Center's conduit for collaboration in Taiwan

Dr. Meng-Chao Yao, a 20-year veteran of the Basic Sciences Division, has returned to his hometown of Taipei, Taiwan, to run the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica. His role there will provide exciting opportunities for collaboration with Hutchinson Center researchers.

The Institute of Molecular Biology houses 32 labs and employs more than 500 people. As director and distinguished research fellow, Yao is continuing his research on chromosome structure and genomic stability. He also serves as a conduit for international research with the Center.

Yao has been working at both institutions during the past three years. He remains affiliated with the Center as member emeritus.

"With support from leadership from both institutions, I am planning to continue the effort," Yao said. "My goal is to share the spirit of innovation and collegiality that I have acquired at the Center with people at the Institute."

In support of President Dr. Lee Hartwell's efforts to work with institutions around the Pacific Rim, Yao has arranged for leaders from Academia Sinica and the Hutchinson Center, including Hartwell, to visit each other. He is also developing a program for students and postdoctoral researchers to cross the Pacific in both directions to further collaborative efforts.

"I think both institutions can benefit from the collaborations because of their differences in strength," Yao said. "Academia Sinica is the top research organization in Taiwan, and one of the best in Asia, with 31 institutes and centers. It has strong research efforts in humanity, physical sciences and biological sciences. The students here are very eager, and the organization is serious about investing in biomedical sciences. Among other things, people at Academia Sinica can learn from the Center's cutting-edge biomedical research, as well as its success in integrating basic, clinical and public health sciences. Our task now is in pairing researchers with common or complementary interests from each institution."