Interests

Research Topics and Achievements

• Exosomes and Gene Therapy
• Regenerative Medicine: iPSCs and Ophthalmology
• Tumor Stem Cells
• Nano Medicine

1. Exosomes and Gene Therapy

Professor Chiou’s research emphasizes the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and gene therapy, making significant contributions to understanding and manipulating cellular processes for therapeutic purposes. His involvement in cutting-edge projects, such as the development of electronic eyes using stem cell technology and the latest CRISPR/Cas9 technology to repair mutations in the RS1 gene from XLRS patients’ iPSCs, particularly repairing retinal degeneration in 3D retinal organoids, demonstrates his innovative approaches in advancing treatments for retinal diseases.

2. Regenerative Medicine: iPSCs and Ophthalmology

Professor Chiou Shihua’s research focuses on exploring stem cell properties, with major areas of expertise including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), stemness gene circuits, gene editing, and gene nano-delivery technologies. He is dedicated to constructing a regenerative translational medical platform for cancer, genetic mutation diseases, and personalized drug screening. Professor Chiou has made breakthroughs in stem cell regenerative medicine and cancer stem cells research, obtaining multiple international patents. In the field of ophthalmology, Professor Chiou Shihua is also committed to utilizing stem cell technology to treat various eye diseases, such as establishing models of age-related macular degeneration and innovative treatment platforms, as well as constructing X-linked Juvenile Retinoschisis (XLRS) gene-transfected mouse models.

3. Tumor stem cell

As a scholar in the field of tumor stem cells and cancer cells research, Professor Chiou focuses on the extremely rare cell populations responsible for tumor recurrence and drug resistance in cancer, and utilizes reprogramming principles to delve into the characteristics and mechanisms of these cells. Discoveries include novel strategies for treating glioblastoma (GBM) and the regulation of oral cancer stem cell characteristics and reprogramming efficiency, published in “Molecular Cell” in 2013 and “Cancer Research” in 2015, respectively. The collaboration between the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, and the team led by Professor David Schrump of the National Cancer Institute of the United States has established the “Solaz Transnational Laboratory,” the first lung cancer research cooperation platform between Taiwan and the United States, jointly funded and executed by the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, and Professor Schrump’s team at the National Cancer Institute.

4. Nano medicine