Education

• Graduated from Hokkaido University, Veterinary Medicine in 1989, and qualified as a Veterinary.  PhD in Hokkaido University in 2005

Honors/Awards

• Awards including F1000, Faculty Member of the Year 2011 in Respiratory Disorder (2011)

• Young investigator award in European Respiratory Society (2001)

• Leadership Award (Johnson & Johnson) (2013) etc.

Professional Experiences

• Kaz has a unique career due to his combination of academia, industry and biotech work experiences. Kaz has been working at Imperial College London (incl. Reader, honorary professor) for 22 years.  He has authored and co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and book-chapters including New England Journal of Medicine. In addition to the research work in Sankyo and J&J as a head of section, Kaz also co-founded 3 biotech companies working on the development of new inhaled medicines for respiratory virus/fungus infections.

Research Interests

• Respiratory infection, aging, pathogenesis of asthma and COPD

• Health effects of air pollution

• Drug Discovery

Brief content of the topic

It is known that respiratory virus infection affects the natural history of asthma (especially in early life). With the aging of the population and increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of asthma in older adults (diagnosed and probably undiagnosed) is expected to increase drastically, placing an increasing burden on sufferers, the community and health budgets. However, longer-term analysis of natural history is more complicated as the aging component, as the independent factor, should be considered for the interpretation. I will describe that virus infection or pollution causes cellular senescence, the main hallmarks of aging, showing proliferative arrest, but remaining metabolically active, releasing pro-inflammatory mediators and proteases known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This further causes increased susceptibility of virus infection, and this vicious circle is the main mechanism of repeated exacerbations in asthma. I will also discuss the therapy targeting virus-induced cellular senescence in this talk.

Education

• PhD, Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University

• MD, Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University

Honors/Awards

• Clinical Research Award, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 2023/01

• International Congress on Nutrition, 2022

• Tokyo Excellent Abstract Award from Overseas, Japan, 2022/12

• Clinical Research Award, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 2022/01

• Best oral presentation award, the Ninth Holistic Medical Integration Service Symposium Taiwan, 2021/10

• Large Grant Proposal Award, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 2021/03

• Clinical Research Award, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 2021/03 

• Innovative Teaching Award, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, 2020/9 

• Clinical Research Award, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 2020/3 

• Best oral presentation award, the Eighth Holistic Medical Integration Service Symposium Taiwan, Taiwan, 2019/09 

• Excellent Paper Award of Hospice Medical Association, Taiwan Hospice and Palliative Medicine Association, Taiwan, 2019/06 

Professional Experiences

• Family Medicine; Obesity Medicine

Research Interests

• Childhood Asthma

• Childhood Obesity

• Nutrition, Early Puberty

Brief content of the topic

We presented serial studies discussed here focus on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in the context of asthma and food allergies. The first study is a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on asthma control and management. It includes 16 randomized controlled trials and finds that omega-3 supplementation is associated with a significant decrease in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), an indicator of airway inflammation, and a reduction in the postexercise decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), especially with higher doses and longer duration of supplementation in adults. However, the effects on other asthma-related parameters, such as symptom scores or bronchodilator use, remain inconclusive.

The second study is another meta-analysis focusing on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing food allergies in infants, particularly through maternal supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. The analysis reveals that maternal omega-3 supplementation is significantly associated with reduced risks of infant egg and peanut sensitization. The benefits are observed both during the first three years of life and beyond, with a linear relationship between omega-3 supplementation and decreased risk of egg sensitization. However, omega-3 intake during childhood does not show a significant protective effect against food allergies.

In our Taipei Maternal Infant Nutrition Cohort, we also discovered that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy reduced the risk of allergic rhinitis. This could be mediated through alterations of infant gut microbiome.

In summary, all studies highlight the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in specific health contexts: improving asthma control and reducing the risk of food sensitization in infants when supplemented during pregnancy and lactation. The findings suggest that the timing and dosage of omega-3 supplementation are crucial factors in protecting children from atopic diseases, especially during pregnancy.

Education

• 2012 Doctor Philosophiae (DrPhilos), University of Bergen, Norway

• 2002 Master of Public Health (MPH), School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA

• 1988 M.D., School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University

Professional Experiences

• Jul 1991 - Feb 2002 Chronic Disease Control Bureau, Taiwan

• Feb 2002 - Jun 2003 Director, Department of Chest Disease, Chest Hospital, Taiwan

• Jul 2003 - Dec 2006 Consultant, Department of Scientific Activities, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Paris, France

• Jan 2007 - Jun 2015 Director, Department of Lung Health, The Union, Paris, France

• Feb 2007 - present Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

• Aug 2010 - Jul 2016 Technical Review Panel, Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

• Aug 2010 - Dec 2014 International Advisory Board, Burden of Lung Disease Initiatives

• July 2011 - Dec 2013 Global Green Light Committee, Stop TB Partnership

• July 2011 - May 2020 Co-Chair, Regional Green Light Committee (for MDR-TB) in the Western Pacific Region

• Feb 2012 - Jun 2020 Technical advisor, FHI360 CAP TB project Yunnan, China

• Mar 2014 - May 2018 Core Group, the Global Drug-Resistant TB Initiative (GDI)

• Oct 2016 - Mar 2019 Technical Lead, TREAT TB Philippines project

Research Interests

• Tuberculosis

• Lung diseases

Brief content of the topic

Asthma is one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally. We used data from the Global Asthma Network Phase I cross-sectional epidemiological study (2015–20). A validated, written questionnaire was distributed via schools to three age groups (children, 6–7 years; adolescents, 13–14 years; and adults, ≥19 years). Eligible adults were the parents or guardians of children and adolescents included in the surveys. In individuals with asthma diagnosed by a doctor, we collated responses on past-year asthma medicines use (type of inhaled or oral medicine, and frequency of use). Questions on asthma symptoms and health visits were used to define past-year symptom severity and extent of asthma control. Income categories for countries based on gross national income per capita followed the 2020 World Bank classification. Proportions (and 95% CI clustered by centre) were used to describe results. Generalised structural equation multilevel models were used to assess factors associated with receiving medicines and having poorly controlled asthma in each age group. Overall, 453 473 individuals from 63 centres in 25 countries were included, comprising 101 777 children (6445 [6·3%] with asthma diagnosed by a doctor), 157 784 adolescents (12 532 [7·9%]), and 193 912 adults (6677 [3·4%]). Use of asthma medicines varied by symptom severity and country income category. The most used medicines in the previous year were inhaled short-acting β2 agonists (SABA; range across age groups, 29·3–85·3% participants) and inhaled corticosteroids (12·6–51·9%). The proportion of individuals with severe asthma symptoms not taking inhaled corticosteroids (inhaled corticosteroids alone or with long-acting β2 agonists) was high in all age groups (934 [44·8%] of 2085 children, 2011 [60·1%] of 3345 adolescents, and 1142 [55·5%] of 2058 adults), and was significantly higher in middle-to-low-income countries. Oral SABA and theophylline were used across age groups and country income categories, contrary to current guidelines. Asthma management plans were used by 4049 (62·8%) children, 6694 (53·4%) adolescents, and 3168 (47·4%) adults; and 2840 (44·1%) children, 6942 (55·4%) adolescents, and 4081 (61·1%) adults had well-controlled asthma. Independently of country income and asthma severity, having an asthma management plan was significantly associated with the use of any type of inhaled medicine (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2·75 [95% CI 2·40–3·15] for children; 2·45 [2·25–2·67] for adolescents; and 2·75 [2·38–3·16] for adults) or any type of oral medicine (1·86 [1·63–2·12] for children; 1·53 [1·40–1·68] for adolescents; and 1·78 [1·55–2·04] for adults). Poor asthma control was associated with low country income (lower-middle-income and low-income countries vs high-income countries, adjusted OR 2·33 [95% CI 1·32–4·14] for children; 3·46 [1·83–6·54] for adolescents; and 4·86 [2·55–9·26] for adults). Asthma management and control is frequently inadequate, particularly in low-resource settings. Strategies should be implemented to improve adherence to asthma treatment guidelines worldwide, with emphasis on access to affordable and quality-assured essential asthma medicines especially in low-income and middle-income countries.