December 1, 2008: Two research teams from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), led by Professor of Gwo-Bin Lee from Department of Engineering Science and Professor Yu-Chung Chang from Department of Surgery, are among 12 winners of the 2008 National Innovation Award sponsored by the Executive Yuan. Prof. Lee’s group won the award for an integrated magnetic bead-based microfluidic system for rapid genomic DNA extraction and genetic diseases. and Prof. Chang’s group won the award for Chang’s Needle for Simplified Hepatic Resection detection. The award will be presented in the convocation ceremony in Taipei around middle December.

Professor Lee’s research team presents a new magnetic-bead-based microfluidic platform integrating several moduli, including a human white blood cells pretreatment module, a DNA extraction module and a nucleic acid amplification module for fast detection of genetic diseases by utilizing MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical-systems) technologies. The device can save more time but still deliver accuracy on pre-treatment and diagnosis of the genetic diseases. Prof. Lee’s research group includes doctoral students, Kang-Yi, Lien and Zong-Min Xie, and an assistant Quian-Ru Liu.

Professor Chang’s innovative needle is designed to facilitate hepatic resections. Chang’s needle consists of a straight annular needle with a hook near its tip to catch the thread and a 15cm-long 18-gauge stainless steel sheath. Chang’s maneuver tries to simplify the technique of hepatic resection in order to reduce bleeding, to shorten the training time, and to enable a general surgeon, not a specialist of liver surgery, performing hepatic resections. Chang’s needle is cheaper, simpler, more compact, non-disposable, and easier to use. Therefore, more patients can benefit from this invention.