Chen-Yuan Lee
Encyclopedia
Chen-Yuan Lee was a Taiwanese
pharmacologist and political activist. He is famous for his research on snake venom
. He was a recipient of the prestigious Redi Award from the International Society on Toxicology (IST), and was also a former president of the society. He was a former dean
of the National Taiwan University
College of Medicine. After his retirement from researching, he focused on participating in the Taiwan independence movement and many democratic movement
. Lee had founded many political organizations such as the "100 Action Union" (100行動聯盟), "Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan" (臺灣醫界聯盟基金會). He was also the first chairperson of the Taiwan Independence Party
.
(present-day Kaohsiung
), Taiwan
in 1915. Both of his parents were from Tainan. Medical doctor became his desired career when his father and three of his siblings died of malaria
and infectious disease
s.
Lee grew up in Tainan, where he had outstanding grades. After graduating from the Tainan Prefecture Second High School (now the National Tainan First Senior High School
), he attended the Taihoku School of Higher Education (臺北高等學校). He entered the medical department of Taihoku Imperial University (臺北帝國大學) in 1936, and became one of the first graduates from the department.
Lee enjoyed basic medical studies after entering the medical department. He finished his first research paper
in his freshman year, which was published in the Taiwanese Medical Magazine (台灣醫學雜誌). After graduating in 1940, Lee decided to quit clinical medicine
and keep on studying. He became the assistant of Tsungming Tu, who was researching on basic medical studies and, at the time, the only Taiwanese professors in the medical department. He once said, To gain honor for Taiwan, dignity for the Taiwanese, I chose to follow Professor Tu instead of several other Japanese professors. Because I thought Professor Tu was our people, and we should help him.
." He discovered that the glycoside
s contained in the Kushenji can be used to kill an amoeba
, and solved a Chinese herbological
myth on how the Kushenji cures dysentery. In 1945, Lee published a research paper with a title of "The Toxicological Research on the Venom of Daboia
" (鎖鏈蛇蛇毒的毒物學研究), the paper was world's first paper to explain the cause of death by the venom of Daboia
. Because of this outstanding achievement, Lee was recognized by getting his Medical Doctor degree. This recognition began his career as researching snake venom.
In 1952, Lee was financially supported by the Economic Cooperation Administration (美援會) and was sent to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School for further education. This was his first time studying abroad
. Lee originally wanted to do research on the circulatory system
, but because of the limitation of time, his instructor Carl F. Schmidt suggested that he change his topic to pulmonary circulation
. After researching at the University of Pennsylvania, he transferred to the Wayne State University
in Detroit, where he visited Walter Segeers's lab for two months and published a small-sized research paper.
After Lee's return to Taiwan
, he started his job as a leader at the pharmacology lab of National Taiwan University
due to the dimission of Tsungming Tu. In 1963, Lee worked with Chang Chuan-chung (張傳炯), who has a chemist
background, and separated the deadly α-type and β-type bungarotoxin
s of the venom of Bungarus multicinctus
. This was a big step in neuroscience
, medical science, and pharmacology
.
Over the years, Lee had published over a hundred research papers. He not only became a leader of pharmacology in Taiwan, but also an international authority in the field of venom snake research. In 1970, he was elected a member of Academia Sinica
, the national academy of Taiwan. He became the dean of the National Taiwan University College of Medicine in 1972. Four years later, he was awarded the "Redi Prize" by the International Society on Toxicology. In 1979, he received an invitation from Springer Science+Business Media
to serve as the chief editor for the books Chemistry of Protein Toxins in Snake Venoms and The Action of Snake Venoms on Nerve and Muscle, which established his high position in researching snake venom. In 1985, he chosen to serve as the president of the International Society on Toxicology, and became one of the few Taiwanese scholars to lead an international research organization.
Nobel Prize laureate Yuan T Lee wrote in the foreword of the book The Story of Snake Venom Research in Taiwan (台灣蛇毒傳奇) that he once had ask another Nobel Prize laureate Joseph L. Goldstein
, "In the Taiwanese life science field, whose research is recognized internationally?" Without the least hesitation, Goldstein answered, "Chen-Yuan Lee is internationally recognized."
Lee retired in 1986 from National Taiwan University
College of Medicine, and was immediately named a professor emeritus by the university.
for democratic reform. Lee, who was almost eighty years old, accompanied the protesting students. This was his first time participating in a political movement
.
In 1991, along with several colleagues, Chen-Yuan Lee visited Ying-Yuan Lee
and Kuo Pei-hung (郭倍宏), two Taiwan independence
supporters and alumni of the National Taiwan University
who were arrested for "planning to revolt" (預備叛亂罪) and were detained in the Tucheng Detention Center (土城看守所). Later, he felt that the "Regulation for Rebellions" (懲治叛亂條例) and "Criminal Law Article 100" (刑法第100條) were impeded the democratic development of Taiwan because they were simply tools to help Kuomingtang dominate Taiwan. As a result, he organized the "100 Action Union," which stands for the abolishment of "Criminal Law Article 100." He, as a member of Academia Sinica
, joined a sit-down demonstration, leading the "100 Action Union" and successfully expressed the Taiwanese people's desire for human rights.
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
pharmacologist and political activist. He is famous for his research on snake venom
Snake venom
Snake venom is highly modified saliva that is produced by special glands of certain species of snakes. The glands which secrete the zootoxin are a modification of the parotid salivary gland of other vertebrates, and are usually situated on each side of the head below and behind the eye,...
. He was a recipient of the prestigious Redi Award from the International Society on Toxicology (IST), and was also a former president of the society. He was a former dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
College of Medicine. After his retirement from researching, he focused on participating in the Taiwan independence movement and many democratic movement
Democratic Movement
Democratic Movement may refer to:*Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement...
. Lee had founded many political organizations such as the "100 Action Union" (100行動聯盟), "Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan" (臺灣醫界聯盟基金會). He was also the first chairperson of the Taiwan Independence Party
Taiwan Independence Party
The Taiwan Independence Party 建國黨 , otherwise known as the Taiwan Nation Party, is a political party in the Republic of China .It is usually associated with the Pan-Green Coalition and supports Taiwan independence....
.
Early years
Lee was born in Takao PrefectureTakao Prefecture
was one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan during the Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern day Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.-Population:1941 census.*Total population: 930,383**Japanese 59,633**Taiwanese 863,313...
(present-day Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
), Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1915. Both of his parents were from Tainan. Medical doctor became his desired career when his father and three of his siblings died of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s.
Lee grew up in Tainan, where he had outstanding grades. After graduating from the Tainan Prefecture Second High School (now the National Tainan First Senior High School
National Tainan First Senior High School
National Tainan First Senior High School is a public senior high school in Tainan City, Taiwan. The school was established in 1922. It is often considered one of the most prestigious high schools in Taiwan, usually only accepting students who rank in the top 3 percentile of the Taiwan Basic...
), he attended the Taihoku School of Higher Education (臺北高等學校). He entered the medical department of Taihoku Imperial University (臺北帝國大學) in 1936, and became one of the first graduates from the department.
Lee enjoyed basic medical studies after entering the medical department. He finished his first research paper
Academic publishing
Academic publishing describes the subfield of publishing which distributes academic research and scholarship. Most academic work is published in journal article, book or thesis form. The part of academic written output that is not formally published but merely printed up or posted is often called...
in his freshman year, which was published in the Taiwanese Medical Magazine (台灣醫學雜誌). After graduating in 1940, Lee decided to quit clinical medicine
Clinical Medicine
Clinical Medicine is a peer-reviewed medical journal published bimonthly by the Royal College of Physicians. It was established in 1966 as the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London. It was doubly named between 1998 and 2000, and since 2001 it has appeared as Clinical Medicine. Its...
and keep on studying. He became the assistant of Tsungming Tu, who was researching on basic medical studies and, at the time, the only Taiwanese professors in the medical department. He once said, To gain honor for Taiwan, dignity for the Taiwanese, I chose to follow Professor Tu instead of several other Japanese professors. Because I thought Professor Tu was our people, and we should help him.
Career and achievements
The first research Lee did after becoming Tsungming Tu's assistant was the "Using Kushenji (苦蔘子) to cure dysenteryDysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
." He discovered that the glycoside
Glycoside
In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to a non-carbohydrate moiety, usually a small organic molecule. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. These can be activated by enzyme...
s contained in the Kushenji can be used to kill an amoeba
Amoeba
Amoeba is a genus of Protozoa.History=The amoeba was first discovered by August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof in 1757. Early naturalists referred to Amoeba as the Proteus animalcule after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his shape...
, and solved a Chinese herbological
Chinese herbology
Chinese Herbology is the theory of Traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese medicine ....
myth on how the Kushenji cures dysentery. In 1945, Lee published a research paper with a title of "The Toxicological Research on the Venom of Daboia
Daboia
Daboia is a monotypic genus of venomous Old World viper. The single species, D. russelii, is found in Asia throughout the Indian subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan...
" (鎖鏈蛇蛇毒的毒物學研究), the paper was world's first paper to explain the cause of death by the venom of Daboia
Daboia
Daboia is a monotypic genus of venomous Old World viper. The single species, D. russelii, is found in Asia throughout the Indian subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan...
. Because of this outstanding achievement, Lee was recognized by getting his Medical Doctor degree. This recognition began his career as researching snake venom.
In 1952, Lee was financially supported by the Economic Cooperation Administration (美援會) and was sent to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School for further education. This was his first time studying abroad
Study abroad
Studying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
. Lee originally wanted to do research on the circulatory system
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
, but because of the limitation of time, his instructor Carl F. Schmidt suggested that he change his topic to pulmonary circulation
Pulmonary circulation
Pulmonary circulation is the half portion of the cardiovascular system which carries Oxygen-depleted Blood away from the heart, to the Lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. Encyclopedic description and discovery of the pulmonary circulation is widely attributed to Doctor Ibn...
. After researching at the University of Pennsylvania, he transferred to the Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
in Detroit, where he visited Walter Segeers's lab for two months and published a small-sized research paper.
After Lee's return to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, he started his job as a leader at the pharmacology lab of National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
due to the dimission of Tsungming Tu. In 1963, Lee worked with Chang Chuan-chung (張傳炯), who has a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
background, and separated the deadly α-type and β-type bungarotoxin
Bungarotoxin
α-Bungarotoxin is one of the components of the venom of the elapid snake Taiwanese banded krait . It binds irreversibly and competitively to the acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis, respiratory failure and death in the victim...
s of the venom of Bungarus multicinctus
Bungarus multicinctus
The Many-banded krait , also known as the Taiwanese krait or the Chinese krait, is a species of the genus Bungarus found predominantly in mainland China and Taiwan.-Geographic range and habitat:...
. This was a big step in neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, medical science, and pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
.
Over the years, Lee had published over a hundred research papers. He not only became a leader of pharmacology in Taiwan, but also an international authority in the field of venom snake research. In 1970, he was elected a member of Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
, the national academy of Taiwan. He became the dean of the National Taiwan University College of Medicine in 1972. Four years later, he was awarded the "Redi Prize" by the International Society on Toxicology. In 1979, he received an invitation from Springer Science+Business Media
Springer Science+Business Media
- Selected publications :* Encyclopaedia of Mathematics* Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete * Graduate Texts in Mathematics * Grothendieck's Séminaire de géométrie algébrique...
to serve as the chief editor for the books Chemistry of Protein Toxins in Snake Venoms and The Action of Snake Venoms on Nerve and Muscle, which established his high position in researching snake venom. In 1985, he chosen to serve as the president of the International Society on Toxicology, and became one of the few Taiwanese scholars to lead an international research organization.
Joseph L. Goldstein
Joseph L. Goldstein from Kingstree, South Carolina is a Nobel Prize winning biochemist and geneticist, and a pioneer in the study of cholesterol metabolism.-Biography:...
, "In the Taiwanese life science field, whose research is recognized internationally?" Without the least hesitation, Goldstein answered, "Chen-Yuan Lee is internationally recognized."
Lee retired in 1986 from National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
College of Medicine, and was immediately named a professor emeritus by the university.
Entry into politics
In March 1990, over 300,000 students participated in the Wild Lily student movementWild Lily student movement
Taiwan's Wild Lily student movement or March student movement was a six-day student demonstration in 1990 for democratic reform. The sit-in at Memorial Square in Taipei, initiated by a few students from National Taiwan University, soon drew the participation of over 300,000 demonstrators...
for democratic reform. Lee, who was almost eighty years old, accompanied the protesting students. This was his first time participating in a political movement
Political movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
.
In 1991, along with several colleagues, Chen-Yuan Lee visited Ying-Yuan Lee
Ying-yuan Lee
Lee Ying-yuan is a former minister of the Council of Labor Affairs of Taiwan of Hakka ancestry.From a dissident who was imprisoned for advocating Taiwanese independence to become a staff member of the Cabinet, Lee Ying-Yuan, the Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs, has witnessed the...
and Kuo Pei-hung (郭倍宏), two Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
supporters and alumni of the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
who were arrested for "planning to revolt" (預備叛亂罪) and were detained in the Tucheng Detention Center (土城看守所). Later, he felt that the "Regulation for Rebellions" (懲治叛亂條例) and "Criminal Law Article 100" (刑法第100條) were impeded the democratic development of Taiwan because they were simply tools to help Kuomingtang dominate Taiwan. As a result, he organized the "100 Action Union," which stands for the abolishment of "Criminal Law Article 100." He, as a member of Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
, joined a sit-down demonstration, leading the "100 Action Union" and successfully expressed the Taiwanese people's desire for human rights.