Taiwan

Researchers have developed a novel biomedical engineering tool that uses volumetric MRI analysis to precisely measure paraspinal muscle atrophy, distinguishing nerve root severities in traumatic brachial plexus injuries with 91% accuracy. The new evaluation system outperformed standard clinical assessments and shows promise for diagnosing degenerative radiculopathy, potentially enabling early detection of chronic nerve compression.

DeePFAS, a novel deep-learning model, streamlines large-scale non-targeted screening of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) by projecting raw MS2 spectra into a latent space of chemical features, offering a rapid, AI-driven solution to replace complex traditional analysis.

A common soil fungus (Purpureocillium lilacinum BA1S), when combined with calcium and mild alkalinity, speeds up the breakdown of biodegradable plastic (PBAT), offering a greener path for managing agricultural and packaging waste.

Researchers from the Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering at National Taiwan University have developed a multifunctional hydrogel sensor for detecting formaldehyde.

Scientists from National Taiwan University have created a new light-based imaging technology that can trace a person’s blood sugar history by analyzing individual red blood cells. This breakthrough could improve diabetes care and help detect certain cancers earlier through simple, noninvasive testing.

By employing state-of-the-art flat histogram Monte Carlo techniques combined with thermodynamic and configurational analyses, this study reveals the complex and diverse behavior of water adsorption in metal–organic frameworks.

Identifying cracks is critical for health monitoring of civil infrastructure. To enhance inspection efficiency, the proposed autonomous crack segmentation and exploration system enables the agent to navigate itself without human operation, and the agent successfully captures over 85% of cracks in the training dataset and achieves 82% crack coverage in the testing dataset. In terms of computational resources, proposed system enhances efficiency by 64% compared to conventional exhaustive search methods, demonstrating strong potential for practical deployment on UAVs and other edge devices.

National Taiwan University researchers uncover how silencing a single protein protects the brain and extends lifespan.

A new study led by National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) researchers shows that while scarless thyroid surgery preserves delicate structures better, it requires longer operative time, higher costs, and may compromise specimen integrity.

High-grade gliomas pose formidable challenge clinically due to poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Principal investigator Prof. Feng-Huei Lin and research scientist Dr. Jason Lin from National Taiwan University have designed a novel injectable gel against high-grade gliomas, which delivers platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents in two stages, including immediate release of carboplatin and delayed release of platinum from platinum-doped calcium carbonate. This time-release gel synergizes subsequent radiotherapy, suppressing tumor relapse while reducing radiation side effects. It offers a promising approach to improving brain cancer treatment.

Researchers led by Professor Yi-Tsu Chan at National Taiwan University have created a giant molecular cage that mimics nature’s nested structures. This layered nanocage is remarkably stable and can serve as a miniature reactor for producing gold nanoparticles.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed biodegradable MXene–bamboo paper electrodes that combine flexibility, waterproof stability, and tunable conductivity. Encapsulated in a breathable Ecoflex layer, these scalable green electrodes enable wearable sensing, electromyography, and exoskeleton control, offering a sustainable pathway for next-generation assistive technologies.

Researchers from National Taiwan University Hospital and Academia Sinica have identified a simple blood marker that can reliably pinpoint chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients at negligible risk of developing liver cancer.

Researchers led by Prof. Homer H. Chen at National Taiwan University have developed a way to convert stereo images into light field content, enabling existing AR/VR media to be viewed on next-generation light field displays. The approach could accelerate the move toward more natural and comfortable AR experiences.

Researchers at National Taiwan University developed a new device that captures energy from vibrations more efficiently. Its self-adjusting mechanism enables resonance with environmental frequencies, resulting in higher power output across a broader operational range.

Standard blood tests can help physicians predict the risk of mortality in patients with Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS). These findings may facilitate earlier interventions and enable more personalized treatment strategies for this severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR).

Researchers at National Taiwan University have discovered a versatile enzyme from Bacillus subtilis that efficiently attaches phosphate groups to natural compounds. This breakthrough offers a greener way to boost drug solubility and develop more effective nutraceuticals and prodrugs.

Researchers at National Taiwan University designed a graphene oxide biochar TiO₂ nanocomposite that combines adsorption capacity with superior photocatalytic activity. With strong material characterization and optoelectronic properties, it offers a novel and sustainable solution for antibiotic removal from livestock wastewater.

Using optical tweezers, researchers at National Taiwan University observed individual binding events in real time, offering new insights into the molecular regulation of homologous recombination.

Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) 2025 will return from October 16–18 at Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1, uniting government, academia, and industry under the theme “Cross-Domain AI Innovation: Driving the Future with Intelligence.” The event will feature 450 exhibitors presenting nearly 1,100 patented technologies, highlighting Taiwan’s role as a key driver of global innovation.

A flexible perovskite light-emitting device integrating ester polymer crystallization enables optical logic signals under bending and stretching, paving the way for motion capture and intelligent sensing applications.

Cell-free (CF) MIMO network is emerging as a key B5G/6G technology for improved connectivity, spectral efficiency, and service quality. This work proposes a novel CF-MIMO signal detector that can reduce the energy consumption by up to 58%.

Researchers at National Taiwan University developed a biodegradable, electroconductive self-healing hydrogel combined with acupuncture that restores motor function and protects brain neurons in Parkinson’s disease models.

Scientists from National Taiwan University System developed a next-generation nanomaterial-enhanced mass spectrometry system that dramatically boosts sensitivity and accuracy for detecting multiple classes of psychoactive substances. This approach overcomes traditional matrix interference, allowing rapid, reproducible, and interference-free drug screening for real-time diagnostics.

This study demonstrates that the addition of porphyrin-like additives (H₂Pc and SnPc) to 2D tin-based perovskite transistors significantly enhances charge transport and suppresses Sn²⁺ oxidation, achieving a high hole mobility of 4.40 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Moreover, the devices exhibit fast (0.001 s) and stable nonvolatile photomemory behavior under multi-wavelength optical stimuli, paving the way for neuromorphic computing applications.

Researchers report a Cu-based catalyst on graphitic carbon nitride with tunable atomic configurations, revealing that intercalated Cu dual-atom selectively drives CO2 reduction to methane with 88% efficiency while single-atom and nanoparticle catalysts favor hydrogen evolution.

Taiwanese research team provides important new evidence on diabetes medications' respiratory outcomes, with implications for patients with dual chronic conditions.

Paving the way for cleaner air and greener chemical processes.

Prof. Fang-Jen S. Lee's team at National Taiwan University discovered that an intermediate cellular metabolism molecule, glycerol, regulates the localization and function of the Golgi protein Imh1, thus revealing a previously unappreciated connection between cellular metabolism and vesicular transport.

Scientists found three language-model chatbots — even with advanced prompt‐engineering tricks — often give suboptimal guidance across stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, highlighting the need for human oversight to ensure appropriateness and safety.