Michael Ming-Chiao Lai

Institution
Academia Sinica

Country
Taiwan

Field
Biomedical Sciences

Recognized as the ‘father of coronaviruses,’ Lai received the 2017 Nikkei Asia Prize for his role in preventing an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. Apart from serving as vice president of Academia Sinica between 2003 and 2006, Lai was awarded Taiwan’s 2013 Presidential Science Prize, an honor he shares with mathematician Peng Shie-Ming and semiconductor pioneer Lu Chih-Yuan.

(Photo: Michael Ming-Chiao Lai)

AWARDS
  • 2017 Nikkei Asia Prize

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