Taipei Medical University – National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University 2026 Joint Symposium
The second Joint Symposium between National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Medical University was successfully held on 5 January 2026 at the Shuang-Ho Campus, Taipei Medical University. This symposium was the result of a collaborative effort between the Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness (GIMBC) at Taipei Medical University and the Institute of Brain Science (IBS) at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. The event was well attended by faculty members and graduate students from both institutions, reflecting a strong mutual interest from both organizers.
The symposium opened with welcoming remarks from the directors of both institutes, Changwei W. Wu (GIMBC) and Cheryl C.-H. Yang (Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University). Their opening remarks emphasized the importance of continued academic exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration between the two universities.
The invited keynote speaker was Jin-Wu Tsai, a Distinguished Professor from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. In his keynote lecture, he presented on the Mechanisms of Brain Development and Cortical Malformations, highlighting their critical relevance to neurological and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders, and brain tumors. His talk provided a strong conceptual foundation for the scientific discussions that followed.
The research exchange was organized into two presentation formats: 10-minute oral presentations and 3-minute oral blitz presentations. The first session, themed Consciousness and Psychiatric Disorders, was chaired by Albert C. Yang (IBS) and Niall Duncan (GIMBC). The second session focused on Sleep, Stroke, and Alzheimer’s Disease and was chaired by Changwei W. Wu (GIMBC) and Ding-I Yang (IBS). Both sessions stimulated active discussion and interaction between the audience and speakers.
During the coffee break, dedicated time was allocated for photo sessions, networking, and laboratory tours. Participants visited the Brain Time Lab from GIMBC and observed a real-time EEG monitoring demonstration hosted by IBS. Warm and enthusiastic interactions were observed throughout this session, further strengthening connections between faculty members and students from both institutions.
The final research exchange was arranged as oral blitz presentation sessions, in which students presented their studies in three minutes. Due to strong student enthusiasm, the session was held simultaneously in two rooms, each attended by members from both institutions. All students successfully delivered their presentations, and the audience actively engaged in discussion by asking questions and exchanging ideas at the end of each session. The atmosphere was lively and supportive, and Changwei W. Wu, as chair, encouraged students to continue discussions beyond the symposium and to explore opportunities for future collaboration.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks delivered in the main hall by the directors of both institutes. They expressed sincere gratitude to all organizers, presenters, and participants for their dedication and hard work in making the symposium a success, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining and expanding this collaborative initiative in future joint events
