NCHU Veterinary Scholar Tzu-yun Teng Receives Wu Ta-You Memorial Award
2025-08-25
興新聞張貼者
Unit秘書室
158
Dr. Tzu-yun Teng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), has been honored with the prestigious Wu Ta-You Memorial Award from Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). One of the few Taiwanese scholars dedicated to the health and welfare of companion and shelter animals, Dr. Teng gained international recognition for her pioneering collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the United Kingdom to establish the first canine and feline life tables. In recent years, she has also committed herself to the Stray LOHAS Project, a university social responsibility initiative aimed at improving the welfare of shelter animals, showcasing her ability to balance academic innovation with social contribution.
Dr. Teng’s research focuses on animal welfare epidemiology. She was the first in the world to adapt the concept of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), commonly used in human public health, to the veterinary field by introducing the Welfare-Adjusted Life Years (WALYs) model. This groundbreaking framework quantifies the overall welfare impact of ten common canine diseases and identifies 49 major health and welfare issues affecting shelter dogs. Her work spans a broad range of topics, including the health and behavioral welfare of companion and shelter animals, welfare assessments of exotic pets, and cost-benefit analyses of stray dog management policies.
In terms of international collaboration, Dr. Teng has partnered with the RVC team to analyze electronic medical records covering approximately one-third of veterinary clinics across the UK. This collaboration produced the first life tables for dogs and cats, providing unprecedented data on age structures, health risks, and life expectancy across different breeds and sexes. These findings have greatly enhanced support for clinical practice, shelter management, and pet insurance systems. They have also drawn significant international attention, with coverage by major media outlets such as BBC and CNN, and have become key references for veterinary practice and policy evaluation—underscoring the global influence of Taiwanese scholars.
On the domestic research front, Dr. Teng continues to focus on shelter animal welfare in Taiwan. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and on-site investigations, she has identified pressing welfare issues in local shelters and provided evidence-based recommendations for improvement. She has also conducted scientific analyses of the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of stray dog management strategies, offering practical insights into policy development and implementation in Taiwan.
As a co-investigator of the Stray LOHAS Project, Dr. Teng actively promotes animal welfare education and international exchange. The project has introduced advanced shelter medicine practices from the United States to Taiwan and has translated research findings into actionable improvements in local shelters. Additionally, the project established the Shelter Medicine Education Platform, an online educational hub that enhances the knowledge and awareness of shelter staff and the general public, contributing to improved welfare outcomes for shelter animals.
Dr. Teng’s research focuses on animal welfare epidemiology. She was the first in the world to adapt the concept of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), commonly used in human public health, to the veterinary field by introducing the Welfare-Adjusted Life Years (WALYs) model. This groundbreaking framework quantifies the overall welfare impact of ten common canine diseases and identifies 49 major health and welfare issues affecting shelter dogs. Her work spans a broad range of topics, including the health and behavioral welfare of companion and shelter animals, welfare assessments of exotic pets, and cost-benefit analyses of stray dog management policies.
In terms of international collaboration, Dr. Teng has partnered with the RVC team to analyze electronic medical records covering approximately one-third of veterinary clinics across the UK. This collaboration produced the first life tables for dogs and cats, providing unprecedented data on age structures, health risks, and life expectancy across different breeds and sexes. These findings have greatly enhanced support for clinical practice, shelter management, and pet insurance systems. They have also drawn significant international attention, with coverage by major media outlets such as BBC and CNN, and have become key references for veterinary practice and policy evaluation—underscoring the global influence of Taiwanese scholars.
On the domestic research front, Dr. Teng continues to focus on shelter animal welfare in Taiwan. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and on-site investigations, she has identified pressing welfare issues in local shelters and provided evidence-based recommendations for improvement. She has also conducted scientific analyses of the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of stray dog management strategies, offering practical insights into policy development and implementation in Taiwan.
As a co-investigator of the Stray LOHAS Project, Dr. Teng actively promotes animal welfare education and international exchange. The project has introduced advanced shelter medicine practices from the United States to Taiwan and has translated research findings into actionable improvements in local shelters. Additionally, the project established the Shelter Medicine Education Platform, an online educational hub that enhances the knowledge and awareness of shelter staff and the general public, contributing to improved welfare outcomes for shelter animals.
