Research Center for Epidemic Prevention Science - Chang University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

The Chang Gang team has experienced epidemics such as enterovirus infections and influenza in the past and has made contributions to the disease prevention and patient treatment management. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) and Chang Gung University (CGU) have tested a total of 12,471 specimens of COVID-19 since the end of January, in which 186 were positive from 90 patients. We also isolated virus strains from 30 patients in a Taiwan CDC-certified BSL-3 laboratory and resolved their full-genome sequences by NGS. Facing the epidemic situation, we are at the front line. Therefore, we hope that through this grant, we will gather experts from virology, infectious diseases, chest medicine, Chinese medicine, antiviral drugs, public health and artificial intelligence to perform the state-of-the-art basic and clinical researches, apply them to diagnosis and treatment through collaborating to the industry, and provide epidemic prevention policy for the government.We have also actively established substantial research networks with countries around the world over the past 20 years. For example, in this COVID-19 epidemic, we have joined a global research alliance established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA), namely, the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Disease (formerly EIDRC). This network includes 10 centers from different countries such as Brazil, Pakistan, Senegal, South Africa, Taiwan and United States, targeting in jointly developing test reagents, drugs and vaccines. We also collaborated with Monash University of Australia to develop broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs. We believe that, with this grant support, these international collaborations can be further strengthened and make a better contribution to the global pandemic.The objectives of the proposed center are as follows:(1) Strengthen the core of epidemic prevention and BSL-3 laboratory functions, accelerate pathogen identification and full-genome sequence analysis, and establish rapid diagnosis and antibody test platform.(2) Screening of antiviral drugs, establishment of animal models, and cooperate with industry to promote clinical trials.(3) Application of artificial intelligence in monitoring hospital personnel, space and service for better disease management and patient care.(4) Mining the epidemiological literature database to study the dynamic mode of infection, and provide reference for the formulation of epidemic prevention policy.(5) Continue engaging the joint research and development of the international emerging infectious disease team.

Project ID:PC10908-0079
External Project ID:MOST109-2327-B182-002