Chang Chuan-chiung (; 23 October 1928 – 1 February 2024) was a Taiwanese pharmacologist and professor emeritus of

pharmacology Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur betwee ...

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; zh, t=國立臺灣大學, poj=Kok-li̍p Tâi-oân Tāi-ha̍k, p=, s=) is a National university, national Public university, public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 1928 during Taiwan under J ...

. He is best known for having isolated

bungarotoxin Bungarotoxins are toxins found in the venom of snakes and kraits. Bites from these animals can result in severe symptoms including bleeding or hemorrhage, paralysis and tissue damage that can result in amputation. The paralytic effects of venom are ...

, a still-important agent in neurobiological research.

Education and career

He earned a B.S. from National Taiwan University in 1950, and a Ph.D. at the

University of Tokyo The University of Tokyo (, abbreviated as in Japanese and UTokyo in English) is a public research university in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1877 as the nation's first modern university by the merger of several pre-westernisation era ins ...

in 1965. He later taught at National Taiwan University. Chang Chuan-chiung was elected a member of

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, ; zh, t=中央研究院) is the national academy of the Taiwan, Republic of China. It is headquartered in Nangang District, Taipei, Nangang, Taipei. Founded in Nanjing, the academy supports research activities in mathemat ...

in 1976, within the division of life sciences, for his research into the isolation of

. He was the founding editor of the '' Journal of Biomedical Science'', established by Taiwan's

National Science Council The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC; ) is a statutory agency of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the promotion and funding of academic research, development of science and technology and science parks. NSTC is ...

in January 1994. Chang died on 1 February 2024, at the age of 95.

References

1928 births 2024 deaths Taiwanese pharmacologists National Taiwan University alumni Academic staff of the National Taiwan University University of Tokyo alumni Taiwanese expatriates in Japan Members of Academia Sinica Scientific journal editors {{Taiwan-scientist-stub