Activities

The Food Biotechnology program in UMD. (2010/07/09-2010/07/31)

Our university signed an agreement with the University of Maryland(UMD) that made the students of CMU will have opportunities to study in UMD during summer holidays. 

There are 7 students in our department got the opportunity to attend the Food Biotechnology program in UMD on 9th to 31st of July 2010.

The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). (2010/04/16)

The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) is the branch of the United States Food and Drug Administration which conducts research to define biological mechanisms of action underlying the toxicity of products regulated by the FDA. National Center for Toxicological Research was located in Jefferson, Arkansas, President Bill Clinton’s hometown. It conducts FDA mission-critical, peer-reviewed, critical path (translational) research targeted to develop a scientifically sound basis for regulatory decisions and reduce risks associated with FDA-regulated products. This research is aimed at:

• evaluating the biological effects of potentially toxic chemicals or microorganisms 
• defining the complex mechanisms that govern their toxicity 
• understanding critical biological events in the expression of toxicity 
• developing methods to improve assessment of human exposure, susceptibility, and risk.  

NCTR’s research efforts support the FDA’s Strategic Goals:

• FDA Strategic Goal 1: Strengthen FDA for Today and Tomorrow 
• FDA Strategic Goal 2: Improve Patient and Consumer Safety 
• FDA Strategic Goal 3: Increase Access to New Medical and Food Products 
• FDA Strategic Goal 4: Improve the Quality and Safety of Manufactured Products and the Supply Chain 

NCTR represents the FDA on key committees of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a program that evaluates the effects of chemicals on health. Over the past 30 years, the NTP and NCTR have conducted studies on FDA nominated compounds, providing data to support science-based regulatory decisions.  

In 2009 Feb/17~May/17 and 2010 May/1~Jul/30, Dr. Hsiu-Mei Chiang was invited by Dr. Peter Fu, to work in Division of Biochemistry Toxicological in NCTR and learn the toxicological methods and the regulatory toxicological research of FDA. During the visit in NCTR, we finished the safety and toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticle on keratinocytes and phototoxocity of azulene. Until now, the paper entitle “Photoirradiation of azulene and guaiazulene – Formation of reactive oxygen species and induction of lipid peroxidation” was publish by J. Photochem. Photobiol A. The visiting in NCTR not only helping us setup the platform of phototoxicity study in our college but also promotes the international exchange of our college.

In addition, Dr. Fu was invited to give a speech about the toxicity of Chinese medicine and cosmetics in our university on April 16, 2010. He also met President Huang of CMU.