Tsinghua Medicine Successfully Holds Infectious Disease Research and Translation Symposium

On the morning of October 29, 2024, the “Infectious Disease Research and Translation Symposium” jointly hosted by Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University Institute of Drug Regulatory Science , and Beijing Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute was successfully held in Room B416 of the Medical Science Building. This symposium gathered top experts in the field of infectious diseases and important leaders from academia and industry, bringing varied professional perspectives to the discussion of the latest research progress and cutting-edge trends in the field of infectious diseases. Prof. KEE Kehkooi, Assistant Chancellor of Tsinghua Medicine, and Yating Wang, Assistant Professor of Tsinghua Medicine, respectively presided over the meeting.

During the meeting, Prof. Wong Tien Yin , Vice Provost of Tsinghua University and Senior Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua Medicine, met with experts in the field of infectious diseases and delivered a speech. Prof. Wong pointed out that infectious diseases are still major threats to global public health, especially the frequent outbreaks of new infectious diseases, which highlight the urgency of China’s need to improve its independent research and development capabilities for new drugs. He stated that the symposium aims to explore how to use innovative technology to promote research and the translation of results in the field of infectious diseases, meet the actual needs of China’s public health and clinical practice, and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global infectious disease prevention and control.

                                             

Prof. Wong Tien Yin Met with Infectious Disease Experts

During the meeting, Prof. Huaqing Wang, Chief Expert of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted an in-depth analysis of the “Current Status and Prevention and Control Strategies of Major Infectious Diseases in China,” where he focused on China’s infectious disease prevention and control strategies and proposed future immunization programs. Subsequently, Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, Vice President, Head of Viral Vaccine R&D, GSK, introduced the “Frontier Progress in Infectious Disease, New Vaccine R&D Technologies, and AI Accelerated R&D,” providing new ideas from a global perspective for the attendees.

Chief Expert of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Prof. Huaqing Wang

Vice President, Head of Viral Vaccine R&D, GSK——Dr. Pei-Yong Shi

Prof. Rumin Zhang, Chief Scientific officer from the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) shared “The Modern Art of Ancient Anti-Infective Wars,” showcasing the historical development and modern innovation of anti-infective drugs and focusing on the construction and verification of the BK/PK/PD translation model. Prof. Wanbo Tai from the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory’s Institute of Infectious Disease proposed a novel vaccine development method using “immune balance activation strategy,” opening up a new path for future vaccine research and development.

Chief Scientific Officer from the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute

Prof. Rumin Zhang

Shenzhen Bay Laboratory’s Institute of Infectious Disease——Prof. Wanbo Tai

In the policy environment session, Dr. Huan Yang, a former clinical reviewer at the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration, interpreted the “Chinese Vaccine Review and Approval Policy Guidelines” in detail. Subsequently, Prof. Xiangdong Mu, Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, analyzed the clinical needs of new drug research and development in the field of infectious diseases with the example of “From COVID-19 to Pulmonary Mucormycosis.” Dr. David Barros-Aguirre, Head of Global Health Pharma Research Unit, GSK, further explored the importance of improving public and key stakeholders’ awareness and support, and shared the multi-stakeholder cooperation model in the field of tuberculosis development abroad.

Former Clinical Reviewer at the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration——Dr. Huan Yang

Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital——Prof. Xiangdong Mu

Head of Global Health Pharma Research Unit, GSK

Dr. David Barros-Aguirre

In the Q&A session, review experts, enterprise representatives, and senior scholars from academia gathered together to discuss in depth on “How to collaborate with the government, academia, and medical and social institutions to promote innovation and coordination in the field of infectious diseases.” Representatives of GSK, a global leading enterprise in infectious disease and vaccine research, were also present to discuss in-depth the strategies for accelerating the research and translation of infectious disease drugs in China.

  

Q&A Session

The symposium concluded successfully, and the attendees expressed that they had gained a lot. The conference provided valuable insights and inspiration for future public health prevention and control and research and development in the field of infectious diseases, further promoting the translation process of scientific research innovation and clinical application in the field of infectious diseases.