CGU Enews

The 2013 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research-Asia (SFRR-Asia) was held from the 16^th to the 18^th of October at the International Conference Hall and the Conference Room of the College of Engineering of Chang Gung University.  The aim of the conference was to investigate the impact of free radicals in biomedical sciences.  The conference is one of the key events in the research of free radicals.  The headquarters of the Society for Free Radical Research-Asia is located in Japan, and it has a branch in Taiwan.  This conference was jointly hosted by Chang Gung University, the Society of Free Radical Research-Taiwan, and the Society for Free Radical Research-Asia.  It was co-organized by Chang Gung University of Science and Technology.  The theme of the conference this year was “Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Alterations in Ageing and Disease”.  Over 200 international researchers, scholars, and research students from 13 countries participated in the conference to share their research findings on the roles of oxidative stress and mitochondrial alterations in ageing and diseases.  The conference organizer’s thoughtful plan and arrangement left a wonderful impression on the participants.

The opening ceremony took place in the International Conference Hall.  The students of Chang Gung University of Science and Technology performed a brilliant aboriginal dance at the beginning of the opening ceremony.  The opening addresses from the distinguished guests including the President of Chang Gung University Prof. Chia-Chu Pao, the Vice President of Chang Gung University Prof. Jun-Kan Chen, the Dean of the Office of Research and Development of Chung Gung University as well as the President elect of the Society for Free Radical Research-Asia Prof. Daniel Tsun-Yee Chiu, the President of Mackay Medical College Prof. Yao-Hui Wei, and the President of Chang Gung University of Science and Technology Prof. Ying-Tung Lau were followed by the keynote speech of the conference.

The conference invited a number of A-list scholars to be keynote speakers, including the editor-in-chief of Free Radical Biology ＆Medicine Prof. Kelvin Davies, the editor-in-chief of Antioxidant Redox Signaling Prof. Chandan Sen, Prof. Barry Halliwell from Singapore, and Prof. Etsuo Niki from Japan.  In addition, Prof. Daret St. Clair from the United States, Prof. Shinya Toyokuni from Japan, the editor-in-chief of Free Radical Research Prof. Michael Davies, and Prof. Bao-Lu Zhao discussed important progress in the research of free radicals in the Plenary Lecture.  Moreover, numerous prestigious domestic and international scholars and researchers also shared with the audience their research findings and drew overwhelmingly positive responses.  Their research findings certainly made a positive contribution to the international academic cooperation and the research of medical sciences.

In addition to inviting domestic and international renowned scholars as keynote speakers, the conference provided an opportunity for researchers to submit their papers.  Those that passed the rigorous blind review process were then arranged as poster presenters.  The conference committee also selected five best papers and invited their authors to give an oral presentation.  This conference offered a chance to showcase Taiwan’s research capacity.  Through this conference, members of the Society for Free Radical Research-Asia had an opportunity to exchange their views as well as promote their friendships.  There were 48 speeches and 74 poster presentations in this conference.  The closing ceremony took place on the afternoon of the 18^th of October when the best poster presenters were selected and awarded.  A number of the postdoctoral fellows and graduate students of Chang Gung University received an award.  This conference provided numerous topics for future research as well as promoted friendships among the participants.  To sum up, a successful unofficial diplomacy was achieved through this conference.