Ding-Shinn Chen
File:2018. 07.19 總統頒授中央研究院院士陳定信「二等景星勳章」 (42784485184) (cropped).jpg
{{Short description|Taiwanese physician and hepatologist (1943–2020)}}
Ding-Shinn Chen ({{zh|c=陳定信|p=Chén Dìngxìn}}; 6 July 1943 – 24 June 2020) was a Taiwanese hepatologist.
Life and career
He was born on 6 July 1943,{{cite news |title=Ding-Shinn-Chen (CV) |url=http://www.tsim.org.tw/article/A95/abstract/12-afternoon/Rm101/CV_Ding-Shinn-Chen.pdf |accessdate=11 December 2018 |publisher=Taiwan Society of Internal Medicine}} in what became Yingge District, New Taipei City.{{cite journal |last1=Downey |first1=Philip |title=Profile of Ding-Shinn Chen |journal=Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |date=25 September 2007 |volume=105 |issue=39 |pages=15173–15175 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0704698104 |pmid=17875984|pmc=2000525 |bibcode=2007PNAS..10415173D |doi-access=free }} Chen's mother became sick when he was a child, and needed surgical intervention. As such, Chen was around medical professionals at a young age, which sparked his interest in the field. Upon high school graduation, Chen was accepted into the National Taiwan University College of Medicine. During his fourth year of medical school, Chen's father died of liver cancer, inspiring him to study hepatology.{{cite news |title=Professor honored for hepatitis research |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10,23,45,10&post=16664 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taiwan Today |date=18 May 2010}} He completed medical studies in 1968.{{cite journal |last1=Lok |first1=Anna Suk-Fong |title=EASL International Recognition Awardee 2009: Prof. Ding-Shinn Chen. |journal=Journal of Hepatology |volume=51 |date=2009 |issue=4 |pages=615–616 |pmid=19760808 |url=https://ilc-congress.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2009_DingShinnChen.pdf|doi=10.1016/j.jhep.2009.07.003 }} Chen became a resident at National Taiwan University Hospital and later joined the NTU medical faculty, working closely with {{ill|Sung Juei-low|zh|宋瑞樓}}.{{cite news |title=Liver researcher wins Nikkei Asia Prize |url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10,23,45,10&post=16589 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taiwan Today |date=27 April 2018}}{{cite news |title=Chen, Ding-Shinn |url=http://www.genomics.sinica.edu.tw/index.php/en/chen-ding-shinn |accessdate=11 December 2018 |publisher=Academia Sinica}} Chen and Sung advocated for widespread preventative measures against hepatitis B, resulting in the establishment of a mass vaccination program in 1984.{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Jake |url=https://taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/06/26/2003738894 |title=Tributes paid as hepatitis expert Chen dies at 76 |work=Taipei Times |date=26 June 2020}} Chen specialized in liver disease research,{{cite news |title=Liver disease on the rise |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/07/12/2003650877 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=12 July 2016}}{{cite news |title=Taiwan's doctors beating hepatitis |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/09/17/0000053610 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=17 September 2000}} namely hepatitis.{{cite news |title=Researchers urge solution to avoid destroying tissue |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/11/07/2003517695 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |date=7 November 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Stacy |title=Researchers find link between age, HBV resistance |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/02/04/2003610795 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=4 February 2015}} His research earned Chen the nickname Liver King ({{zh|t=肝帝|p=gāndì|labels=no}}), which, pronounced in Mandarin, is homophonous to Gandhi.{{cite news |author1=Han Cheung |title=Taiwan in Time: In remembrance of the 'Liver King' |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2020/07/05/2003739372 |accessdate=5 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 July 2020}}
In 1991, Chen was elected a member of Academia Sinica.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Melody |title='Father of the coronavirus' leads fight against SARS |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/19/0000211168 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=19 May 2003}} In 2001 he was appointed dean of NTU's College of Medicine.{{cite news |title=Ding-Shinn Chen |url=http://www.apdw2015.org/download/program/KL-L4/Chair/KL-L4_C_Ding-Shinn%20Chen_CV.pdf |accessdate=11 December 2018 |publisher=Asia Pacific Digestive Week Foundation}} That same year, he became a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences.{{cite news |title=Chen Ding-Shinn |url=https://twas.org/directory/chen-ding-shinn |accessdate=11 December 2018 |publisher=The World Academy of Sciences}} In 2002, Chen traveled to Malawi to deliver medical textbooks.{{cite news |last1=Chu |first1=Monique |title=Malawi gets donation of medical books |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/12/20/0000187863 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=20 December 2002}} During the 2003 SARS outbreak, Chen worked closely with Michael M. C. Lai on research into vaccinations against the disease.{{cite news |title=Vaccine hunt team formed |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/01/0000204181 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=1 May 2003}} In 2005, Chen was elected a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Po-wei |last2=Chung |first2=Li-hua |last3=Chin |first3=Jonathan |title=US' NAS mislabels nationality of vice president, academic |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/05/04/2003669921 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=4 May 2017}}{{cite news |title=Ding-Shinn Chen |url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20010087.html |accessdate=11 December 2018 |publisher=United States National Academy of Sciences}} Chen stepped down as dean in 2007. He was the 2009 recipient of the International Recognition Award presented by the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Chen won the 2010 Nikkei Asia Prize in science and technology.{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Ming-chu |last2=Lee |first2=Bear |title=NTU professor awarded for hepatitis B research |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/Proj_TL_Eng/Detail.aspx?Category=3&TNo=36&ID=201005220001 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=19 April 2010}}{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Ming-chu |last2=Wu |first2=Lillian |title=NTU professor wins Nikkei Asia prize for research on hepatitis B |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aliv/201004260039.aspx |accessdate=11 December 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=26 April 2010}} In 2012, Chen spoke in support of decriminalizing medical malpractice.{{cite news |title=Experts say medical malpractice law needs to be revised |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/04/2003594297 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=5 July 2012}} He favored granting Chen Shui-bian medical parole in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Tang |first1=Chia-ling |last2=Pan |first2=Jason |title=Academicians petition for former president's release |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/04/2003594297 |accessdate=11 December 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=4 July 2014}} In 2018, Chen was awarded Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon.{{cite news |title=Prof. Ding-Shinn Chen Awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon |url=http://www.ntu.edu.tw/english/spotlight/2018/1490_20180806.html |accessdate=26 February 2019 |publisher=National Taiwan University |date=6 August 2018}} That same year, Chen received the Baruch S. Blumberg Prize from the Hepatitis B Foundation.{{cite news |title=Fred Beans and Ding-Shinn Chen at its 2018 Crystal Ball Gala |url=https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-honors-business-leader-fred-beans-and-scientist-ding-shinn-chen-at-its-2018-crystal-ball-gala/ |accessdate=25 June 2020 |publisher=Hepatitis B Foundation |date=April 2018}}
Chen died at the National Taiwan University Hospital on 24 June 2020 from pancreatic cancer, aged 76.{{cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Hsin-yun |last2=Mazetta |first2=Matthew |title=Renowned Taiwanese liver specialist Chen Ding-shinn dies at 76 |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202006250014 |accessdate=25 June 2020 |work=Central News Agency |date=25 June 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Ding-shinn}}
Category:Taiwanese hepatologists
Category:National Taiwan University alumni
Category:Academic staff of the National Taiwan University
Category:Taiwanese university and college faculty deans
Category:Scientists from New Taipei
Category:Members of Academia Sinica
Category:Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences
Category:Recipients of the Order of Brilliant Star
Category:Winners of the Nikkei Asia Prize