April 29, 2026

The Taiwan Association for Cellular Therapy (TACT; https://www.celltherapy.org.tw/) was founded in 2014 with the mission of promoting cross-sector collaboration among industry, government, academia, medical institutions, and research communities in the field of cellular therapy. The Association is dedicated to advancing cell therapy science, technology, education, clinical translation, industrial development, and the establishment and refinement of relevant regulatory frameworks.

Under the leadership of its Founding Honorary President, Professor Yao-Chang Chen, TACT established important communication channels and a collaborative platform across the cellular therapy community. It also played an active role in regulatory development, laying a strong foundation for its position in Taiwan’s field of cell therapy. Through its close and long-standing partnership with the Asian Cellular Therapy Organization (ACTO), TACT has facilitated substantive Taiwan–Japan exchanges in cellular therapy across industry, government, and academia. With the continued efforts of former presidents Professor Thai-Yen Ling, Professor Deng-Chyang Wu, and Professor Chia-Ning Shen, the Association’s activities and influence have steadily expanded. Under the leadership of the current president, Dr. Wannhsin Chen, TACT has further strengthened collaboration with organizations in Malaysia and with the Asia Partnership Conference of Regenerative Medicine (APACRM) in Japan. These efforts aim to support the development of cellular therapy science, clinical application, and industry in Taiwan, while connecting Taiwan with Asia and the broader international community.

Figure 1. Documentation of some TACT activities

Yao-Chang Chen undertook the responsibility of organizing the ACTO Annual Meeting in Taiwan. Following the successful conclusion of that meeting, Professor Chen was encouraged by ACTO’s operating model and by its Chairperson, Dr. Akihiro Shimosaka, to establish a dedicated organization in Taiwan. In June 2014, he invited 33 experts from industry, government, academia, medical, and research institutions to serve as founding members and preparatory committee members. After extensive discussions on the Association’s structure, mission, implementation framework, and articles of association, the inaugural assembly and first general meeting were held on December 5, 2014. At the time of its founding, the Association was named the Taiwan Association for the Promotion of Cellular Therapy. In 2018, as the field of cell therapy in Taiwan began to take shape and gain momentum, it was renamed the Taiwan Association for Cellular Therapy.

In its early years, TACT focused on building a platform for professional exchange through symposia, forums, and annual meetings. This period coincided with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s efforts to establish regulatory frameworks for cellular therapy. TACT supported exchanges and site visits to Japan, while several of its board directors and supervisors served as members of the Regenerative Medicine Advisory Committee. These members actively contributed to the formulation and revision of related regulations, as well as the review of clinical cell therapy applications.

In 2015, the Formosa Fun Coast dust explosion became the most severe mass burn injury incident in Taiwan’s history, resulting in 15 deaths and 484 burn injuries, with an average total burn surface area of 41% among the injured. With the approval and coordination of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. (J-TEC) provided its autologous cultured epidermis product, JACE, together with technical support. Through the efforts of TACT board member Dr. Mei-Yue Huang, Mariavon Stem Cell Medical Biotechnology Co., Ltd. served as the local coordinating partner in Taiwan. Ultimately, five patients received treatment and achieved favorable recovery outcomes. This case represented a successful example of Taiwan–Japan collaboration in regenerative medicine, jointly enabled by industry and government, with TACT playing an important coordinating role.

In 2018, Taiwan implemented the Regulation Governing the Application of Specific Medical Examination Technique and Medical Device, commonly known as the “Special Regulation” for cell therapy. Before its implementation, exchanges and site visits in Japan provided valuable insights from international experience. TACT also actively participated in the development of related regulations. To help the general public gain an accurate understanding of cell therapy, TACT worked with the Taiwan Research-based Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (TRPMA) to undertake the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Cell Therapy Technology Information Portal project. TRPMA was responsible for system architecture, while TACT board members contributed public-oriented educational articles introducing key concepts in the field. The portal continues to provide updated information on cell therapy and on institutions conducting approved treatments. It also includes proposal registration and outcome reporting functions for medical institutions implementing therapies under the Special Regulation, thereby supporting regulatory oversight.

For physicians performing cell therapy under the Special Regulation, TACT collaborated with the Taiwan Society for Stem Cell Research (TSSCR) and the Taiwan Society for Regenerative Medicine to design and launch physician training courses. These courses were approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and provided certification for physicians interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of related technologies, clinical implementation, risk considerations, and the global development of cell therapy products. Following the implementation of Taiwan’s Dual Acts on Regenerative Medicine in 2026—the Regenerative Medicine Act and the Regenerative Medicinal Products Act—TACT further developed both basic and advanced training programs, expanding the target audience to include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and biotechnology professionals.

TACT holds an annual meeting each year. To promote balanced development between northern and southern Taiwan, the meeting is generally held alternately in the north and south. To support both domestic advancement and international engagement, the Association also alternates between meetings primarily featuring domestic speakers and international conferences.

In recent years, TACT has been invited to represent Taiwan at the ACTO Annual Meeting in Singapore, meetings of the Malaysian Society for Cell Therapy, and the Asia Partnership Conference of Regenerative Medicine in Japan. Through these platforms, TACT has introduced Taiwan’s regulatory framework, industry landscape, and progress in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine. By strengthening multifaceted international collaboration with academic, clinical, industrial, and regulatory partners across Asia and beyond, the Association seeks to bring Taiwan’s cellular therapy capabilities to the global stage. Through these collective efforts and cross-border partnerships, TACT aims to advance its broader vision of promoting global cooperation and helping make cellular therapy an emerging therapeutic approach and product category that is accessible and affordable to all.

Dr. Wannhsin Chen
President of TACT