Celebration of the 15th Anniversary Continues; MUST Conferred Honorary
Doctoral Degree to Academician Chen Zhu

news150708 1

news150708 1

2015 is a special year for Macau University of Science and Technology; this is the 15th anniversary year for the University, in addition to the series of celebration activities held earlier, it also just held the 1st World Medical Summit, and to add more glory to the happy occasion, on the afternoon of July 8, 2015 the University held the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degree to Academician Chen Zhu and an accompanying symposium at the D Hall of the University. Chancellor Liu Chak Wan of MUST conferred the Honorary Doctoral Degree to Academician Chen Zhu, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress and President of the Chinese Medical Association. 

Principal guests who have attended the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degree include Academician Zhang Ya Ping, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mr. Rao Ke Qin, Party Secretary of the Chinese Medical Association, Academician Gao Fu, Deputy Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Professor Xu Rui Ming, Director General of the Bureau of Frontier Sciences and Education, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director An Jian Ji of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, and members of the MUST Foundation, the University Board, and the Advisory Committee. The guests, together with the MUST faculty, students and staff witnessed the historical moment. With his far-reaching ambition, noble character, extraordinary achievements, and perseverance at exploration and innovativeness, Honorary Doctor Chen Zhu has set a glorious eternal example for the MUST faculty and teachers.

President Liu Liang of Macau University of Science and Technology read the citation for Honorary Doctor Chen Zhu: Prof. Chen Zhu is a globally renowned expert of hematology and molecular biology. He holds many academic titles and honorary titles, including academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Third World Academy of Sciences, foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S., the French Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of the U.K., and honorary academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the U.K.. Academician Chen Zhu has achieved remarkable breakthroughs at the studies and clinical treatment of human leukemia. With respect to the incidence of developing malignant tumors for children and teenagers, Leukemia ranks No.1, and Academician Chen Zhu’s research of human leukemia has made significant contributions to elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of combining all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) as the therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); the target-based treatment concept that he invented has opened new paths for the differentiation therapy and apoptosis therapy of tumor and won him high acclaims from the international medical community. In addition to further studies of leukemia, since 1994, Prof. Chen Zhu has also hosted the human genome research project of our country; he has installed the technological system for human genome research, established the first national genome research center of China – Chinese Human Genome Center in Shanghai, organized large-scale human genome DNA and cDNA sequencing, and achieved multiple research outputs, which have produced international importance.

Prof. Chen Zhu has published more than 200 papers in renowned international journals and national core journals. He is also winner of multiple awards, including four awards at the National Natural Science Award and the National Advancement Award in Science and Technology, the HLHL Award for Science and Technology in 1996, the Prix de l´Oise, La Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, France in 1997, the “Qiu-Shi” Award for Outstanding Young Scientist in 1998, and the Changjiang Scholars Achievement Award (first-class) in 1999. In 2002, he was awarded the Chevalier de l´Ordre National de la Légion d´Honneur by the French government.

Academician Chen Zhu received his Master’s degree at the then Shanghai Second Medical College (now Shanghai Jiao Tong University) in 1981, and in 1989 he obtained his doctor’s degree from the major of Basis of Tumor Development, Institute of Hematology, University Paris VII, France. From 1993 to 2000, he was first Vice Director and then Director of Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical College, and Director of Chinese Human Genome Center in Shanghai. From 2000 to 2007, he was Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Co-Chair of the InterAcademy Panel (IAP), and Director of Shanghai Center for Systems Biology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In 2010, he was elected President of the Chinese Medical Association. From 2007 to 2013, he was the Minister of Health, China, and first Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. In 2013, he was Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress of China.

Following the successful closing of the Ceremony for Conferment of Honorary Doctoral Degree, the symposium opened. Honorary Doctor of MUST, Academician Chen Zhu gave a stimulating talk to the guests and the MUST teachers and students, and exchanged views with the MUST teachers and students, the atmosphere of which was warm and harmonious. President Liu Liang noted that it is a great honor for MUST to confer honorary doctor to Academician Chen Zhu who has made extraordinary achievements in academic and professional field; he is highly regarded in the academic field nationally and internationally, he is the pride of our country and our nation, and he is the role model of all MUST teachers and students. President Liu Liang encouraged the MUST teachers and students to act on the University Motto, look up to Honorary Doctor Chen Zhu as a role model, engage in self-improvement, and actively pursue our own cause.