Taipei: Former Academia Sinica President Wong Chi-huey and Philippine infectious disease specialist Raul V. Destura have been announced as recipients of the 2025 BIO Asia Award, as stated by the BIO Asia-Taiwan international committee.
According to Focus Taiwan, Committee Chairman Johnsee Lee revealed the recipients, including the Taipei-based Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), as the institutional awardee. The award, established in 2024, recognizes contributions in biotechnology and healthcare across the Asia Pacific through technological innovation, public health advancements, regional cooperation, or industrial development.
The awardees were chosen from candidates nominated by government representatives or organizations in the field from 11 countries. Wong is distinguished for his work on complex sugars called glycans, which play a crucial role in protein manufacturing within cells. His research has paved the way for low-sugar universal vaccines against cancer and viral pathogens, including coronavirus.
Wong, a former head of Academia Sinica, now holds a position as the Scripps Family Chair Professor of Chemistry at the Scripps Research Institute in the United States. Destura, on the other hand, is lauded for his work with Manila HealthTek Inc., where he developed affordable and user-friendly rapid test kits for diseases like dengue fever and COVID-19. His contributions have significantly impacted health in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
The DCB has been instrumental in developing and transferring technologies to local enterprises and has supported over 200 startups as an incubator. It has played a critical role in the commercialization of technologies related to medicine, vaccines, and gene therapy.
The 2025 BIO Asia-Taiwan International Conference and Exhibition will occur from July 23 to 27 at the Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, with the award ceremony scheduled for Thursday. Wong is expected to deliver a speech titled "Decoding the Secret Life of Carbohydrates," followed by Destura's presentation on healthcare research and development in the Philippines.