Award Recipient

TACS-Alliance Research Center

2021 Award Recipient

Joey, Wei-Tao Chang

Award for Residency and Clinical Research in the category of Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care (2021/8 ~ 2024/7)

Wei-Tao (Joey) Chang was born and raised in Taiwan. He obtained his DVM degree from National Taiwan University in 2021. Joey has received an award for residency training and clinical research from the TACS-Alliance Research Center, and his residency training program focuses on small animal respiratory, cardiovascular medicine, and integrated cardiorespiratory care at National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital and allied specialty networks (August 2021 - July 2024). Joey's training adheres to the standards of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and human medicine subspecialty training. He also participates in research projects supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan. His particular research interests include pulmonary function tests, clinical trials, echocardiography, and therapeutics for respiratory diseases in dogs and cats. Outside of work, he loves to spend his spare time with his two dogs, Ralphie and Lumi, and is inspired daily by them.

Joey is currently an AiCVIM candidate going through the AiCVIM certification process and a clinical scholar at the TACS-Alliance Research Center. He will continuously contribute to the advancement of small animal respiratory and cardiovascular medicine, to all his beloved animal patients in his homeland, and to clinical teaching and training for the next generation of vets.

Academic Activities during Training Award Period (2021/8 ~ 2024/7):

10. ASE 2024 (poster presentation) (Honoree of Top Investigator Grant for Early-Career Abstract Presenters by the ASE Foundation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Laín García-Guasch, I-Ping Chan, José Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Jorge I. Matos, Pei-Ying Lo, Man-Cham Lam, Chin-Hao Chang, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Assessing Intra- and Interrater Reliability of the Pulmonary Hypertension Remodeling/Hemodynamic-Induced Manifestations on Echocardiography Score for Canine Pulmonary Hypertension. The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 35th Annual Scientific Sessions, will be held June 14-16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon (*corresponding)

9. Original study (First author)
Wei-Tao Chang, Chung-Hui Lin*, Chin-Hao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu (2024): Assessing breathing effort by barometric whole-body plethysmography and its relationship with prognosis in client-owned cats with respiratory distress. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Apr 26: First published online: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17069 (*corresponding) (SCI)

8. Original study (First author)
Wei-Tao Chang, Pin-Yen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen*, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Detection of feline coronavirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from cats with atypical lower airway and lung disease: Suspicion of virus-associated pneumonia or pneumonitis. Animals 2024 Apr; 14: 1219. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081219 (*Co-corresponding) (SCI)

7. VCRS 2023 (oral presentation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Hui-Wen Chen, Pin-Yen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Presence of feline coronavirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in clinical cases with atypical lower airway or lung disease. The 41st Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Providence, RI (USA), Oct 23-25, 2023. (*corresponding)

6. Original study (Co-Author)
Chung-Hui Lin*, Lynelle R. Johnson, Wei-Tao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu (2023): Quantifiable features of a tidal breathing phenotype in dogs with severe bronchomalacia diagnosed by bronchoscopy. Vet Quarterly (Accepted on Aug 17th 2023) (*corresponding) (SCI)

5. ECVIM 2023 (oral presentation of ESVC)
Wei-Tao Chang, Laín García-Guasch, I-Ping Chan, José Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Jorge I. Matos, Pei-Ying Lo, Man-Cham Lam, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): The Pulmonary hypertension Remodeling/hemodynamic-Induced Manifestations on Echocardiography (PRIME) score for predicting the severity of canine pulmonary hypertension. The 33rd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Barcelona (Spain), Sep, 2023. (Accepted on July 4th 2023.) (*corresponding)

4. ECVIM 2023 (Co-Author, poster presentation of ESVC)
Younjung Chang, Wei-Tao Chang, Man-Cham Lam, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Aortic insufficiency in dogs and cats: A retrospective study of clinical characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and prognosis in non-infectious and non-congenital cases. The 33rd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Barcelona (Spain), Sep, 2023. (Accepted on July 4th 2023.) (*corresponding)

3. ECVIM 2023 (Co-Author, poster presentation of ESVIM)
Chi-Ru Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Yu Ho, Po-Yao Huang, Wei-Tao Chang, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Spectrographic analysis of lung sound for identifying visual characteristics of crackles in dogs. The 33rd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Barcelona (Spain), Sep, 2023. (Accepted on July 4th 2023.) (*corresponding)

2. ECVIM 2022 (poster presentation) (ESVIM: Poster abstract, 3rd prize)
Wei-Tao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2022): A retrospective evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of buprenorphine as an antitussive agent. Congress Proceedings of the 32nd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Gothenburg (Sweden), Sep, 2022. (*corresponding) 

1. VCRS 2021 (oral presentation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2021): Could recording time for barometric whole-body plethysmography be shorter in client-owned cats? The 39th Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society - Annual VCRS Virtual Symposium, Oct 31-Nov 2, 2021. (*corresponding)

2022 Award Recipient

Roo, Chi-Ru Chen

Award for Residency and Clinical Research in the category of Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care
2022/9 ~    (scheduled to end in September 2026) 
(Gap year during 2024/1 ~ 2024/12) 

Chi-Ru (Roo) Chen earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2022. Roo has received an award for residency training and clinical research from the TACS-Alliance Research Center, and her residency training program focuses on small animal respiratory, cardiovascular medicine, and integrated cardiorespiratory care at National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital and allied specialty networks (since 2022/9; gap year during 2024/1-12).

Aside from her residency training, Roo also engages part-time in a research project supported by National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan. She's especially interested in the application of digital stethoscopes in small animal respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. With her passion for her beloved dog and all the other small animals, Roo is dedicated to providing high-quality care to her patients and advancing the field of veterinary medicine through research

Academic Activities during Training Award Period (2021/8 ~ present):

6. VCRS 2025 (First author, oral presentation) Joan A. O'Brien Research Award winner
Chi-Ru Chen, Wei-Tao Chang, Po-Yao Huang, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Chung-Hui Lin* (2025): Applying stethoscopic approach to investigate heart rate variability in dogs with respiratory diseases: A pilot study evaluating vasovagal tonus index. The 43rd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Magog, Quebec (Canada), Sep 21-24, 2025. (*corresponding)

5. VCRS 2025 (Second-Author, oral presentation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Chi-Ru Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2025): Acquiring barometric whole-body plethysmography pseudoflow signals in cats using a modified spirometric system: Toward a simplified clinical setup. The 43rd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Magog, Quebec (Canada), Sep 21-24, 2025. (*corresponding)

4. Case Report (Second Author)
Po-Yao Huang, Chi-Ru Chen, Chung-Hui Lin, Pei-Ying Lo, Ju-Hsien Peng, Fei-Hsuan Wang, Olivia F Hsieh, Hui-Wen Chen*, Wei-Tao Chang* (2025): Lung ultrasound findings and therapeutic outcome in a cat with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax caused by paragonimiasis. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports (Accepted on Apr 21 2025; First published online July 22, 2025) (*corresponding) (SCI)

3. VCRS 2024 (Second-Author, oral presentation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Chi-Ru Chen, Hui-Wen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Evaluation of heart rate variability using a novel stethoscopic approach in cats with respiratory diseases: A pilot investigation. The 42nd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Levi, Kittilä (Finland), Nov 18-20, 2024. (*corresponding)

2. Original study (First author)
Chi-Ru Chen, Wei-Tao Chang, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu, Olivia F Hsieh, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Evaluating heart rate variability by a novel stethoscopic approach to minimize stress in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 26(10):1098612X241275296. doi: 10.1177/1098612X241275296 (*corresponding) (SCI)

1. ECVIM 2023 (poster presentation of ESVIM)
Chi-Ru Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Yu Ho, Po-Yao Huang, Wei-Tao Chang, Hui-Wen Chen, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Spectrographic analysis of lung sound for identifying visual characteristics of crackles in dogs. The 33rd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Barcelona (Spain), Sep, 2023. (Accepted on July 4th 2023.) (*corresponding)

Kelly, Younjung Chang

Award for Clinical Research (Cases of Aortic Insufficiency), 2022/8 ~ 2023/2 

Younjung (Kelly) Chang was born and raised in South Korea and acquired DVM degree at National Taiwan University in 2022. She received an award for clinical research and training from TACS-Alliance Research Center in 2022. Kelly participated in clinical research and short-term training on small animal respiratory and cardiovascular medicine during Aug 2022 - February 2023. She studied basic knowledge of clinical trial, echocardiography, and cardiovascular/respiratory diseases. During this period, she worked with her colleagues in Clinical Service of Respiratory Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care at National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital and allied specialty networks. Her clinical research focused on reviewing cases of aortic insufficiency, discovering the underlying cause and consequence associated with non-infectious and non-congenital cases. Apart from her career, she loves learning foreign languages and can speak Chinese, English and Spanish besides her mother tongue, Korean. Using her language skill, she enjoys traveling around the world and broadening her view. Currently she is learning art to capture beautiful moments on her sketchbook while traveling or in her everyday life.

Academic Activities during Training Award Period (2022/8 ~ 2023/2):

1. ECVIM 2023 (poster presentation of ESVC)
Younjung Chang, Wei-Tao Chang, Man-Cham Lam, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Aortic insufficiency in dogs and cats: A retrospective study of clinical characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and prognosis in non-infectious and non-congenital cases. The 33rd European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Congress, Barcelona (Spain), Sep, 2023. (Accepted on July 4th 2023.)

2023 Award Recipient

Ariel, Pin-Yen Chen

Award for Residency and Clinical Research in the category of Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care

2022/9 ~ (scheduled to end in September 2026)
(Gap month on 2025/10) 


Academic Activities during Training Award Period (2021/8 ~ present):

4. VCRS 2025 (First author, oral presentation)
Pin-Yen Chen, Wei-Tao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Chung-Hui Lin* (2025): Prevalence of birefringent particles in bronchoalveolar lavage cytology and correlation with mineral cat litter use. The 43rd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Magog, Quebec (Canada), Sep 21-24, 2025. (*corresponding)

3. VCRS 2024 (First author, oral presentation)
Pin-Yen Chen, Wei-Tao Chang, Min-Ren Zhang, Lu Peng, Ai-Ai Chou, Po-Yao Huang, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Cell culture-based survey of feline herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus, and influenza A virus in a population of clinical cats with upper or lower respiratory tract disease. The 42nd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Levi, Kittilä (Finland), Nov 18-20, 2024. (*corresponding)

2. Original study (Second Author)
Wei-Tao Chang, Pin-Yen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Hui-Wen Chen*, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Detection of feline coronavirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from cats with atypical lower airway and lung disease: Suspicion of virus-associated pneumonia or pneumonitis. Animals 2024 Apr; 14: 1219. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081219 (*Co-corresponding) (SCI)

1. VCRS 2023 (Co-Author, oral presentation)
Wei-Tao Chang, Hui-Wen Chen, Pin-Yen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2023): Presence of feline coronavirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in clinical cases with atypical lower airway or lung disease. The 41st Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Providence, RI (USA), Oct 23-25, 2023. (*corresponding) 

2024 Award Recipient

Brandon, Po-Yao Huang 

Award for Clinical Research (2024/11)

Attendance at the 42nd Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society (VCRS) Symposium — Levi (Kittilä), Finland — November 18–20, 2024 | Research Topic: Application of Diaphragmatic Ultrasonography

This conference attendance was made possible through the Seed Project of the TACS-Alliance Research Center

Academic Activity associated with the Clinical Research Award (2024/11):

Oral presentation (First Author): Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society (VCRS) 42nd Symposium — Levi (Kittilä), Finland — November 18–20, 2024 

Po-Yao Huang, Wei-Tao Chang, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Diaphragmatic excursion profiles on M-mode ultrasonography in dogs with and without lower airway obstruction on spirometry. The 42nd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Levi, Kittilä (Finland), Nov 18-20, 2024. (*corresponding)

Joey, Wei-Tao Chang 

Award for Clinical Research (2024/11)

Attendance at the 42nd Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society (VCRS) Symposium — Levi (Kittilä), Finland — November 18–20, 2024 | Research Topic:
Heart rate variability in cats with respiratory diseases 

This conference attendance was made possible through the generous support of an anonymous individual donor who wished to contribute to the advancement of veterinary care in Taiwan

Academic Activity associated with the Clinical Research Award (2024/11):

Oral presentation (First Author): Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society (VCRS) 42nd Symposium — Levi (Kittilä), Finland — November 18–20, 2024 

Wei-Tao Chang, Chi-Ru Chen, Hui-Wen Chen, Pei-Ying Lo, Huey-Dong Wu, Chung-Hui Lin* (2024): Evaluation of heart rate variability using a novel stethoscopic approach in cats with respiratory diseases: A pilot investigation. The 42nd Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society, Levi, Kittilä (Finland), Nov 18-20, 2024. (*corresponding)

Anna, Hsin-Yu Tsai

Award for Specialty Internship in Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care (2024/9 ~ 2025/10) 

Academic Activities during Training Award Period (2024/9 ~ 2025/10):

1. Case Report (First author) 
Hsin-Yu Tsai, Pei-Ying Lo, Chung-Hui Lin, Ching-Ho Wu, Wei-Tao Chang* (2025): Echocardiographic findings of aortic dissection in a cat with systemic hypertension and congestive heart failure. J Small Anim Pract (accepted on Aug 13, 2025; First published online Aug 24, 2025) (*corresponding) (SCI)

2025 Award Recipient

Heidi, Yu-Han Huang

Award for Specialty Internship in Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care (2025/8 ~ 2026/7) 

Luke, Zhong-Hong Lu

Award for Specialty Internship in Small Animal Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine & Integrated Cardiorespiratory Care (2025/8 ~ 2026/7) 

Fang-Yu Lin

Received support for residency training from the TACS-Alliance Research Center starting in August 2023 but left the program at the end of June 2024.