Dr. Michael M. C. Lai, Academician and Distinguished Research Fellow of Academia Sinica and President of National Cheng-Kung University, is the recipient of the University of Southern California (USC) Faculty lifetime Achievement Award. The USC Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a very select number of retired faculty at the annual Academic Honors Convocation of USC in the United States. The Award recognizes Academician Lai’s eminent careers and notable contributions to the university, the profession and the community. Academician Lai has conducted pioneering studies on a wide range of RNA viruses and has advanced scientific understanding of RNA virus replication; more recently he has shifted much of his research efforts to the hepatitis C virus. The Award ceremony will be held in April 7, 2008.