Officiating guests at the plaque-unveiling ceremony of Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory of Chinese Medicine (from left to right: Chancellor Liu Chak Wan, Dr. Erwin Neher, Mr. Yao Jian, Mr. Ma Chi Ngai Frederico)
Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Erwin Neher set up the “Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory of Chinese Medicine” at Macau University of Science and Technology; the grand opening ceremony of the Laboratory was held at N101 of the library building of M.U.S.T. on December 6, 2016.
The University had the pleasure inviting the following prominent guests to officiate the plaque-unveiling ceremony of the Laboratory: Mr. Yao Jian, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R, Mr. Ma Chi Ngai Frederico, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of Macau Science and Technology Development Fund, Professor Erwin Neher, Distinguish Guest Professor of M.U.S.T., Mr. Sou Chio Fai, Director of the Tertiary Education Services Office, Mr. Au Weng Chi, member of the Administrative Committee of Macau Foundation, Mr. Peter Lam Kam Seng, Vice Chairman of Macau Technology Committee, Chancellor Liu Chak Wan of M.U.S.T., Chairman Zhou Li Gao of the University Council of M.U.S.T., and President Liu Liang of M.U.S.T..
President Liu Liang addressed the Ceremony, noting that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been a great treasure house that integrates efforts and wisdoms of generations of people over thousands of years. Today, more and more scientists and medical doctors are working on the research and practice of TCM. The establishment of Dr. Neher’s laboratory at M.U.S.T. will provide a novel platform to study the cardiovascular diseases, neuro-disorders and immune related diseases using the latest techniques of biophysics, especially to further clarify the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the complicated system of TCM. It will also be a great new milestone for the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (the M.U.S.T. partner lab) to continue to embark on quality research of Chinese medicines and discovery of innovative drugs.
Chairman Ma Chi Ngai also delivered a speech, noting that the promotion and development of TCM has been documented in the 13th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China, which has made available unprecedented opportunities for TCM in its further promotion and development, modernization, and internationalization. What’s more, the Macau government has been making proactive efforts in advancing the development of TCM in Macau, having brought the University of Macau and M.U.S.T. together and jointly established the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines on the one hand, and on another set up the Guangdong-Macau TCM Industrial Park at the Heng Qin Island to facilitate Industry-Institution-Research collaboration. The Macau government has recently incorporated the Smart Health Care program as one of its key plans in developing Macau into a Smart City, believing that the TCM will contribute greatly to the construction of Smart Health Care. At the end of his speech, Chairman Ma extended warm congratulations to the Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory of Chinese Medicine on its grand opening and expressed great wishes for the development of the laboratory.
In Dr. Erwin Neher’s speech; he noted that applying biophysics technology in molecular research of TCM has great significances; the TCM is a complex system, and studying its molecular structures and composition plays a significant role in research and prevention of diseases; he also hoped that the establishment of the Laboratory could enable the M.U.S.T. research team to make greater contributions to research and development of TCM.
Dr. Erwin Neher is world’s famous biophysicist, who discovered the function of single ion channels in cells; he is the 1991 Nobel Prize Winner of Physiology or Medicine. In 2016, Dr. Erwin Neher accepted the invitation of M.U.S.T. and began to work with the University as a Distinguished Guest Professor; he is going to join forces with the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (M.U.S.T. partner lab) in promoting development of TCM and making greater contributions to Macau for the adequate diversification of its economy and its sustainable development.
The officiating guests cutting the ribbon (from left to right: Chairman Zhou Li Gao, Mr. Sou Chio Fai, Mr. Ma Chi Ngai Frederico, Chancellor Liu Chak Wan, Mr. Yao Jian, Professor Erwin Neher, Mr. Peter Lam Kam Seng, Mr. Au Weng Chi and President Liu Liang )