of the protease active site for drug screening. Additionally, it discovered another FDA-approved old drug called JMY206, which demonstrated ten times the ability to reduce viral activity compared to Remdesivir. JMY206 is a multi-functional anti-COVID drug that can simultaneously block viral invasion, inhibit viral replication, and reduce cytokine storms.
2. This research has provided both cellular and animal experimental data and established the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action for JMY206.

1. The Cloud-based Monitoring Platform for Happy Hypoxia combines blood oxygen measurement devices with 5G mobile phones, and APP interfaces to transmit health information to medical professionals in real time. This enables the seamless integration of data and allows for trend analysis and abnormal blood oxygen level alerts.
2. The platform has gathered promising clinical data and is currently utilized at the New Taipei City Hospital and the Yang-Ming University Hospital. Preliminary validation has shown its capability to detect changes in patient's blood oxygen levels early on, facilitating timely intervention and treatment.

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, severely damages lung function and disrupts the immune system, leading to the release of a large number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the development of a "cytokine storm," which can result in fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Survivors of COVID-19 may face irreversible pulmonary fibrosis and lifelong disabilities. To address this, we established a drug screening platform for COVID-19 to investigate whether existing drugs, particularly traditional Chinese medicine formulas like YQ1, could target the unique characteristics of COVID-19 compared to other respiratory viruses (MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV).

Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that YQ1, a traditional Chinese medicine formula mainly composed of Huangqi, can reverse SARS-CoV-2 infections and suppress the development of cytokine storms, thereby inhibiting the development of ARDS. Biochemical studies demonstrated that YQ1 stimulates let-7a, miR-148a/b, and miR-146a, leading to the inhibition of virus replication and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as promoting macrophage polarization towards the antiviral M1 phenotype and controlling intracellular oxidative stress. YQ1 showed efficacy in treating ARDS induced by bleomycin and preventing its progression in a rat model. Significant improvements in arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and lung morphology were observed in the experimental rats.

Furthermore, YQ1 was used to treat 21 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, including 3 ARDS patients, at Chang Gung Hospital, and all of them were discharged. This demonstrates the value and benefits of our innovative research and its (1) unique predictive platform system for prioritizing old drugs for COVID-19 patients and future outbreaks, and (2) the potential of YQ1 as a promising drug for the prevention and early intervention therapy of COVID-19.

COVID-19, a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus, has become a global pandemic with over 193 million confirmed cases and more than 4.15 million deaths worldwide. It is one of the largest-scale pandemics in human history. With the successful development of vaccines overseas and the maturity of rapid testing and PCR detection technologies. Also, large-scale vaccination plans implemented by Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare for all against COVID-19. As a result, technology-based epidemic prevention has never been more crucial in preventing and controlling future COVID-19 outbreaks.

Research team members: Prof. Chia-Ching Chang, Prof. Da-Bin Shieh, Prof. Hsin-Ju Shih, and Prof. Chun-Chieh Yuan.

 

The research team has achieved significant growth and progress in the development and commercial promotion of the "Combined Semiconductor Chip Platform for COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Testing System". This success has enabled the technology to be effectively commercialized and introduced into the market, providing valuable assistance in COVID-19 prevention and the early screening of other infectious diseases. The system plays a crucial role in epidemic control and infection prevention, contributing to the overall efforts in managing and containing the COVID-19 pandemic and other potential infectious outbreaks in the future.



On a technical development level, the research team has achieved significant breakthroughs in improving the yield of mass production and successfully developed a microfluidic water-absorbing cartridge. They have also made advancements in the development of electrochemical testing instruments and the integration with the IoT platform. On the commercial promotion front, the team has obtained ISO13485 medical device quality management system certification, which has strengthened their capabilities and plans to enter the international medical product supply chain. This certification effectively facilitates the expansion of their product into the global medical equipment market.

The team has already engaged with customers in Singapore and is planning to conduct pre-clinical and clinical trials in the country. Once they obtain certification in Singapore, they aim to promote their product in other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This expansion strategy demonstrates the team's commitment to reaching a broader market and contributing to the COVID-19 prevention and management efforts in the region.