2024 International Symposium on Respiratory Medicine
Environment and Airway Diseases
Invited Speaker
Marc Chadeau-Hyam
Professor of Computational Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London
Education
2005 Doctor of Philosophy, University of Paris-Sud – INSERM (high distinction)
2001 MSc in Biostatistics, University of Paris-Sud – INSERM (high distinction)
2000 DEng – MSc in Statistics; ONIRIS (French ‘Grande ecole’), Nantes.
Honors/Awards
2018-present Honorary Professor at SciencesPo Paris and Utrecht University & Member of the ISAB for H2020-Aurora project
2013-present Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
Prizes:
2022 Queen's Anniversary Prize for COVID-19 response (REACT study team)
2021 Imperial President’s Medal for Outstanding Research Team (to REACT study team)
Selected Active Awards:
2019-25 Norwegian Research Council- Healthy Choices and the Social Gradient. Local PI (GBP 450K).
2019-23 MRC- Using metabolomics to investigate the metabolic signatures and associated pathways linked to short-term exposure to air pollutants. Co-I (GBP30K)
2020-23 MRC- Exposure to particulate matter on the London Underground in healthy subjects and patients with chronic respiratory disease. Co-I (GBP60K)
2020-26 EU H2020- EXPANSE project: EXposome Powered tools for healthy living in urbAN Settings. Local PI, WP leader and member of the steering committee (GBP 750K).
2020-25 EU H2020- LongITools project: Dynamic longitudinal exposome trajectories in cardiovascular and metabolic Non-communicable diseases. Local PI, WP leader and member of the steering committee (GBP 600K).
2020-24 MRC- PRISM project: Korea-UK PRISM Consortium: Establishing Precision Medicine in severe asthma. Co-PI (GBP 200K).
2023-28 EU Horizon Europe - DISCERN project: Discovering the causes of three poorly understood cancers in Europe. Local PI, WP leader and member of the steering committee (GBP 640K).
2024-30 EU Horizon Europe - STAGE project: Stay Healthy Through Ageing: An Integrated Life-Course Approach for Person-Centred Solutions and Care for Ageing with Multi-morbidity in the European Regions. Local PI, WP leader and member of the steering committee (GBP 950K).
Research Output
Published paper: 196 (173 accepted) including 95 as (joint) first/last author
Google Scholar H-Index: 51
Number of citations: 9,744 (i10 index: 122)
Professional Experiences
2020-present Professor in Computational Epidemiology Imperial College, London UK
2019-21 Honorary Professor, SciencesPo Paris.
2018-20 Reader in Computational Epidemiology Imperial College, London UK
2016-18 Senior Lecturer in Statistical Bioinformatics - Imperial College, London UK
2013-present Visiting Professor, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
2011-15 Lecturer in Statistical Bioinformatics - Imperial College, London UK
2009-11 Research Fellow- Imperial College, London UK
2006-09 Research Associate - Imperial College, London UK
2005-06 Post Doctoral Researcher, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Research Interests
Professor Chadeau-Hyam has gained expertise over the last 15 years in devising, applying and adapting computationally efficient methods to analyse and integrate complex and high-dimensional data. As an active member of the European exposome initiative, he has developed inegrative approaches to explore the stressor- triggered molecular mechanisms involved in the determination of individual risk profiles. In 2021, Professor Chadeau-Hyam joined the REACT team, where he provided statististical oversight. His team currently includes ~15 members with a unique diversity of profiles, including medical, biological, and statistical backgrounds, all collaborating for the in-depth analysis of large-scale data from mega-sized and/or deeply phenotypes cohort studies.
Brief content of the topic
The Exposome concept has been developed as a necessary complement to the genome to better understand the determinants of health and of the risk of chronic diseases. The external exposome combines a large range of external factors potentially impacting human health from conception onwards. These external exposures (i) are heterogeneous in nature, scale, and variability, (ii) feature complex correlation patterns and (iii) may operate as mixtures. The internal exposome can be defined as the way these exposures are embodied and its exploration relies on the screening and integration of high-resolution molecular data. The isolated exploration of an omic profile offers the possibility to capture stressor-induced biological/biochemical alterations, potentially impacting individual risk profiles, but this may only yield a fractional picture of the complex molecular events involved, therefore limiting our understanding of the effective mechanisms mediating the effect of the exposome. Taking examples from real-world exposome projects we will illustrate the use of statistical and machine learning techniques to accommodate co-occurring exposures contributing to population stratification, explore the links between these and health outcomes, and investigate the (multi)-omic response to these sets of exposures.
Chun-Hwa Wang
Attending Physician, Lin-Kuo Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Education
1982-1989 Bachelor of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Professional Experiences
Professor of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Since 2014, 7
Professor of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Since 2015, 2
Director of Airway Disease Division, Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 2005- 2010
President of Taiwan Asthma Consulting Association, 2019-2023
Research Interests
Innate lymphoid cells, T cell subsets and fibrocytes involved in Remodeling of asthma, hypoxia and COPD outcome
Important published papers
Wang C-H., Huang CD, Lin HC, Lee KY, Lin SM, Liu CY, Huang KH, Ko YS, Chung KF, Kuo HP. Increased circulating fibrocytes in asthma with chronic airflow obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 178(6):583-91.
Wang C-H., Huang CD, Lin HC, Huang TT, Lee KY, Lo YL, Lin SM, Chung KF, Kuo HP. Increased activation of fibrocytes in patients with chronic J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 129(5):1367-76.
Wang C-H., Punde TH, Huang CD, Chou PC, Huang TT, Wu WH, Liu CH, Chung KF, Kuo HP. Fibrocyte trafficking in patients with chronic obstructive asthma and during an acute asthma exacerbation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015;135(5):1154-1162.
Lee SW, Huang YC, Lin CY, Huang HY, Liu CW, Hsieh MT, Lee CL, Chung WY, Chung KF, Wang C-H*, Kuo HP. Impact of Annual Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Acute Exacerbation Frequency in Asthmatic Patients. J Asthma Allergy 2021; 14:81-90.
Wang C-H, Weng CM, Huang TT, Lee MJ, Lo CY, Chen MC, Chou CL, Kuo HP. Anti-IgE therapy inhibits chemotaxis, proliferation and transformation of circulating fibrocytes in patients with severe allergic asthma. Respirology 2021; 26(9):842-850.
Wang C-H*, Lo CY, Huang HY, Wang TY, Weng CM, Chen CJ, Huang YC, Chung FT, Lin CW, Chung KF, Kuo HP.Oxygen Desaturation Is Associated With Fibrocyte Activation via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Axis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:852713.
Brief content of the topic
There is increasing evidence and concern about the relationship between asthma and environmental factors. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the main constituents of particulate matter air pollutants (PM10 and PM2.5) and are traffic-related air pollutants that are related to the amount of diesel exhaust particulates (DEP) produced. Previous studies have shown these substances enhance the production of pro-allergen cytokines and IgE and worsen the severity of asthma by increasing Th2 and Th17 cytokines. Moreover, these air pollutants may stimulate airway epithelial cells, and secretion of epithelial injury cytokines affects the classification and differentiation of innate lymphocytes, thereby regulating the onset of asthma, control of asthma and airway remodeling.
Our study found that the annual decline in FVC (n=83, r=-0.760, p<0.0001), FEV1 (r=-0.641, p<0.0001) and FEV1 predicted value (r=-0.678, p<0.0001) was inversely correlated to the yearly exposure of PAH concentration. There was highly correlation between the annual decline in FVC, FEV1 and FEV1 predicted value and exposure of annual concentration of PAH in asthmatics living in high air pollution area, but not in the group of asthmatics living in moderate to low air pollution area. Circulating ILC2 and ILC3 cells in peripheral blood of asthmatic patients who were living in high air pollution areas were higher than those in asthmatic patients living in moderate to low air pollution. The RORrt involved in the regulation of IL-17A and GATA-3 associated with Th2 differentiation were significantly higher in asthmatic patients living in high air pollution areas. The gene expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in PBMC derived from asthmatic patients living in high air pollution area was significantly higher than those in the low air pollution area. Among high air pollution area, the asthmatics that were atopic to HDM had a higher level of ILC2 cells compared to those without atopic to mite.
The level of T-BET and GATA-3 was significantly higher in PBMC exposed to mite or mite+BaP, even in asthmatics with or without atopic to HDM. The regulation of FOXP3 expression in Treg cells which occurs through the concerted action of transcription factors and extensive epigenetic control mechanisms was also significantly increased in PBMC exposed to mite or mite + BaP, while asthmatics was either atopic or non-atopic to HDM. However, the level of RORt in PBMC did not show any difference in asthmatics with either atopic or non-atopic to HDM. The mite and air pollution involved in the regulation of IL-17A and GATA-3 associated with Th2 differentiation may contribute to the yearly lung function decline in asthmatic patients with atopic to mite and living in high air pollution areas.
Hsiao-Chi Chuang
Professor, School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University
Education
2008-2011 PhD. Division of Pathophysiology and Repair, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK
2003-2005 MSc. Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, School of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
1999-2003 BSc. Occupational Safety and Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Taiwan
Honors/Awards
2023 Elected Full Member, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
2023 Taipei Medical University Research Excellent Award
2022 World's Top 2% Scientists 2021, Stanford University (Elsevier)
2022 Taipei Medical University Top Research Article Award
2022 Taipei Medical University Research Excellent Award
2021 World's Top 2% Scientists 2020, Stanford University (Elsevier)
2021 Taiwan Public Health Conference Best Poster Award
2021 Best Paper of the Year Award on Aerosol and Air Quality Research (AAQR) (SCI; First author; Acute effects of pulmonary exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles on brain in vivo)
2021 Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research Conference Best Poster Award
2020 Taipei Medical University Excellent Teacher Award
2019 Taipei Medical University College of Medicine Teaching Excellent Award
2018 Taiwan Public Health Conference Best Poster Award
2017 Taipei Medical University Research Excellent Award
2016 Taipei Medical University School of Respiratory Therapy Teaching Excellent Award
2014 Taipei Medical University Research Excellent Award
2013 Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital Research Excellent Award
2010 EUROCHAMP-2 Travel Grant
2010 The Gillian Powell Memorial Travel Scholarship
Professional Experiences
2023-present Visiting Professor, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
2023-present Visiting Professor, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
2023-present Adjunct Professor, Master Program in Clinical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Pharmarcy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
2022-2023 Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2022-2023 Director, Center for Teaching and Learning Development, Academic Affairs Office, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2020-present Professor, School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2020-present Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
2018-2020 Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
2016-2020 Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2016-2020 Associate Professor, School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2016 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2013-2016 Assistant Professor, School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2012-2015 Medical Researcher, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
2012 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Cosmetic Application and Management, St Mary’s Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taiwan
2012 Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2011 Research Fellow, Cardiff University, UK
2011 Project student tutor, School of Biosciences & School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
2010-2011 Invigilator, Cardiff University, UK
2009-2011 Demonstrator, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK
2008 Research Assistant, Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
2006-2007 Medical Sergeant, Hualien District Military Detention Centre, Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan
2002-2003 Research Assistant, Office of Environmental Safety and Health, China Medical University, Taiwan
Research Interests
The overall aim of research is to understand comprehensively how specific factors, such as aerosol-contained free radicals, regulate cell signalling and protein and lipid metabolites during health and disease in the lung environment. In particular, I am elucidating the pathways leading from the interaction of such reactive oxygen species (ROS), through the intracellular signalling cascades, to the apoptotic activities. Specifically, my research interests are:
Air pollution and environmental lung disease.
Pathophysiology and therapy for lung disease.
Developmental biology of lung.
Brief content of the topic
Climate change has the potential to amplify air pollution and modify the physicochemical attributes of particulate matter, including its size, dispersion, and chemical makeup. These modifications critically affect particle deposition in the lungs, leading to pronounced respiratory implications. As such, climate change can significantly influence lung particle deposition by altering the nature of airborne particulates, heightening the risk of respiratory disease onset.
The intertwined effects of climate change and air pollution pose pressing global health dilemmas, especially concerning respiratory ailments. Projected increases in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events due to climate change can further escalate air pollution. Furthermore, anticipated economic growth and population surges in many regions globally will likely augment air pollution levels, intensifying respiratory disease burdens. Vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory conditions, are particularly at risk.
Compounding these challenges, the adverse consequences include heightened inflammation, increased oxidative stress, and compromised lung immune functions. Therefore, it's paramount that public health initiatives address and mitigate the respiratory repercussions of both climate change and air pollution
Kai-Jen Chuang
Professor of department of Public Health, School of medicine, College of medicine, Taipei Medical University
Education
Ph.D., Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University
Honors/Awards
2006 Award for fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan
Professional Experiences
Research fellow, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School, Boston, USA
Research Interests
Indoor air pollution epidemiology
Occupational health
Brief content of the topic
Taiwan’s employed population is 11.45 million, accounting for nearly half of Taiwan’s total population. The population in the manufacturing and service industries is approximately 8.06 million. Workers in Taiwan's manufacturing industry are easily exposed to dust and metal fumes, while workers in the service industry are easily exposed to cooking aerosol and volatile organic chemicals.Exposure to these air pollutants will significantly increase workers' risk for future cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Therefore, this series of studies discusses the association between occupational exposure to air pollution and cardiopulmonary biological markers, and discusses how to effectively intervene to improve air quality in occupational places or reduce air pollution exposure.