Zhi Hong Wen is a pharmacologist who graduated from the Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taiwan in 2003. He worked at the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital in 2004 and the Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University from 2005 to the present. He has served as Vice President, Office of industrial collaboration and continuing education affairs, National Sun Yat-sen University (2015/2-2018/7). Distinguished Professor (2018/08 to present) and Professor (2012/08 to 2018/07), Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen Univerity . Over the past 18 years, our team has discovered many bioactive substances that have potential to treat many human diseases such as skin-related diseases, neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and so on. Further, we also examined the in vivo therapeutic effects of bioactive substances by using animal (zebrafish and rat) disease models. Up to the present, our laboratory has established more than 25 animal disease models. From 2005 to 2023/7, we have published more than 350 articles in SCI journals, 50 industry - university cooperation grants and also possessed 25 patents. We also concluded 13 biotechnological technology transfers to private enterprises, and have substantially assisted in their production and marketing. In collaboration with the coral breeding techniques and the pharmaceutical research on marine bioactive products, we utilize research results in areas such as skin care products and drug discovery. Especially, the successful development of coral cosmetics was affirmed by the 13th National Innovation Award, the 20th Moscow Archimedes International Invention Exhibition Golden Medal Award and Women Inventors Association "NOVA" Bosnia and Herzegovina special award.

The Marine Biomedical Laboratory at the National Sun Yat-sen University was established in August 2005. To date, our laboratory has successfully developed 32 in vivo disease models (non-genetic manipulation) to accelerate drug discovery (or repurposing), investigate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying human diseases, and enhance cooperation between industry and academia. In recent years, our team has discovered several anti-inflammatory, anti-neuroinflammation, osteoprotective, and cytotoxic bioactive substances from marine and herbal pharmaceutical species. Furthermore, our animal experiments have strongly indicated that these substances or repurposed drugs could potentially treat several human diseases, including skin-related diseases, pain, neurodegenerative diseases, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, brain cancer, bone regeneration, among others. In addition, our laboratory has cooperated with several medical doctors at hospitals. From 2008 to 2023, we have published more than 200 articles in SCI journals, acquired more than 40 industry-university cooperation grants, and attained several patents involving the effect of marine compounds or novel gene therapy in animal models of inflammatory diseases, along with 21 biotechnology and medical patents. Our laboratory has concluded 10 biotechnological transfers to private enterprises, substantially assisting in their production and marketing. With support from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2013-2019), we cooperated with several principal investigators and established the “Translational League of Marine Cosmeceuticals” to promote active chemical knowledge and a biomedical core testing technology platform for related industries, reinforcing competitiveness to accelerate the economic development of Taiwan. Recently, in collaboration with coral breeding techniques, and pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical research on marine bioactive products, we extended our research results to areas such as skin-care products and drug discovery. Furthermore, we have successfully established a startup company from the university based on the above-derived technology. 

• Establish a system for selecting of Indigenous Marine Organisms-Derived Bioceramic Bone Graft Substitutes with Clinical Potential (NSTC 2021/08-2025/07)
• Osteoprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of bioactive substances obtained from cultured red algae Sarcodia suieae (NSTC 2017/08-2021/07)
• Phenotypic screening of marine compounds provides novel antichronic itch implications: The advancing therapeutic strategies for itch and its relationship with neuropathic pain
• Establish a system for screening of anti-inflammatory nature compound from Formosan corals
• Effects of marine derived anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive or neuroprotective compounds from Formosa coral reef-from cell to animal study.
• Integration of in vitro neuroinflammatory system and animal models in search of potential therapeutic drugs for neuropathological diseases from indigenous soft corals.
• Therapeutic effects of Formosan drugs on intractable pain, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury in animal diseases model.
• The mariculture of marine organisms and their use as sources for the development of marine natural drugs.