September 22, in order to gather the wisdom of academicians and experts in the field of public health, to give a full play to high-level experts’ radiating and leading role and to promote the rapid disciplinary development of public health in China, Nankai’s Series Lectures on Public Health has held the first lecture. Prof. Yunde Hou, CAE academician and China’s famous expert in Medical Virology, was invited to give a keynote report entitled “Characteristics of Human Viral Infection and Immunity and Future Research Strategies: The Game between Human and Virus”. Prof. Xuetao Cao, CAE academician and President of Nankai University, attended the lecture and delivered a Certificate of Honor of Nankai’s Series Lectures on Public Health to Prof. Yunde Hou.

In Prof. Xuetao Cao’s speech, he pointed out that Nankai University, in order to thoroughly implement the directive spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the disciplinary development and talent cultivation of national public health, has established Nankai University’s Institute of Public Health and co-founded Tianjin Joint Research Institute of Public Health with Tianjin Medical University. These actions show that Nankai actively aims at serving the major needs of the country, carries out the discipline layout and undertakes the responsibility and mission of “double first-class” construction with scientific and technological progress and contribution.

Prof. Jianguo Xu, CAE academician and Director of the Stale Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SKLID), hosted the lecture, introducing Prof. Yunde Hou’s achievements, extending his sincere gratitude for Prof. Hou’s acceptance of the invitation of giving a report at Nankai and also sending out invitation to famous experts and elites in the field of public health in China. He expected everyone to share the research results and help China build first-class public health disciplines. In the report, Prof. Yunde Hou systematically expounded from five aspects, which are the basic structure and classification of viruses, the history and latest progress of virus study, the characteristics of virus infection and immunity, the prevalence and spread of new viruses in recent years and the strategies for future medical virology research.

“What is the purpose of our research on Medical Virology? Philosophers used to explain the world in different ways, and the question is how to transform it.” Prof. Yunde Hou said, “I have studied virology for 60 years. What’s my purpose? It is to transform the world, control viral diseases, maintain social stability and economic development in China, improving the benefits of mankind.”

Prof. Jianguo Xu encouraged Nankai students to learn scientific thinking and dialectical attitude of philosophy from Prof. Hou and pass on Prof. Hou’s scientific spirit, rigorous and pragmatic style of study and persistent pursuit of scientific research. He also hoped Prof. Hou’s words would become a precious spiritual power for everyone’s future development.

Nankai’s Series Lectures on Public Health is co-sponsored by Nankai University’s Institute of Public Health, Tianjin Joint Research Institute of Public Health and the SKLID. The Series is planned to invite academician in public health or related fields, members and well-known experts of academic departments of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to talk about their academic achievements. It is also an approach of Nankai making contribution because it is able to promote the disciplinary development of public health in China, to cultivate high-level talents in the field, and build a health community shared by mankind for the development of public health in China and even the whole world. It is planned that the Series Lecture will be held once a month and ten times a year at Nankai University. The live broadcast will also be provided online.

( Reported and Photos by Junhui Wu, Translated by Yuchen Shi, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)