Ho-Chang Kuo – Pediatrics – Outstanding Scientist Award

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Ho-Chang Kuo – Pediatrics – Outstanding Scientist Award

Prof Dr. Ho- Chang Kuo distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Pediatrics. He has held various academic appointments throughout his career. In 2004, he started as an Attending Staff member at the Department of Pediatrics specializing in Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. Over the years, he progressed in his career, becoming a Lectorate attending physician at the same hospital in 2008 and at Chang Gung University in 2009. By 2010, he attained the position of Assistant Professor at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, followed by a similar appointment at Chang Gung University in 2011. His dedication and contributions led to his promotion to Associate Professor at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2013 and at Chang Gung University in 2015. Finally, in 2017, he achieved the esteemed title of Professor at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, solidifying his expertise and leadership in his field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He obtained his MD from the College of Medicine at National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan, in June 1999. Subsequently, he pursued his post-graduate education, earning a PhD from the Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science at Chang Gung University in Taiwan between 2004 and 2011.

 

➢ Research Project:

As the Principal Investigator, he has spearheaded numerous research projects aimed at elucidating various aspects of Kawasaki disease and related immunological phenomena. Among these projects are investigations into the biomarkers and immunopathogenesis of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease, funded by the Cardiac Children’s Foundation Taiwan. He has also delved into topics such as the role of SOCS-1 expression on the TLR4 dependent pathway, DC-SIGN polymorphism, and the impact of IL2RA variants on coronary artery lesions, each supported by grants from entities like Chang Gung Medical Research Program and the National Science Council of Taiwan.

Additionally, he has explored the epigenetic changes and immune responses associated with Kawasaki disease, as well as the effects of prenatal dexamethasone exposure on immune regulation. His research extends beyond Kawasaki disease to investigate broader topics such as the modulation of atopy after probiotic administration, cytokine changes following ECMO setting changes, and neurodevelopment in children post-Kawasaki disease. Furthermore, he has led integrative projects and studies examining T cell receptor involvement in Kawasaki disease, emphasizing his comprehensive approach to understanding immune-related disorders. These endeavors have been supported by various research grants, demonstrating his commitment to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.

🏆🏆Awards🏆🏆

He continues to receive recognition for his outstanding contributions to scientific research and clinical applications. Notably, he was honored with the IJMS 2022 Young Investigator Award and achieved second place in the 2023 Kaohsiung Chang Gung Research Achievement Clinical Application Award for innovative treatments addressing the disappearance of vasculitis in Kawasaki disease. Furthermore, he has been recognized internationally, being named among the “2022 Top 2% Scientists in the World” by Scopus, a testament to his significant scientific impact. His lifelong dedication to science is reflected in his inclusion in the lifetime scientific impact rankings by Scopus from 1960 to 2022.

Additionally, his research on Kawasaki disease has been globally acknowledged, with his publications ranking as the top 1 in the world from 2012 to 2022 by Frontiers in Pediatrics. Within the Chang Gung system, he was lauded in 2023 with three awards: the Honor Contribution Award, Research Innovation Award, and Social Welfare Award. Moreover, he and his colleagues received recognition at the 20th National Innovation Awards, receiving the New Creation Advancement Award for their advancements in precision testing for Kawasaki disease using a blood sample and for their development of a high-throughput immune detection platform. These accolades underscore his continuous commitment to pioneering research and its practical applications, further solidifying his position as a leading figure in the field of pediatric immunology.

He has been the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards, underscoring his significant contributions to the field of pediatric research and immunology. Among these accolades are the Pediatric Research Travel award at the 1st Asia Society of Pediatric Research (ASPR) in 2005, held in Tokyo, Japan, and consecutive Physician Scientist awards from the Institute of Biomedical Science, Academia Sinica, in 2005, 2006, and 2007. His research excellence was further recognized with the 2007 Annual Best Article Award for residents across all Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals and the Best Research Article of 2008 awarded by The Chinese Society of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He has also been honored with distinctions such as being named in Marquis “Who’s Who in the World” in 2011 and included in the 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century list by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England.

Additionally, he received the 2010 Man of the Year title from the American Biographical Institute (ABI) and garnered the ASPR Best Research Award at the 2011 Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research (PAS/ASPR) Joint meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA. Notably, he has been recognized as a Young Investigator by the Asian Society for Pediatric Research (ASPR), winning awards at the 8th Congress in 2012 for various research contributions related to Kawasaki disease. His outstanding achievements have also been acknowledged with awards such as the Ta-You Wu Memorial Award from the National Science Council, Taiwan, in 2013, and the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) International Young Investigator Award in the same year.

Furthermore, he has received honors from institutions like the China Youth Corps Youth Medal in 2013 and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Chang Gung University, reflecting his significant impact on both academic and societal fronts. These achievements underscore his remarkable dedication and contributions to advancing medical knowledge and improving pediatric care.

Professional Affiliations

He is an active member of several esteemed medical organizations and societies. These include the Taiwan Pediatric Association (Membership No.: 4935), The Chinese Society of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (Membership No.: 751), and The Chinese Society of Immunology (Membership No.: 1684). Additionally, he holds membership in the Asia Society for Pediatric Research (ASPR) with the membership number 10435, a position he has held since 2006. Furthermore, he is an International member of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) with the membership number 106255, highlighting his involvement in global medical communities.

 

Employment Record:

He commenced his professional journey with an internship at VGH-Kaohsiung from 1998 to 1999. Subsequently, he pursued residency training in the Department of Pediatrics at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from 2001 to 2004. Following this, he embarked on fellowships in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology within the same department from 2004 to 2007. His dedication and expertise led to his appointment as Attending Staff in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, a position he has held since 2004. Over the years, he has taken on various roles, including Lectorate attending physician starting in 2008, and subsequently, he became an Assistant Professor physician in 2010 at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He also took on the role of Assistant Professor at Chang Gung University in 2011, furthering his academic contributions. Progressing in his career, he was appointed as Associate Professor at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2013, and at Chang Gung University in 2015. Recognized for his significant expertise and leadership, he assumed the position of Professor at Chang Gung University in 2019. Additionally, since 2018, he has served as Chief of the Kawasaki Disease Center at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, demonstrating his commitment to specialized care and research in his field.

📚📚Books📚📚

He has authored and contributed to several significant publications in the field of pediatric medicine, particularly focusing on Kawasaki disease and chronic inflammation. One notable work is “Children with a Five-Day Fever Leading to Heart Disease: The Inevitable Kawasaki Disease” (Oct 2011), where he served as the chief editor, shedding light on this critical condition. Additionally, he co-authored a chapter on cardiovascular lesions of Kawasaki disease in “Current Basic and Pathological Approaches to the Function of Muscle Cells and Tissues – From Molecules to Humans,” published by InTech in July 2012. Furthermore, his contributions to “Chronic Inflammation: Causes, Treatment Options and Role in Disease” (2013) explore chronic inflammation in Kawasaki disease and biliary atresia.

He has also extended his expertise to global platforms, contributing to the “Compendium of Inflammatory Diseases,” focusing on Kawasaki disease, published by Springer Basel. Furthermore, his works have been disseminated to the public through accessible resources such as “Kawasaki Disease Pocket Book” (2017), a comprehensive guide to Kawasaki disease. He has also authored informative publications like “International Allergy and Immunology Experts Tell You: How to Calculate, Treat, and Prevent Childhood Allergies” (2014) and “Hydrogen Immunotherapy Makes Cancer Disappear!?” (2020), catering to broader medical concerns and advancements. Additionally, his contributions extend to educational materials such as the “Kawasaki Baby Line Stickers” (2017), offering practical insights and support for Kawasaki disease awareness. Through his diverse publications, he continues to disseminate valuable knowledge and contribute significantly to the medical literature in his field.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

➢ Genome-wide association study identifies FCGR2A as a susceptibility locus for Kawasaki disease

     CC Khor, S Davila, WB Breunis, YC Lee, C Shimizu, VJ Wright, …
     Nature genetics 43 (12), 1241-1246

➢ Kawasaki disease: infection, immunity and genetics

     CL Wang, YT Wu, CA Liu, HC Kuo, KD Yang
     The Pediatric infectious disease journal 24 (11), 998-1004

➢  Two new susceptibility loci for Kawasaki disease identified through genome-wide association analysis

      YC Lee, HC Kuo, JS Chang, LY Chang, LM Huang, MR Chen, CD Liang, …
      Nature genetics 44 (5), 522-525

➢    Kawasaki disease: an update on diagnosis and treatment

       HC Kuo, KD Yang, WC Chang, LP Ger, KS Hsieh
       Pediatrics & Neonatology 53 (1), 4-11

➢    Prognostic nutrition index as a predictor of coronary artery aneurysm in Kawasaki Disease

       IH Tai, PL Wu, MMH Guo, J Lee, CH Chu, KS Hsieh, HC Kuo
       MC pediatrics 20, 1-8

➢    Adolescents with atopic dermatitis have lower peak exercise load capacity and exercise volume compared with                unaffected peers

      TH Yang, PC Chen, YC Lin, YY Lee, YH Tseng, WH Chang, LS Chang, …
      International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (16), 10285

➢  Public health interventions for COVID-19 reduce Kawasaki disease in Taiwan

      YL Yang, HC Kuo
      Children 8 (8), 623

➢  Montelukast does not increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in pediatric asthma patients: A               nationwide population-based matched cohort study

      PY Huang, YH Yang, YH Huang, HC Kuo, LJ Wang, SJ Chien, LS Chang
      Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 120 (6), 1369-1376

➢    Patients with Kawasaki disease have significantly low aerobic metabolism capacity and peak exercise load capacity         during adolescence

      TH Yang, YY Lee, LY Wang, TC Chang, LS Chang, HC Kuo
      International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (22), 8352

➢  Kawasaki disease with G6PD deficiency—Report of one case and literature review

      CH Chen, LY Lin, KD Yang, KS Hsieh, HC Kuo
      Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection 47 (3), 261-263

➢  Profiling humoral immunity after mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines using SARS-CoV-2 variant protein    

      HC Kuo, KC Kuo, PX Du, BB Keskin, WY Su, TS Ho, PS Tsai, CH Pau, …
      Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 22 (4)