An integrated platform connecting medicinal plant resources with evidence-based applications.
Validating Traditional Wisdom, Innovating Natural Resources
The Center for Herbal Medicine and Natural Products Research brings together interdisciplinary expertise to advance medicinal plant and natural product research through scientific innovation and translational development. Our work spans fundamental discovery, bioactivity validation, formulation engineering, and bioinformatics-driven mechanism mapping, while actively driving global research collaborations, industry–academia partnerships, and talent cultivation.
Center Director
Ming-Der Lin, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics
Director, Core Facility Center
Director, Center for Herbal Medicine and Natural Products Research
Tzu Chi University
701 Zhongyang Rd., Sec. 3, Hualien 970374, Taiwan
Tel: +886-3-8565301 ext. 11410
E-mail: mingder@gms.tcu.edu.tw
ORCID: 0000-0003-3411-5685
Google Scholar: View publication profile
Core Philosophy
“Validating Traditional Wisdom, Innovating Natural Resources“
- Discover: Identify bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and natural sources.
- Validate: Establish efficacy, safety, and molecular mechanisms using disease-relevant models.
- Translate: Accelerate research breakthroughs into functional health products and therapeutics.
- Develop: Nurture next-generation scientists bridging traditional medicine knowledge with modern scientific practice.
Mission
To integrate plant technology, phytochemical analysis, bioactivity profiling, herbal formulation, and bioinformatics into a seamless, internationally competitive research and translation platform for herbal medicine and natural products.
Near-Term Mission: Anti-Aging Research
The Center’s near-term mission is to advance anti-aging research through two complementary research pillars:
- Neurodegeneration, Memory & Sleep Disorders: Focuses on neuroprotection, cognitive enhancement, and sleep quality optimization.
- Osteoporosis & Skeletal Health: Targets bone remodeling mechanisms and overall skeletal preservation.
Key Objectives
- Bioactive Discovery & Banking: Identify bioactive constituents to establish a Tzu Chi University herbal extract repository, fostering collaborative internal and external research.
- Translational Efficacy: Integrate molecular pharmacology with disease models to provide robust evidence for safety and efficacy, driving the development of health products and novel therapeutics.
- Platform Innovation: Construct an interdisciplinary research platform for herbal medicine and natural products to accelerate academic translation and commercialization.
- Talent Cultivation: Train specialists capable of bridging traditional medicine with modern science, amplifying the University’s academic capacity and societal impact.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Center directly advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through three key pillars:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Advancing anti-aging therapeutics, neuroprotection, and health product innovation to extend quality of life.
- SDG 4: Quality Education | Cultivating interdisciplinary specialists who integrate traditional medicine knowledge with modern scientific practice.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Fostering collaborative research platforms across academic institutions, clinical networks, and industry partners.