The FutureTech Breakthrough Award sponsored by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), The Executive Yuan is regarded as one of the most important indicators demonstrating research capacity and innovative capability of Taiwan’s biotech industry. An innovative research project submitted by a research team led by Superintendent WANG titled “A Composite Ultrasound Medical Device for Microbubble Vaccines Applied via The Sputtering Lysozyme Microbubble for Trachea Infection Therapy” has won the “2020 FutureTech Breakthrough Award” bestowed by Ministry of Science and Technology, after several rounds of rigorous screening and reviewing by a panel of experts.

In 2018, a prior research project submitted by Dr. Chih-Hung, Wang titled “Universal Microbubbles-based Combined Medical Device for Promoting Local Drug Delivery” won “National Innovation Awards Renewals” bestowed by Research Center for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy (RBMP). Research findings derived from Dr. WANG’s 2020 innovation project have concretely demonstrated clinical potentials and medical applications of microbubble-based technology in enhancing delivery of drugs to the inner ear, facilitating wound healing, and promoting hair growth.

As COVID-19 pandemic runs rampant globally and delivers a heavy blow to most countries of the world, the innovation research project, jointly led by Superintendent WANG of TSGH and Professor Ai-Ho, LIAO of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, combines ultrasound technology with composite medical material for microbubble vaccines delivered via applying sputtering or via an aqueous gel medium in treating respiratory tract infections. The research team led by Dr. WANG and Professor LIAO have over the years accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in combining ultrasound technology with lysozyme microbubbles for promoting local drug delivery via a percutaneous penetration enhancer capable of being administered topically, especially regarding drug delivered via an inhaler to deep lung cells or lower respiratory tract. Professor WANG’s team hope that in the near future, researchers can develop microbubble-based drug carriers/inhalers capable of delivering vaccines or therapeutic medications for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. By using ultrasound in precisely detecting and monitoring efficiency of medication delivery, researchers led by Dr. WANG aim to significantly increase the efficiency and precision of COVID-19 vaccines or therapeutics.