Yuan-Tsong Chen Explained

Yuan-Tsong Chen (YT Chen;) is a Taiwanese geneticist and physician, notable for his work on human genetic disorders. He is the director emeritus (2001–2010) and distinguished research fellow (2001–present) of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan,[1] [2] and also tenured professor of pediatrics of Duke University (1993–present)[3] Chen was a 2019 awardee of Taiwan's, as were Yuan-Pern Lee and Wei Fu-chan.[4]

Research

Chen's scientific achievements include drug development of recombinant enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease, an enzyme-deficiency disorder that causes muscle damage, cardiorespiratory failure and in its severe infantile form, death by 2 years of age.[5] The drug, eventually named "Myozyme", was further developed by Genzyme and received the regulatory marketing approval in Europe and USA in 2006.[6] The story of a father searching for a treatment for his two children with Pompe disease and the development of this rug has been adapted to a film entitled Extraordinary Measures featured Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser.[7] [8] Chen's research into the disease helped Taiwan develop screening for newborns with Pompe disease, the first nation in the world to offer such medical testing.[9]

Later, Chen's research focus extends to the pharmacogenetics of adverse drug reactions and drug efficacy. His team identified VKORC1 gene variants to play a major role in determining the warfarin dosage, a widely prescribed anticoagulant. They teamed with International Warfarin Consortium to formulate a universal algorithm that can better predict an optimal dosage for each patient.[10] [11] His team also discovered genetic links to the incidence of type 2 diabetes,[12] the strong association of the gene HLA-B*15:02 with carbamazepine,[13] a drug used to treat epilepsy, and that of the gene HLA-B*58:01 with allopurinol,[14] a widely prescribed drug for gout, to induce Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)[15] and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). These pharmacogenetic researches have prompted the FDA to relabel the two commonly prescribed drugs, carbamazepine and warfarin, with genetic information and to recommend genetic screening before prescribing the medication, and paved the road for personalized and precision medicine.[16] [17]

Personal life

Chen was questioned as part of a 2010 investigation into corruption.[18] Prosecutors claimed that Chen and his wife held executive positions at the biomedical company Phamigene.[18] The case closed without an indictment of Chen.[19] Subsequently, the government of Taiwan discussed amendments to the Act Governing the Employment of Educational Personnel, so that full-time researchers and university teachers could establish private enterprises or serve as company presidents.[20] Eventually, amendments to the Fundamental Act of Science and Technology were passed so that public sector researchers could take some positions at private companies.[19]

Chen Award

In partnership with his wife, Mrs. Alice Der-Shan Chen, who together started the Chen Foundation, they and the Human Genome Organisation annually present the Chen Award to those with research accomplishments in human genetics and genomics in Asia Pacific.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr.Chen,Yuan-Tsong陳垣崇博士 HOME 首頁. 2017-07-12. 2017-08-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170817080414/http://www.ibms.sinica.edu.tw/yuan-tsong-chen/. live.
  2. News: Chiu . Yu-Tzu . Geneticists identify disease genes . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 19 March 2003 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030012042/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/09/19/2003068375 . live .
  3. Web site: Yuan-Tsong Chen - Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics . Scholars@Duke.
  4. News: Lin . Chia-nan . Three researchers win top prize . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 30 October 2019 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030002828/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/30/2003724910 . live .
  5. Clinical and metabolic correction of pompe disease by enzyme therapy in acid maltase-deficient quail. 10.1172/JCI1722. 1998. Kikuchi. T.. Yang. H. W.. Pennybacker. M.. Ichihara. N.. Mizutani. M.. Van Hove. J. L.. Chen. Y. T.. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 101. 4. 827–833. 9466978. 508631. 2017-07-12. 2018-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20180708201010/https://www.jci.org/articles/view/1722. live.
  6. News: Researcher's drug for Pompe disease approved in US . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . Central News Agency . 5 May 2006 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010138/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/05/05/2003306232 . live .
  7. News: Local doctor inspires Harrison Ford film . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . Central News Agency . 28 May 2010 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010137/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/05/28/2003474031 . live .
  8. News: Bloom . Dan . Ford fails to honor Taiwanese hero . 30 October 2019 . 2 June 2010 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010141/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2010/06/02/2003474436 . live .
  9. News: Lee . I-chia . Medical talent lauded in documentary . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 14 July 2016 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010140/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/07/14/2003651008 . live .
  10. 10.1056/NEJMoa0809329. 19228618. 2722908. Estimation of the Warfarin Dose with Clinical and Pharmacogenetic Data. New England Journal of Medicine. 360. 8. 753–764. 2009. International Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Consortium. Klein. T. E.. Altman. R. B.. Eriksson. N.. Gage. B. F.. Kimmel. S. E.. Lee. M. T.. Limdi. N. A.. Page. D.. Roden. D. M.. Wagner. M. J.. Caldwell. M. D.. Johnson. J. A..
  11. News: Shan . Shelley . Academia Sinica team contributes to medical formula . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 20 February 2019 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010140/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/02/20/2003436535 . live .
  12. News: Lee . I-chia . Scientists identify genes that could predict diabetes . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 29 March 2012 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010143/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/03/29/2003528988 . live .
  13. 10.1038/428486a. A marker for Stevens–Johnson syndrome. 2004. Chung. Wen-Hung. Hung. Shuen-Iu. Hong. Hong-Shang. Hsih. Mo-Song. Yang. Li-Cheng. Ho. Hsin-Chun. Wu. Jer-Yuarn. Chen. Yuan-Tsong. Nature. 428. 6982. 486. 15057820. 4423593. free.
  14. HLA-B*5801 allele as a genetic marker for severe cutaneous adverse reactions caused by allopurinol. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 15 March 2005. 102. 11. 4134–4139. Hung. Shuen-Iu. Chung. Wen-Hung. Liou. Lieh-Bang. Chu. Chen-Chung. Lin. Marie. Huang. Hsien-Ping. Lin. Yen-Ling. Lan. Joung-Liang. Yang. Li-Cheng. Hong. Hong-Shang. Chen. Ming-Jing. Lai. Ping-Chin. Wu. Mai-Szu. Chu. Chia-Yu. Wang. Kuo-Hsien. Chen. Chien-Hsiun. Fann. Cathy S. J.. Wu. Jer-Yuarn. Chen. Yuan-Tsong. 10.1073/pnas.0409500102. 15743917. 554812. 2005PNAS..102.4134H. free.
  15. News: Lu . Meggie . Scientist finds link that could help SJS research . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 26 November 2008 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030010140/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/26/2003429560 . live .
  16. Web site: Information for Healthcare Professionals: Dangerous or Even Fatal Skin Reactions - Carbamazepine (Marketed as Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, and generics) . . 2017-07-12 . 2017-07-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170722190647/https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm124718.htm . dead .
  17. Web site: Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products - Warfarin (Marketed as Coumadin). 2017-07-12. 2022-02-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212034657/https://partner.archive-it.org/missing_url_record?getJS=true&type=count&collId=7993&checkBefore=20220212034643&cPage=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fda.gov%2FSafety%2FMedWatch%2FSafetyInformation%2FSafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts%2Fucm152972.htm&timestamp=20170112170346. bot: unknown.
  18. News: Chang . Rich . Academia Sinica director questioned, out on bail . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 24 June 2010 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011904/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/06/24/2003476273 . live .
  19. News: Shih . Hsiu-chuan . Patent regulations eased to try to halt 'brain drain' . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 26 November 2011 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011904/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/11/26/2003519267 . live .
  20. News: Wang . Flora . Professors may be allowed to take up corporate positions . 30 October 2019 . Taipei Times . 26 June 2010 . 30 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191030011906/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/06/26/2003476422 . live .
  21. Web site: Chen Award . . . 2 March 2020 . 21 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200221013445/http://www.hugo-international.org/Chen-Award . live .

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