Chen Ding-shinn, a professor at National Taiwan University College of Medicine, has been awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for his outstanding contributions to the study of hepatitis B and liver cancer, it was announced April 26.
The Nikkei Asia Prizes were established in 1996 in celebration of the 120th anniversary of the Japanese newspaper “Nihon Keizai Shimbum.” The annual prize is given to Asians outside of Japan for their achievements in three areas: economic development, science and technology and arts and culture.
Chen is the sole recipient of this year’s Nikkei Prize in the science and technology category. Along with the prize comes a monetary award of 3 million Japanese yen (US$32,000).
The 67-year-old professor of medicine began studying hepatitis B and liver cancer at National Taiwan University under the direction of Sung Juei-low, a man sometimes referred to as the father of Taiwanese studies in liver diseases.
While subsequently working as a visiting professor with the National Institutes of Health in the U.S., Chen discovered a link between hepatitis B and liver cancer. Based on his discovery, Chen was able to develop a vaccine for hepatitis B.
In July 1984, Taiwan started giving hepatitis B vaccines to newborns, making it first in the world to administer what was in effect a liver cancer prevention shot. As the result, the hepatitis infection rate on the island fell gradually from as high as 15 percent to as low as 1 percent. Japan soon followed suit and began administering hepatitis B vaccines as well.
In addition to Chen, three other Taiwanese have won the Nikkei Asia Prize: Hsu Wen-lung, founder of the Chi-Mei Group; Morris Chang, founder and chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.; and Chang Chun-yen, professor emeritus at National Chiao Tung University. (HZW)