On December 10, the Institute of Transplantation Medicine of Nankai University, jointly established by Nankai University and Tianjin First Central Hospital, was inaugurated.

Aiming at giving full play to the technical and resource advantages of Tianjin First Central Hospital as the largest organ transplantation center in Asia, and the discipline advantages and research strengths of Nankai University in immunology, microbiology and oncology, the Institute focuses on the frontier issues of transplantation medicine so as to enhance China’s comprehensive capabilities and international status in transplantation medicine. It plays a leading role in this field.

Cao Xuetao, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Nankai University, Rao Zihe, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, President Yan Hua of Tianjin Medical University and Director Shen Zhongyang of Tianjin First Central Hospital attended the inauguration ceremony held at Tianjin First Central Hospital, unveiling the institute.

Shen Zhongyang was appointed as the dean of the Institute of Transplantation Medicine of Nankai University, and President Cao Xuetao presented a letter of appointment to him.

At the ceremony, attendees also included Hu Shengshou, Director of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dong Jiahong, Dean of School of Clinical Medicine of Tsinghua University, Chen Zhinan, Director of the National Center for Translational Molecular Medicine, Air Force Military Medical University, Zhang Yingze, double-appointed academician of Nankai University, Chen Jun, Vice President of Nankai University, Kuang Dan, secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin First Central Hospital, as well as other distinguished experts and scholars witnessing the establishment of the institute. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by Wang Lei, Vice President of Nankai University.

In his speech, President Cao Xuetao stated that strengthening cooperation with Tianjin First Central Hospital and other municipal medical institutions is an important strategic plan for Nankai University to respond to the national needs and to accelerate the biomedical development plan of the “4211 Action Plan for Excellent Nankai” in the new century. Nankai University and Tianjin First Central Hospital jointly established the Institute of Transplantation Medicine of Nankai University, which has written a new chapter of cooperation.

Rao Zihe congratulated the establishment of the institute on behalf of the Tianjin Association for Science and Technology. He also pointed out that the close cooperation between the university and the hospital to build a world-leading joint institute will further boost the medical education in Tianjin and promote the development of transplantation medicine in China.

Kuang Dan said that Tianjin First Central Hospital will strongly support the building of the institute and will contribute to achieve the win-win cooperation between the hospital and the university. This will also facilitate the innovative development of the medical industry.

Shen Zhongyang said that the integration of Nankai University’s preeminent disciplines and the outstanding clinical resources of organ transplantation in Tianjin First Central Hospital will certainly lay a sound foundation for solving bottleneck issues and breaking through theoretical problems in transplantation medicine. As the dean of the research institute, he will work hard to contribute wisdom to transplant science.

Following the inauguration ceremony, the Transplantation Medicine Summit Forum was held. Experts gave academic reports on topics such as “Study on the Structure of Novel Coronavirus”, “Xenotransplantation—New Hope for Donor Sources”, “Precision Surgery”, “Prospect of New Strategies for COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment”, “The Dialectical Relationship Between Discovery and Invention in Promoting the Progress of Natural Science”, “Tolerance from Induction of Allograft Chimerism”. 

Through pooling the strengths of the university and the hospital, as well as quality resources in relevant fields at home and abroad, the Institute of Transplantation Medicine of Nankai University will give priority to the development of two major research directions, namely transplantation immunity and stem cells and regenerative medicine. It will strive to build a world-class transplantation medicine research center which integrates basic research, clinical transformation and teaching practice.

(Reported by Renming Qiao, Photographed by Qiqi Zong, Translated by Dongze Wu, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)