Institute of Immunology and Translational Medicine

Hello, I am Dr. Cheng-Lun Ku, Founding Director of the Graduate Institute of Immunology and Translational Medicine at Chang Gung University.

Immunology is one of the most dynamic and influential fields in 21st-century biomedicine, now broadly applied in the treatment of human diseases.

Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital are home to many outstanding immunology researchers. In recent years, we have achieved remarkable results in areas such as immunometabolism, autoimmunity, immunogenetics, cancer immunology, and infectious immunity. These works have been published in leading journals including Nature Metabolism, Nature Medicine, Science Immunology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Since 2017, we have actively promoted immunology research by organizing major conferences, including FISS, to foster both domestic and international academic exchange.

To further strengthen immunology research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has established the Advanced Immunology Center and the Clinical Immunology Center, while Chang Gung University has restructured the Molecular and Clinical Immunology Center.

Although immunology is a globally prominent discipline, its development in Taiwan has been relatively underrepresented. Dedicated immunology graduate institutes remain limited, and many programs are combined with microbiology, often leading to a curriculum weighted toward microbiology due to teaching demands. Additionally, immunology faculty are frequently dispersed across departments, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. As a result, students interested in pursuing immunology often lack a well-integrated and supportive academic environment.

Recognizing this gap, and building upon the substantial research resources at Chang Gung, we envisioned an institute dedicated to training the next generation of immunology professionals. With strong support from the university and faculty, the institute was approved by the Ministry of Education in 2024, and we welcomed our first cohort of students in September 2025.

Our Educational Philosophy

As we established this institute, we sought to create a distinctive and student-centered learning environment:

• Freedom in Advisor Selection
  Students are free to choose their advisors from both full-time and affiliated faculty, without restrictive matching systems. If a preferred immunology laboratory within Chang Gung is not yet formally affiliated, we are open to joint appointments or co-supervision arrangements to support each student’s academic aspirations.
• A Diverse Learning Environment
  A master’s program is a critical stage for both academic and career exploration. Beyond developing scientific expertise, students must consider future paths—whether in academia, doctoral studies, or industry. To support informed decision-making, we integrate translational and clinical research opportunities and invite industry professionals to participate in teaching. Students will gain not only a deep understanding of immunology but also insight into its clinical applications and industry relevance, enabling them to identify their own career direction.

• Freedom to Learn
  Graduate education should prioritize research. Within a limited timeframe, students must complete coursework, adapt to laboratory life, develop experimental and scientific writing skills, and produce a thesis. Therefore, we minimize required courses and emphasize research-related training such as seminars, while encouraging elective learning and self-directed study.

  We believe students are the core of the institute. Our policies and practices are designed with a student-centered approach. We do not believe in driving progress through excessive pressure. While maintaining rigorous academic standards, we aim to reduce unnecessary stress and foster motivation through encouragement rather than constraint—allowing curiosity and self-expectation to become the driving forces of growth.

For our institute, the goal during students’ training is to cultivate independence, clarity of purpose, and the competencies needed to achieve their ambitions. Our core mission is to nurture the next generation of leaders in immunology—whether in academia or industry. Publications are not the ultimate goal, but rather a natural outcome of meaningful learning and research.

We aspire to become one of the leading institutes in Taiwan by cultivating outstanding researchers. We warmly welcome motivated and aspiring students to join us—so that together, we may grow and achieve excellence.