[Taiwan–Malaysia Medical Innovation Forum] CMUH and UNIMAS Co-Host Major Medical Symposium to Advance Medical Technology and Precision Patient Care
[Taiwan–Malaysia Medical Innovation Forum] CMUH and UNIMAS Co-Host Major Medical Symposium to Advance Medical Technology and Precision Patient Care
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024, Taiwan’s China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) and Malaysia’s Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) have established a long-term collaborative partnership aimed at driving innovation in healthcare. On 12th July, in Kuching, Sarawak, the two institutions co-hosted their first major academic event – a joint symposium titled “Advances in Medical Technology and Patient Care Symposium.” This symposium spotlighted frontier advancements in medical technology and clinical care, including obesity management, cancer proton therapy, medical artificial intelligence, Parkinson’s disease interventions, and atrial fibrillation treatment. In his opening remarks, Dr. Chih-Kun Huang, Superintendent of International Center at CMUH, remarked, “This symposium not only showcases Taiwan’s achievements in precision medicine and innovation but also marks a new chapter of collaboration with Malaysia. We look forward to deepening our shared mission of improving health outcomes across borders.” China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) in Taiwan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) co-hosted the '2025 Advances in Medical Technology and Patient Care Symposium' in Kuching on July 12, attracting over 200 participants and receiving an enthusiastic response. Multidisciplinary Strategies in Obesity Treatment: A New Era of Innovation Dr. Chih-Kun Huang, Superintendent of International Center, CMUH, shared insights in his keynote titled “The Trend and Future of Obesity Treatment.” He addressed the global obesity epidemic and the limitations of conventional methods such as lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy. Dr. Huang highlighted the emergence of novel anti-obesity agents targeting appetite and energy regulation, along with hormonal modulation following bariatric surgery. He also emphasized the role of genetic and microbiome-based approaches in advancing personalized interventions, and the growing potential of endoscopic bariatric therapies as less invasive alternatives. Dr. Huang stressed that the future of obesity treatment lies in a multidisciplinary framework combining medical, behavioral, and technological strategies—especially relevant in countries like Malaysia where obesity prevalence is rising. Proton Therapy in Cancer Treatment: Precision with Fewer Side Effects Dr. Chun-Ru Chien, Director of Radiation Oncology Department at CMUH, delivered a presentation on “Proton Therapy in Cancer Treatment.” He compared conventional photon-based radiotherapy with proton therapy, an advanced modality offering superior dose conformity to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Dr. Chien emphasized the clinical benefits for patients in both Taiwan and Malaysia and introduced CMUH’s new proton therapy center, established in 2024—Taiwan’s fifth and most advanced to date—signaling a commitment to global cancer care excellence. Medical AI: A Foundational Driver of Precision Medicine Dr. Wan-Yuo Guo, M.D., Ph.D., President of World Federation of Neuroradiological Societies (WFNRS), shared his expert perspective on “Medical AI as a Foundational Driver of Precision Medicine.” Dr. Guo illustrated how AI is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling integration and analysis of complex, multimodal datasets—such as imaging, genomics, pathology, and clinical records. He focused particularly on imaging AI’s ability to enhance diagnostic accuracy, detect disease earlier, and assist with personalized risk stratification. He also discussed the role of federated learning and AI-driven clinical decision support systems, highlighting AI’s transition from supportive technology to a central enabler of predictive, preventive, and participatory medicine. Dual-Target MRgFUS: A Breakthrough in Parkinson’s Disease Care Dr. Jui-Cheng Chen, Director of Neurology Department at CMUH, introduced a groundbreaking advancement in movement disorder treatment with his talk on “Revolutionizing Parkinson’s Care: Dual-Target MRgFUS for Comprehensive Symptom Relief.” He presented the world’s first dual-target MR-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) procedure, which simultaneously ablates the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) and the pallidothalamic tract (PTT). This innovation offers comprehensive relief for Parkinson’s symptoms, addressing both tremor and rigidity in a non-invasive, incision-free manner. For patients ineligible for deep brain stimulation, this minimally invasive therapy with immediate results and high safety is redefining standard care in Parkinson’s management. Atrial Fibrillation: Concomitant Ablation and LAA Closure for Better Outcomes Dr. Yen-Nien Lin, MD, Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, CMUH, presented on “Best Atrial Fibrillation Management: Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Left Atrial Appendage Closure—The CMUH Experience.” He outlined an integrated treatment approach for patients with symptomatic AF and elevated stroke risk, combining catheter ablation with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in a single procedure. This strategy addresses both arrhythmogenic foci and thromboembolic sources, reducing the need for lifelong anticoagulation. Drawing on findings from major clinical trials like aMAZE and AMULET IDE, Dr. Lin discussed procedural techniques, device deployment, and post-operative management—emphasizing the value of a tailored, multidisciplinary protocol to enhance long-term patient outcomes. From the UNIMAS side, Prof. Dr. Edmund Sim, from the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, introduced CARISA (Cancer Risk Assessment Toolkit), a multilingual digital platform designed to empower Malaysians in early self-assessment of cancer risks. Early Cancer Detection through CARISA Toolkit Highlighting the burden of cancers such as breast, nasopharyngeal, cervical, lung, and colorectal in Malaysia, Prof. Edmund emphasized the critical need for culturally adapted, evidence-based tools that enable personalized, pre-symptomatic risk screening. CARISA, a subscription-based toolkit, integrates five disease-specific modules, i.e., BreCRA, NasoCRA, CerviCRA, LunCRA, and ColoCRA, each built on Malaysian national cancer registry data, systematic reviews, and clinical expert consensus. As noted by Prof Edmund, what makes CARISA unique is not just its scientific rigor, but its inclusivity within the Sarawakian context. The tool supports English, Malay, Mandarin, and Iban languages, mirroring the rich linguistic diversity of Malaysia, especially in Sarawak. Otology Implants: Transforming Hearing Care Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ing Ping Tang, a senior consultant in Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, presented a review on new advances in otology implants that have expanded beyond traditional cochlear devices. His session provided a deep dive into various implantable technologies, including Bone Conduction Implant, Cochlear Implant, Middle Ear Implant, Passive Middle Ear Implant and also Auditory Brainstem Implants. Of particular interest were discussions around extended candidacy for patients with atypical anatomies or minimal benefit from conventional hearing aids. This symposium marks the first large-scale academic collaboration between CMUH and UNIMAS since the signing of their MOU, and sets a new benchmark for medical innovation, education, and cross-border collaboration. By facilitating knowledge exchange and showcasing precision medicine advancements, this event exemplifies a joint commitment to improving healthcare outcomes across Asia and beyond.