Michael M. C. Lai Explained

Michael Ming-Chiao Lai (; born 8 September 1942) is a Taiwanese virologist.

A native of Tainan born on 8 September 1942,[1] Lai graduated from National Tainan First Senior High School and studied medicine at National Taiwan University.[2] After completing his doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley in 1973, Lai joined the University of Southern California faculty, where he remained until 2003. While teaching at USC, Lai was elected a member of Academia Sinica in 1992 and a fellow of the American College of Microbiology in 2002.[3] [4]   From 1990, Lai was a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator.[5] Upon his return to Taiwan in 2003, Lai was named a distinguished fellow of Academia Sinica.[6] He became a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences in 2006.[7] In 2009, Lai received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.[8] The government of Taiwan awarded Lai a in 2013.[9] He won the Nikkei Asia Prize in science and technology in 2017.[10]

Lai specialized in coronavirus,[11] [12] the species of virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome. His work has led to acknowledgement of Lai as "father of coronavirus research."[2] [13] He returned to Taiwan in the midst of the 2003 SARS outbreak,[14] and began researching vaccinations against the disease with the help of Ding-Shinn Chen.[2] [15] Lai succeeded Sunney Chan as vice president of Academia Sinica in July 2003.[16] He stepped down from Academia Sinica in 2006, and began his tenure as president of National Cheng Kung University the next year.[17] During his tenure, the institution began partnering with IBM Taiwan on nanotechnology research.[18] Thirteen of the university's departments were placed on a watchlist compiled by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan in 2009.[19] Later that year, researchers at NCKU piloted the first unmanned aerial vehicle flight across the Taiwan Strait.[20] Lai was supportive of government proposals to permit Chinese students to study at Taiwanese universities and backed efforts to retain top academics.[21] [22] In 2010, NCKU established an English-language medical program.[23] Later that year, The Small Medicine and Advanced Research Translation team at Institute of Oral Medicine, affiliated with NCKU announced new developments in gene manipulation techniques using Artificial Targeting Light Activated Nano Scissors.[24] After yielding the NCKU presidency to Hwung Hwung-hweng in 2011, Lai was named distinguished professor in 2013.[25] Lai researched the H7N9 virus soon after cases were reported in China in 2013.[26]

Notes and References

  1. News: Curriculum Vitae: Michael M. C. Lai M. D., Ph.D . 13 December 2018 . National Cheng Kung University . 1 February 2011.
  2. News: Chen . Melody . 'Father of the coronavirus' leads fight against SARS . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 18 May 2003.
  3. News: Lai, Michael M.C. 賴明詔 . 13 December 2018 . China Medical University.
  4. News: 賴明詔 (Dr. Michael M. C. Lai) . 13 December 2018 . Executive Yuan.
  5. News: Michael M. C. Lai, MD, PhD . 13 December 2018 . Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
  6. News: Dr. Michael M.C. Lai 賴明詔博士 . 13 December 2018 . Academia Sinica.
  7. News: Lai, Michael M.C. . 13 December 2018 . The World Academy of Sciences.
  8. News: Lu . Meggie . Hepatitis C raises risk of liver cancer, expert warns . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 18 June 2009.
  9. News: Academician Michael Lai awarded the Presidential Science Prize . 13 December 2018 . National Cheng Kung University . 23 October 2013.
  10. News: Ihara . Kensaku . Persistence pays for Taiwan virologist who helped stop SARS . 13 December 2018 . Nikkei Asian Review . 1 May 2017.
  11. News: Snyder . Charles . US Congressman wants Taiwanese-American at WHO . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 17 May 2003.
  12. News: Chen . Melody . Chu . Monique . No voice for Taiwan at WHO meet . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 21 May 2003.
  13. News: SARS no longer poses a major threat: researcher . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . Central News Agency . 17 August 2004.
  14. News: SARS jumped to humans by chance, expert says . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . Central News Agency . 12 May 2003.
  15. News: Vaccine hunt team formed . 11 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 1 May 2003.
  16. News: Virus expert takes up his new post at Academia Sinica . 19 April 2020 . Taipei Times . Central News Agency . 1 July 2003.
  17. News: Asia's Scientific Trailblazers: Michael Lai Ming-Chiao . 13 December 2018 . Asian Scientist . 13 November 2011.
  18. News: Wang . Flora . NCKU to investigate health threats of nanotechnology . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 23 March 2009.
  19. News: Wang . Flora . Education council puts institutions on observation list . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 1 July 2009.
  20. News: NCKU flies unmanned vehicle to Penghu . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 23 October 2009.
  21. News: Vice president touts plan to attract education talent . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 24 January 2010.
  22. News: Wang . Flora . Chinese students not eligible for NHI: MOE . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 5 November 2010.
  23. News: Wang . Flora . University medical center to offer US-sponsored English . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 13 September 2010.
  24. News: Team develops genetic scissors . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 6 November 2010.
  25. News: NCKU Awarded Academician Michael M. C. Lai Honorary Professor . 13 December 2018 . Central News Agency . 4 January 2013.
  26. News: Expert says H7N9 will not necessarily become transmissible among humans . 13 December 2018 . Taipei Times . 17 April 2013.

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