A Man Who Strives to Enhance Human Health
If you happen to stroll along the mountain trails at Yuguang Village in Taipei City’s Pinglin District at around 6 o'clock in the morning, you are most likely to bump into a farmerlike man who carries a hoe on his shoulder, and has persistently maintained the trails over the years. He is none other than Dr. Chen Shui-Tein, founder and president of Alps Biotech Co., Ltd., as well as president of Antrodia Cinnamomea Association of Taiwan National Treasure.
Dr. Chen's passion for Taiwan is unparalleled. Since entering the Academia Sinica’s Institute of Biological Chemistry in 1973 until his retirement in 2016, he has guided countless master and doctoral students over the past four decades. Many of them, among others, have become outstanding experts in this field. At the Academia Sinica, Dr. Chen and his team specialized in research and development of biochemical technology. They have obtained a number of patents, and their achievements have been highly acclaimed.
After his retirement from the Academia Sinica in 2016, Dr. Chen dedicated himself to his passion for life as always. To make good use of the various patents he obtained in the past, he founded Alps Biotech in 2018. He was determined to leave academia, and bravely face the challenges in the industrial sector.
Passing a rigorous review process in 2018, Alps Biotech was one of the first flagship-class companies stationed in the National Biotechnology Research Park. With his emotional attachment to Taiwan and its valuable endemic species, Dr. Chen and his Alps Biotech team have conducted a comprehensive and in-depth research on Antrodia cinnamomea. Their progress on the application development stands out among all the other competitors.
Antrodia cinnamomea is an endemic fungus grown on decayed wood. The most striking feature of the fungus is that it only grows on Taiwan indigenous Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata. Its red fruiting bodies cannot be found on any wood species in other countries; therefore, it is referred to as Taiwan's national treasure.
In 2014, the Academia Sinica held the first International Symposium and Workshop on Antrodia cinnamomea in Taiwan. As the coordinator of the event, Dr. Chen invited various experts and scholars in this field both at home and abroad to talk about a series of issues on Antrodia cinnamomea, including the controversies over its toxicity. Since then, the symposium has been held every two years without interruption, which has resulted in the sustainable development of the Antrodia cinnamomea industry.
Dr. Chen noted that from 1990 to 2020, there were over 200 master's theses or doctoral dissertations on Antrodia cinnamomea. Moreover, more than 3,000 relevant reports were published in international scientific journals in the same period of time. It proves that Antrodia cinnamomea is a remedy of great efficacy in protecting the liver and preventing cardiovascular diseases. A recent patent further showed that Antrodia cinnamomea extract can decrease the expression of the ACE2 receptors on cell membranes. Since ACE2 receptor is the gateway for invasion by coronavirus into human host cells, Antrodia cinnamomea can lower the risk of getting infected by coronavirus.
Alps Biotech is committed to the early research and preclinical development of natural remedies. It has developed lung cancer detection technology, and has succeeded in technology transfer. The development of technology platforms with intellectual property rights is essential for the new drug development industry. Now that Alps Biotech has engaged in the development of the technology platforms and the relevant selective technology transfer, it is set to forge more effective international cooperation in the future.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among Taiwanese people. The efficacy of treatment lies in accurate diagnoses. If cancer can be detected and controlled in the early stage, the treatment will be more effective, and the survival rate will be higher. In terms of cancer early detection reagents, Alps Biotech has developed high-sensitivity and high-specificity cancer detection indicators. Additionally, it has also been actively involved in the research on precision medicine and establishment of a comprehensive national health database, aiming to enhance public health and human well-being.
With his love for nature, Dr. Chen has recovered something of his true self, and strived for his endeavours. Seemingly inspired by nature, he rejoices at the vigor and vitality of all beings. Every tree and bush is a life, let alone human beings. Along the way, Dr. Chen and his Alps Biotech team have been committed to develop new disease detection reagents and new drugs. Their hearts are always filled with love for Taiwanese people and other sentient beings around the world.
