🌏 East Asia Vitiligo Association (EAVA) – Yamagata 2024

We were honored to attend the 4th East Asia Vitiligo Association (EAVA) conference in Yamagata, Japan. It was a meaningful experience to reconnect with old friends and meet new collaborators in the vitiligo field. The cultural, historical, and linguistic similarities across East Asia were truly striking.

Taiwan was represented by Dr. Cheng-Che Lan from Kaohsiung Medical University, who presented “Vitiligo Evolving Landscape,” and Dr. Ying-Chun Chen, who shared insights on “Importance of Photodensity in Phototherapy.”


Our Chang Gung team presented two key projects:

1. AI-assisted CRFF-OCT Examination in Vitiligo Grafting
   　A novel AI-supported approach integrating high-resolution skin imaging to enhance preoperative assessment for pigment cell transplantation.

2. Halting Melanocytoxicity with Human Interferon-Gamma Monoclonal Antibody EI-001
   　A collaborative effort with Professor Ku’s lab at Chang Gung University, exploring a self-developed monoclonal antibody as a potential new treatment for vitiligo.

The Japanese hosts were incredibly thoughtful, providing weather and travel updates and planning a post-conference hike (sadly canceled due to weather). Instead, we enjoyed local delights, including Japan’s top sake Juyondai Ryuugetsu, pasta eaten with chopsticks on tatami mats, and surprisingly tasty chilled dandan noodles with ice cubes.

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At first, the conference design appeared Halloween-themed, resembling playful ghosts. Later, Professor Tsuzuki explained it was inspired by the adorable “Snow Fairy” bird – the long-tailed tit – symbolizing the pure white of vitiligo. Even more impressively, he illustrated it himself!