Future Challenges for NTUMCAA-NA: Turning Crises Into New Opportunities
Ming T. Tsuang, MD, PhD, D.Sc. Behavioral Genomics Endowed Chair and
University Professor, University of California; Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Director, Center for Behavioral
Genomics, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego and
Director, Harvard Institute of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.
2012年北美臺大醫學院校友THE 32ND ANNUAL
CONVENTION, NTUMCAA-NA
NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Project
National Taiwan University (NTU) is the best university, and has the best hospital in Taiwan.
It attracts numerous clinical cases thanks to it’s reputation.
This offers excellent opportunities to all clinical, cognitive, neuroimaging, and basic neuroscientists.
NTU has the unique potential to study culture and cognition in the integrated context of “mind in a social brain” when we consider the expertise congregated in our medical, cognitive, and engineering departments.
NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Project
In 2009 I was asked by President Si-Chen Lee of National Taiwan University (NTU) and Chancellor Mary Anne Fox of UC San Diego to be the UCSD representative on a new and exciting collaborative project involving both institutions.
The project endeavored to integrate the disciplines of neurobiology, cognitive science, clinical neuroscience as well as behavioral sciences, within the six colleges of NTU.
NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Project
Between May 9th-11th, 2010, the first International Scientific Advisory Committee (ISAC) meeting for NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Project took place in Taipei.
Internationally renowned scholars were invited to join this committee to share their experiences and give advice on the development of the project.
Patricia Churchland Ph.DEmeritus Professor of Philosophy, UC San DiegoResearch Area: Neurophilosophy, Neuroethics.
Cheng Ming Chuong MD, Ph.DProfessor Pathology Dept.
University Southern California Research Area: Tissue Development and
Regeneration. Academician, Academia Sinica.
Larry R. Squire, Ph.D.Professor of Psychiatry, Neurosciences,
and Psychology, UCSD.Research Area: Structure and Organization of
Memory.
Ing-Kang Ho, Ph.D. Distinguished Investigator and Vice President
Institute of Population Health SciencesNational Health Research Institutes, Taiwan.
Research Area: Neurotoxicology, Neuropharmacology, Drug Abuse. Academician, Academia Sinica.
Trevor Robbins Ph.D, F.R.S.Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
Downing College, University of Cambridge
Research Area: Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology, Addiction
Ian Everall MD, Ph.DCato Professor of Psychiatry,
Department of Psychiatry,University of Melbourne, Australia
Research Area: Neuropathology and Psychiatry
Shu Chien, MD, Ph.D,Professor of Bioengineering and Medicine,
Director, Institute of Engineering in Medicine, UC San Diego
Research Area: Integrative Bioengineering and Physiology
Awardee: National Medal of Science, 2011.
William Mobley MD, PhDChair, Department of Neurosciences
UC San DiegoResearch Area: Neural Circuits, Neurobiology of
Down’s Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, and Compassion.
Academician, Academia Sinica.
Ming T. Tsuang, MD, PhD, D.Sc.Distinguished University Professor,
University of California;Behavioral Genomics Chair and Director,
Center for Behavioral Genomics,Department of Psychiatry,
University of California, San Diego andDirector, Harvard Institute of Psychiatric
Epidemiology and Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of
Public Health.Chairman, International Scientific Advisory
Committee, NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Science Project
Academician, Academia Sinica.Research Area: Behavioral Genetics and
Genomics, Prevention of Mental Illness, and Well Being
National Taiwan University Front Gate
NTU’s Integrated Brain and Mind Project
Three autonomous institutions fall under the umbrella of the Integrated Brain and Mind Science Project.
• The three institutions are: – The NTU Neurobiology and Cognitive Science
Center (NCSC).– The NTU Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind
Science (GIBMS).– The National Taiwan University Hospital Clinical
Center of Neuroscience and Behavior (CCNB).
President Lee at the Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center’s Opening.
The Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences (GBMS) is the newest institution authorized by the Ministry of Education.
It was established with the following purposes:• Doctoral/post doctoral education.• Advanced research.• Multi disciplinary collaborations.
Researchers at the GIBMS are attempting to bridge disciplinary boundaries to further the understanding of the origins, evolution and mechanisms of human cognition.
They will explore the brain's physical and biochemical machinery to the experiences and behaviors we call the mind.
National Taiwan University Hospital, Old Campus
The NTUH Clinical Center of Neuroscience and Behavior (CCNB).
The mission is to integrate and collaborate (inter and extra-institutionally) on various fields of clinical neuroscience and psychiatry.
These fields include:NeuroradiologyNeurosurgeryCerebrovascular diseasesNeuro-OncologyNeuroimpairment and RecoveryNeuropsychiatryNeurodegeneration and DementiaChild Neurological Diseases
Clinical Center of Neuroscience and Behavior (CCNB)
Opening Ceremony, May 27th, 2011.
The Brain
The Brain
Gray matter is a major component of the central nervous system.
It contains neural cell bodies, in contrast to white matter, which does not and mostly contains myelinated axon tracts.
Significant positive correlations have been found between grey matter volume in elderly persons and measures of semantic and short-term memory.
Some structural differences in grey matter may be associated with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
Brain Atrophy and its Effects
Healthy Brain Brain Atrophy
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Prefrontal Cortex (Executive Function)
(Emotion)
For more information:
The National Taiwan University Hospital Clinical Center of Neuroscience and Behavior (CCNB).
o http://www.ntuh.gov.tw/en/ccnb/default.aspxThe NTU Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind
Science (GIBMS).o http://gibms.mc.ntu.edu.tw/The NTU Center for Neurobiology and Cognitive
Science (CNCS).o http://neuroscience.ntu.edu.tw/
Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and Health
1. What constitutes health?2. What is Wellbeing? Why is it important?3. Introduction to Subjective Well-Being (SWB)
4. Factors of SWB - Genetics, Environmental,
Spiritual aspects.5. Current and Future Research Perspectives.
What Constitutes Health?
Universally accepted definition of health: a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or disability.
Health also refers to the presence of positive characteristics.
MindMind
SpiritSpirit
Well-being generally means a healthy balance of :
BodyBody
Mind and Body: Mental Wellbeing affects Physical Wellbeing
Positive emotions have positive effects on physiology; especially in the case of the immune and cardiovascular system.
Negative emotions increase susceptibility to illness.
Mood can motivate healthy behaviors.Positive emotions create social support.
Introduction to Subjective Wellbeing (SWB)
How do researchers objectively evaluate emotional well-being?
In the past, several scales were developed to accurately measure our self-perceived wellbeing.
Subjective Wellbeing (SWB): Taking place in the mind of an individual
Subjective wellbeing consists of two components:
1) Life Satisfaction – an evaluation of a persons overall life.
2) Emotions - the presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions.
Determinants of SWB
Genetics
Environmental factors
Spiritual factors
Determinants: Genetics
• Feeling of wellbeing or lack of wellbeing can be inherited.
• Genes can be responsible for both positive and negative emotions.
• 80% of long-term SWB is heritable.
Genetics (cont): Personality
Personality is a very powerful way of predicting how a person will cope with positive and negative life events.
Personality leads different individuals to experience the same life events in a more positive or negative fashion
Genetics (cont): Personality
Each person has a normal level of SWB.This level is predicted by personality
characteristics (Introverted vs Extroverted etc).
Emotional stability and extroversion were positively related to SWB.
Neurotic personalities were negatively related.
Environmental Factors
• Socioeconomic status: Education and income are strong predictors of SWB.
• Health: Health is an important predictor of SWB at all ages and the strongest predictor of SWB during late life.
• Social integration: Attachments to the social structure via community roles.
• Social relationships and social support: Good relationship in marriage and with friends.
Interaction Between Genetic and Environmental Factors
Genes may interact with environmental factors:
• The same genes that affect early anxiety also influence later depression.
• Early genetic effects of anxiety increase exposure to life events that increase risk to depression.
• The genes that create early anxiety also make young people more prone to depression due to the effects of environmental adversity.
Spiritual Well-Being and Health
• Higher levels of religious commitment are linked to longer lifespan.
• Religious people may be less likely to make unhealthy lifestyle choices such as substance abuse and gambling.
• Religion may facilitate healing through fostering spiritual growth.
• Spirituality may enhance quality of life and help in the psychological recovery from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and even wound healing.
Spiritual Well-Being and Health
• Both genetic and shared environmental
influences contributed to the stability of religious values and religious attendance.
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Current and Future Research Perspectives
People are living longer and an important public health goal is to find ways to ensure these years are happy and healthy.
The identification of genetic and environmental factors associated with well- and ill- being will help develop targeted interventions.
These interventions aspire to foster greater health and happiness.
Research Perspectives
• Our Center for Behavioral Genomics at UC San Diego hopes to conduct extensive measurement work on a large set of subjective well-being measures.
• We hope to generate excellent well-being measures, and examine them throughout the life of a person.
• It will enable us to apply these characteristics to genetic analyses in order to identify specific genes that are associated with dimensions of well-being.
Research Perspectives• The derived genetic data will be utilized to
identify inherited well-being measures. • We will use already collected DNA and
phenotypic data, which are enriched with well-being measures such as:
General wellbeingPhysical healthPsychological health
Research Perspectives• Molecular genetic studies may eventually
discover biological reasons why some people remain happy and mentally healthy even in
the face of adversity. • If so, that could lead to pharmacologic
strategies and environmental interventions to advance well-being in our aging population and help contain health care costs.
1 2 3 4 50
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
=2012 (924)
=2009 (939)
>70 65-70 60-64 55-59 <55
Age Distribution OF NTUMCAA Membership
Older than 70 Members
(41%)
Between 65-70
215 members(23% )
Between 60 and 64
127 members (14%)
Between 55 and 59 93 members (10%)
Between 45 and 49 17 members (2%)
Age Distribution of NTUMCAA-NA Alumni in 2012
Between 50 and 54 27 members (3%)
Between 35 and 39 21 members (2%)
Between 40 and 44 9 members (1%)
Under 3540 members (4%)
Geographical Distribution of NTUMCAA-NA Alumni in 2012 (n=924)
East Coast
West Coast
Central
Canada
South
NTUMCAA-NA: Our Future We have reached a critical time in the history of our
great organization. How to keep a bridge open between NTU-MC and the
alumni in North America after 2012?How to provide guidance to NTUMC graduates who
wish to advance their medical learning in North America?
How to provide assistance to NTUMC alumni in North America who wish to visit their alma mater?
What can alumni in North America do to assist NTUMC scholars from Taiwan?
How can we develop a plan for fundraising?Any other suggestions or recommendations?