Chairman's Message

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is my great pleasure to announce the 13th Mind-Body Interface (MBI) International Symposium is to be held physically in Taichung, as well as going virtual on Oct. 28-30, 2023.
Organized annually by Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-lab) at China Medical University Hospital, we are delighted to co-chair this 3-day international conference with the PNIRSAsia-Pacific Symposium for six consecutive years in a row.

The main theme this year is "TIME matters: Finding the Rhythm and Mastering the Circadian for Mind-Body wellbeing" Circadian Rhythm plays a vital role in good health and well-being and even in productive and fulfilling life. Adequate sleep not only helps to keep both of the mental and physical health in balance, but also helps support growth and development in children and adolescents. On the other hand, disturbances of the circadian rhythms have been associated with both chronic physical and mental disorders. Thus, maintaining balanced circadian rhythm is important not only for the heart, and the brain, it is also essential for our immune system. Nowadays, the development of new technology and evidence-based treatments, including wearable devices, photobiomodulation (PBM), mindfulness, yoga, meditation, nutrition, exercise, cognitive-behavior therapy, and acupuncture, to restore the disturbed circadian rhythms become a huge topic of interest.

The MBI International Symposium has been vigorously promoting a global agenda of translational neuroscience by encouraging interdisciplinary research, and integrating biomedical discovery and development focused on patients, to provide better care and service in the field of mental health. The symposium is featured with a broad range of topics, including immunology, metabolic processes and molecular science, psychopharmacology, psychology, addiction science, and the brain-gut-microbe axis as well as biological processes and factors underlying the links between diet, nutrition and mental health from the perspective of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Furthermore, there will be a strong focus on the use of brave approach and novel technology, artificial intelligence, big data, neuroimaging, personalized medicine, lifestyle intervention, health promotion and disease management, and epidemiology and population studies in brain disorders. Our programme includes keynote speeches, state of the art symposia, oral and poster presentations, as well as Mind-Body Workshop. Early-career researchers are encouraged to join us and bursaries are provided to apply.

MBI Symposium is insightful and inspiring with active discussion among participants. With the great Taiwanese hospitality and richness of cultural and natural heritage of Formosa, the 13th MBI Symposium is guaranteed to be another wonderful event like it has been in the previous years. We look forward to greeting our biomedical researchers, psychiatrists and other health professionals worldwide in Taichung.

Sincerely yours,