TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – National Cheng Kung University presented on Thursday artificial intelligence-driven medical technologies at the 2026 Bio Asia-Taiwan expo.
NCKU President Shen Meng-ru (沈孟儒) led the alliance. Members include labs, hospitals, industry partners, and research institutions from southern Taiwan looking to accelerate commercial adoption.
The domestically developed neuroprotective drug candidate, DBPR168, targets chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The drug was in development for more than a decade under Shen, Chang Jang-yang (張俊彥), and the National Health Research Institutes' Hsia Ke-shan (夏克山).
It received US Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug approval in March for Phase I human trials.
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves outside the brain or spine are affected by chemotherapy, trauma, infections, or inherited conditions. Causes or symptoms vary from person to person.
Hospital partners presented AI systems, including Beizhi Hospital's coronary imaging analysis tool capable of categorizing cardiovascular risk within seconds. Changhua Christian Hospital unveiled an AI-assisted hand hygiene training system that uses fluorescent imaging to identify areas with controlled bacterial populations.
NCKU research teams also displayed wearable lactate sensing patches developed with Innolux, along with home-care systems integrating AI and wearable sensors. Additional exhibits included multi-cancer exosome screening chips, AI-driven micro-robot clusters, and real-time cardiovascular monitoring platforms, underscoring advances in biosensing and microfluidics.
The human body produces lactate as fuel. A person's physical limit is reached when more is produced than cleared, causing fatigue.
Exosomes are tiny cell-secreted sacs that relay signals and regulate biological functions. They are widely used in regenerative medicine for being able to repair tissues, suppress inflammation, and control immunity.
Micro-robots are automated devices that are microscopic in size. They can deliver medication to inflamed or damaged tissues with great precision.
Schools like Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology showcased an AI acupuncture needle kit, which uses image recognition to identify leftover needles, alongside AI diagnostic systems and a dental platform. The aim is to promote cross-school collaboration for commercially viable innovations.
NCKU has been exhibiting at Bio Asia since 2021, bringing a total of 200 teams. The exhibition emphasizes cross-sector cooperation for strengthened global competitiveness.
