Robert Yuan

Traditional Chinese medicine: an approach to scientific proof and clinical validation

The classical Chinese pharmacopoeia describes a large number of herbal formulations that are used for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. This therapeutic approach is ignored by many and considered to be an alternative to conventional medicine by others. The scientific proof and clinical validation of these herbal formulations require a rigorous approach that includes chemical standardization, biological assays, animal models, and clinical trials. Such Western methodologies need to take into consideration the complex mixture of chemicals and how they are to be used in humans. This review examines relevant studies on the use of traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of such diseases as bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. An interdisciplinary approach to traditional Chinese medicine may provide a platform for the discovery of novel therapeutics composed of multiple chemical compounds.

Globalizing the Science Curriculum: An Undergraduate Course on Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Complementary Approach to Western Medicine

A course has been created to examine the ways in which China and the West have approached human health and medicine. Though fundamentally different, these two systems are complementary in a number of ways. This course is a model for a global science course in an educational initiative that incorporates Asian themes into science and engineering courses. The course is designed around an active-learning platform that has as major components: team research projects, oral presentations, role play, and peer-review. The students investigate concepts of scientific proof, clinical efficacy, and the functional structure of two very different systems of health and medical care.

The Farmer's Dilemma-an Interrupted Case Study for Learning Bacterial Genetics in the Context of the Impact of Microbes on the Organic Food Industry and Biotechnology.

Case studies are well established pedagogical tools for engaging students in learning and offer the opportunity to use real world examples to give context to student learning. Finding a case study story that meets learning outcomes and resonates with students is a challenge. Our solution was an end-of-semester, capstone project for the honors students in our general microbiology course. “The Farmer’s Dilemma,” an interrupted case study with associated questions, was developed from a story line proposed by the students. The case and associated teaching notes indicate how we actively engage students in learning bacterial genetics via a story about the impact of microbes on the organic food industry and biotechnology.

Marco Polo Technologies

A major challenge today is the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM), particularly herbal preparations, into the global pharmaceutical industry. This paper explains the approach used by a modern TCM Company, Marco Polo Technologies (MPT), working with partners and collaborators in the US, China, and Taiwan. MPT’s ultimate objective is to develop FDA approved therapeutics for the treatment of chronic diseases. The company’s strategy involves the early development of standardized TCM that can be marketed as nutritional supplements in both the US and Asia. The development of FDA therapeutics is based on combinatorial medicines that have a mixture of active compounds. MPT’s activities, including acquiring raw materials, product development, manufacturing, and clinical trials, involve a significant amount of work in China and Taiwan. MPT has now developed three products for skin infections, allergies, and arthritis. In order to gain approval for these products, MPT had to overcome numerous hurdles presented by the FDA and the Patent Office.