On March 25, 2023, the 35th Science and Health Roundtable was held at PUMCH. Academician Zhao Zhongxian, winner of the National Highest Science and Technology Award, Academician Jiang Jiandong, Director of the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, and Zhang Shuyang, President of PUMCH delivered keynote speeches. Academician Li Jinghai, President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), delivered concluding remarks. For young PUMCH scholars, this is their first opportunity of face-to-face communication with the winner of the National Highest Science and Technology Award and other academic titans and draw from the uninhibited scientific explorations and patriotic sentiments of these strategic scientists.

▲Wu Ganmei, Executive Director of the Science and Health Roundtable of the China Association for Science and Technology, moderated the event

Since its inception, PUMCH has attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation, and the pioneering efforts of many of the titans at PUMCH have laid the foundation for modern Chinese medicine. Since entering the new era, PUMCH has intensified its efforts to cultivate young and middle-aged medical research talents. To that end, it has been working hard to create a healthy and uplifting atmosphere favorable to research.

▲Jiang Jiandong, President of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, delivered a keynote speech on “Securing Greater Success in New Drug Research in China”

As Academician Jiang Jiandong pointed out, to pursue greater success in new drug research in China, we need to value and give full play to the advantages of botanical drugs and “draw strength from past and foreign achievements”; we also need more innovation in converging areas between basic research, supporting technology, academic influence, clinical application, policies and regulations, and pharmaceutical education, among others.

▲Zhang Shuyang, President of PUMCH, delivered a keynote speech on “Building of China’s Rare Disease Diagnosis and Research Platform and System”

Zhang Shuyang, President of PUMCH, gave a comprehensive introduction to the PUMCH-led building of China’s rare disease diagnosis and research platforms and systems and shared her vision for such endeavors.

▲Academician Zhao Zhongxian, winner of the National Highest Science and Technology Award, delivered a keynote speech

“When you do research, it’s all about commitment and persistence. If you are committed to it, you won’t feel solitude. Rather, you will enjoy it,” said Academician Zhao Zhongxian. He also offered pertinent advice to the young and middle-aged in the audience: keep an eye on potential scientific issues in practices and seek to understand and address major applicational issues through in-depth research in basic science. Academician Zhao Zhongxian emphasized the sense of responsibility that researchers should have and encouraged PUMCH scholars to strike the perfect balance between the responsibility falling on the shoulders of intellectuals and their own pursuits and preoccupations.

Multiple outstanding representatives of the young and middle-aged researchers joined the discussion and exchanges.

▲Academician Li Jinghai, President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, delivered the concluding remarks

▲Group picture of participants of the 35th Science and Health Roundtable

Written by Xia Peng, Ye Xiaolin and Chen Mingyan

Photographed by Sun Liang

Edited by Xiao Xiong and Wang Yao

Translated by Liu Haiyan