Kaohsiung Medical University President Yu Ming-lung was recently awarded the 2025 Powell-Sarin Achievement Award by the Singapore-based Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), according to the KMU Aug. 14.
Yu received the award for his outstanding research contributions to treatment for hepatitis C and liver cancer, as well as precision medical care, the KMU said. Since starting research on hepatitis C in 1992, Yu established the Taiwan Liver Research Foundation in the southern city of Kaohsiung in 1999 to advocate for large-scale screening in southern Taiwan, the university stated.
Yu combined interferon with an anti-virus medication, Ribavirin, to raise hepatitis C cure rates to 65 percent. He also pioneered a “Hepatitis C Virus micro-elimination” strategy for cohorts of prisoners, dialysis patients, rural and outlying island residents, offering on-site treatment to achieve a cure rate of 93.6 percent.
Yu made long-term studies of liver cancer caused by viral hepatitis, and improved the success rate of early diagnosis and treatment through clinical research, precision medicine and screening systems. He advocates for interdisciplinary integration and clinical trials, which not only reduce the occurrence of the disease, but also make treatment customized and efficient.
Yu actively combined big data and artificial intelligence technology to create a health data platform, which can be used to assess risk of liver disease and assists in treatment decisions, the KMU said. He continues to cooperate with academics and industries at home and abroad to advance clinical trials of new drugs and smart medical applications, the university added.
Yu’s recognition demonstrates Taiwan’s clinical expertise and research prowess in prevention and treatment of liver disease, the KMU said. Yu added that he will continue to work on elimination of liver disease and contribute to the global public health community. (YCH-E)
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