Neuropharmacology

Ying-Chieh Tsai is a professor at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at National Yang-Ming University since 1983 (chairman of this Institute from 1997 to 2002). He received a B.S. from National Taiwan University and an M.S. & Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tokyo University. Professor Tsai started his research career with structural & functional studies of industrial enzymes, scientific aromatherapy, and functional studies of essential oils from Chinese herbs. Since 2000, Professor Tsai started showing great interest in probiotics field and founded the Taiwan Association of Lactic Acid Bacteria where he served as President until 2007. He served concurrently as Vice-President of the Asian Federation of Societies for Lactic Acid Bacteria, after which he served as President until 2009. Currently, Professor Tsai specializes in psychobiotics and conducts ground-breaking research on the microbiota-gut brain axis where he explores its commercial and health benefits