On May 27, Chen Kaixian, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave the 11th lecture of the general elective course entitled "Frontiers and Challenges in Medicine" at Nankai University. He introduced the frontiers and hot areas of biomedicine technology innovation as well as the development trend of biomedicine in China, and shared his experience in scientific research. The course was hosted by Cao Xuetao, President of Nankai University. 

"The development of life sciences has undergone two revolutions. A third revolution marked by the convergence of disciplines is currently ongoing," said Chen Kaixian in his report. Reaching the era of big data, Life sciences are characterized by systematic understanding, engineering transformation, etc., and with the advancement in genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing and other technologies, human beings have better capacity to transform and use life, and research achievements are being commercialized at a faster rate. In recent years, personalized medicine and precision medicine, biological big data and AI, gene editing technology, cancer immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy technology, protein kinase targets, as well as new strategies and new technologies for new drug research, among other hot research areas, have been bringing new opportunities and challenges to the research and development of new drug. 

Chen Kaixian put forward his suggestions for new drug research in China: further improve the positioning and distribution of China’s drug innovation system; strengthen basic research, keep abreast of new breakthroughs in science and technology, and explore the new directions of new drug research and industrial development; strengthen the integration of multidisciplinary and multi-approach methods; pay attention to the international frontier areas of science and technology, as well as give full play to China’s unique advantages; make breakthroughs in drug research and development in response to major public health emergencies.

Chen Kaixian also summarized the exploration and progress of the modernization and international development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He proposed that the current modernization of TCM should focus on six key research directions: protection and sustainable use of Chinese medicinal resources, material basis of TCM and its mechanism of action, standardization and quality control technology of TCM, new Chinese herbal compound, therapeutic evaluation and clinical research on new Chinese herbal drugs, and  modernization of TCM industrial technology. 

(Edited and translated by Nankai News Team)