Professor Chen Zhu is a leading expert in hematology and molecular biology, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and of the Third World Academy of Sciences, and a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences of US and the French Academy of Sciences. He received his master’s degree in 1981 from the Shanghai Second Medical College and in 1989 obtained his doctoral degree on the Basis of Tumorogenesis from the Institute of Hematology, University Paris VII, France. He then held positions such as residential physician and chief physician at the Ruijin Hospital that is affiliated to Shanghai Second Medical University and as director and research fellow at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Hematology.

From 1993 to 2000 Professor Chen served first as the Vice-Director and then Director of Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, as well as Director of the Chinese Human Genome Center in Shanghai. From 2000 to 2007, he was Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Inter-Academy Panel (IAP) and Director of Shanghai Center for Systems Biology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In April 2010, he was elected President of the Chinese Medical Association. From 2007 to 2013, he was appointed the Minister of Health, China, and first Vice-Chairman and then Chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.  He served as Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress of China in 2013, and was also appointed as a member of the 10th and 11th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Professor Chen Zhu’s research into 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 pioneered has opened new paths for the differentiation/apoptosis therapy of tumor, and won him high acclaim from the international medical community.

Since 1994, in addition to further studies of leukemia, Professor Chen Zhu has also participated in the operation, organization and management of the human genome research project of our country.  He installed the technological system for human genome research, established the first national genome research center of China (the Chinese Human Genome Center in Shanghai), organized large-scale human genome DNA and cDNA sequencing, and achieved multiple research output of international importance.  Professor Chen has also made major efforts in the promotion of translation and industrialization of research outputs and (via transfer of technology) has successfully transformed research achievements into remarkable economic benefits thereby fullfilling industrialization of research achievements.

Professor Chen Zhu has published over 200 papers in renowned international journals and national core journals. He is also the winner of numerous awards, including the National Natural Science Award (third-class) in 1993, the National Advancement Award in Science and Technology (second-class) in 1995, the Ho Leung Ho Lee Award for Science and Technology in 1996, Prix de l´Oise, La Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, France in 1997, the “Qiu-Shi” Award for Outstanding Young Scientist in 1998, the Changjiang Scholars Achievement Award (first-class) in 1999, and the National Natural Science Award (second-class) in 2001 and 2004. In 2002, he was awarded the Chevalier de l´Ordre National de la Légion d´Honneur by the French government.