Nobel laureates and academicians from China, France and the United States gathered in Guangzhou to participate in the grand event of building a healthy China and a human health community! From November 25th to 27th, the Immunology Frontier Academic Summit (Guangzhou) will be held at Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Medical University) and hosted by the Guangzhou Hoffmann Institute of Immunology (Sino-French Joint Scientific Research Base). , Nobel Prize winner Jules S. Huffman, Jemari Lane, Bruce Beutler, and top scientists from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the field of immunity and related fields gathered to discuss the development of immunology and international cooperation.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the operation of the Guangzhou Hoffmann Institute of Immunology (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute of Immunology”), the only research institution in the world named after Professor Hoffmann based in Guangzhou Medical University, why can Guangzhou Medical University attract so many people? World-renowned scientific figures? It all starts with a little fruit fly.
Tiny fruit flies help provide solutions to global health problems
As a common insect, fruit flies like to suck and lay eggs on fruits and vegetables, becoming an “annoying insect” in our lives. However, they are also a “white mouse” that scientists regard as a treasure.
Drosophila not only reproduces quickly, is easy to raise and observe, but also has a small number of chromosomes and is not easy to mutate. More importantly, fruit fly chromosomes have high homology with humans. 75%-80% of the known disease-causing genes in the human body are related to fruit flies. Similar to flies, it is well suited for studies of human genetics or disease mechanisms. To date, six Nobel Prizes have been awarded related to fruit flies. It can be said that small fruit flies have become a “major contributor” to human immunity research.
French scientist Professor Hoffmann, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, used Drosophila as a model and revealed that the Drosophila Toll gene plays a key role in identifying the source of infection and activating the innate immune response. It has revolutionized human understanding of the immune system and made important contributions to the advancement of human innate immunity. In order to strengthen cooperation between China and France in the field of biomedicine and provide solutions to global health problems in dealing with natural immune-related diseases such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and tumors, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2013, through Guangdong Province and At the initiative of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, led by Hoffmann, Guangzhou Medical University cooperated with the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Strasbourg to establish the Guangzhou Hoffmann Institute of Immunology, which focuses on the research of Drosophila model organisms. Hoffmann serves as an honorary researcher. long.
The Immunization Center was officially put into operation in 2014. Since then, with the support of the National Key Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Institute of Immunology has taken the lead in establishing the National Drosophila Resource Center. The center has the world’s largest Drosophila mutant resource library based on CRISPR/cas9 technology and is the largest Drosophila mutant resource center in China. The model immunology research base can support the needs of high-tech scientific research in this field. It can be said that fruit flies have become the “star” assistants in Guangzhou’s immune research.
“Research on insect immunity may be of great significance to human health in the future.” Hoffman said that the Institute of Immunology is committed to building a first-class basic research center, mainly focusing on basic research on natural immunity using insects as models. In the future, it will With the medical background of Guangzhou Medical University, it is extended to medical applications, analyzing the basic mechanisms by which the body recognizes infectious pathogens, especially viruses and bacteria, and the subsequent mechanisms that control the defense response. Recently, the research direction has expanded to the body’s recognition and defense response mechanism against cancer cells. Several groups within the Institute of Immunology work closely together and will use the latest research methods to study the above scientific issues.
Dominique Ferrandon, a senior professor at the French National Research Center and a distinguished professor at the Institute of Immunology, said that Guangdong’s humid environment and complex ecosystem are conducive to the spread and reproduction of a variety of bacteria and fungi. The establishment of the Institute of Immunology in Guangdong Medical University is not only convenient for many related researches Development will make Guangdong a “bridgehead” for the transformation and application of research results.
An important “engine” for immunology research in Guangdong and a “bridge” for my country’s scientific research to go global
Over the years, Guangdong and Guangzhou have always attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation and international cooperation, especially in the field of biomedicine.
Professor Jiao Renjie, director of the Institute of Immunology, said that since it was put into operation ten years ago, the institute has continued to make breakthroughs in the field of immunology through Sino-foreign cooperation. He has published articles in top international journals such as Nature, Immunity, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He has created new animal models of the body’s anti-tumor response, discovered new natural immune receptors that recognize tumors and viruses, and expanded different Study on the natural immune antiviral mechanism of species.
In 2018, the Institute of Immunology was approved as the “111” national intelligence introduction base (smooth rolling in 2023); in 2020, Guangzhou Medical University’s ESI ranking of immunology entered the top 1% in the world; in 2021, it took the lead in being approved as a national key R&D special Class A project; Approved as a key intergovernmental cooperation project in 2023… the Institute of Immunology has become an important “engine” for immunology research in Guangdong Medical University and even Guangdong.
Jiao Renjie believes that “the Institute of Immunology has made great achievements in recent years, which is not only due to the professionalism of Chinese and French scientific researchers, but also to the mutual trust and close collaboration between the two sides.” Today, Dominic visits Guangdong Medical University 3-5 times a year. They stay for 2-3 weeks at a time and interact frequently with students while writing papers in order to follow up on project progress and grasp research directions in a timely manner. Even while in France, he devoted a lot of time to Chinese issues.
Jiao Renjie said that the Institute of Immunization has made many innovations in the construction of cooperation mechanisms. In terms of project cooperation, the research team of the Institute of Immunology is jointly established by China and France, adopting a bilateral responsible person system to jointly promote scientific research progress; in terms of personnel communication, in addition to many visits by French professors, Chinese researchers and students have at least 5 meetings every year Visits to France for academic exchanges and further studies to deepen cooperation and friendship between China and France.
Chen Di, a researcher at the Institute of Immunology, is well aware of the development history of the Institute of Immunology in its tenth anniversary. She is both a promoter and a beneficiary of the cooperation between the two parties. As a former postdoc of Hoffmann and now the CO-PI (co-project leader), she has become an important communication bridge between the Institute of Immunology and Hoffmann, and she has a video conference with him for more than half an hour every day. This “mentor-disciple relationship” led her to gradually go global and make a “Chinese voice” in international cutting-edge academic forums. In her view, “China and France have established a high degree of mutual trust in long-term cooperation. This trust is based on the high-quality research results and real scientific research data of both parties, and further provides a solid foundation for the continued deepening of cooperation.”
The Institute of Immunology has become a witness to the friendship between China and France and a platform for Chinese scientists to go global. Hoffman won the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2022 and the first Guangdong Province Friendship Award in 2023. Hoffman said, “I congratulate the Institute of Immunology on its 10th birthday, and I am very much looking forward to its next 10 years.”
Create an international talent training base and run schools with characteristics to help “overtaking on corners”
Universities are the gathering points for educational science and technology talents. As a scientific research institution in universities, the Institute of Immunology also makes its due contribution in cultivating talents such as masters and doctoral students.
The Institute of Immunology has a top team and advanced facilities, providing students with rich scientific research resources. By studying and practicing here, students will be exposed to an international educational environment. Relying on the Institute of Immunology, Guangzhou Medical University and the University of Strasbourg have established a dual-degree doctoral program. Students can obtain educational resources from China and France and cooperate with researchers from top international scientific research institutions.
“At the beginning of the establishment of the Institute of Immunization, the school insisted on substantive cooperation. Professor Hoffman’s management was also strict and meticulous.” Tang Xiaoping, Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangdong Medical University, emphasized: “Education cannot be done behind closed doors. Talents must have an international perspective. To promote the construction of “double first-class”, medical schools must attach great importance to international education and use international platforms to enhance international influence. “
The Institute of Immunology organizes students to participate in international scientific research projects, which effectively cultivates students’ international vision and cross-cultural communication skills. The annual scientist exchange visit mechanism provides scientific researchers with a platform for in-depth exchanges with international colleagues. Through these cooperative projects, the Institute of Immunology has attracted and retained top scientific research talents in immunology research, providing strong support for the development of national life sciences.
Since its establishment, the Institute of Immunology has trained 37 doctoral students and 143 graduate students, including 7 doctoral students who have obtained dual degrees from China and France, and more than ten postdoctoral fellows jointly trained by China and France. It has also trained young people including those who have won the Guangdong Province Outstanding Young Talent Project Several scientists. Tang Xiaoping proposed, “The school will use this model as a model to create a new paradigm of Sino-foreign cooperation in running schools and scientific research.”
“For the future development of students, the Institute of Immunology also provides many opportunities for further studies and broad employment prospects.” Zhao Xingcun, principal of Guangzhou Medical University, said that thanks to the breadth of immunology research, graduates trained by the Institute of Immunology can study in immunology, For employment in the fields of biomedicine and public health, including scientific research institutions, universities, hospitals and biotechnology companies, their experience of learning and scientific research in an international environment will make them more competitive.
In addition, the Institute of Immunology also provides learning opportunities for undergraduates from different majors, allowing them to gain practical experience on the front line of scientific research and experience the atmosphere of scientific research work in advance. It also helps students determine their future research directions and career plans.
“International education is a distinctive feature of first-class universities, and the Institute of Immunology’s in-depth and substantive cooperation has become a model of Guangzhou Medical University’s international cooperation. Promoting international education is an important development strategy for Guangzhou Medical University to achieve differentiated development in its ‘double first-class’ construction” . Next, the school will continue to support the construction of the Institute of Immunology, explore closer cooperation mechanisms, promote better development of the Institute of Immunology, and use immunology as a breakthrough to drive high-quality development in multiple disciplines,” said Zhao Xingcun.
(Source of article: Yangcheng Evening News)
Article source: Yangcheng Evening News
Author of the article: Chen Liang; Xue Renzheng
Original title: The Nobel Prize winner is here, and the little fruit fly helps the Guangzhou Hoffmann Institute of Immunology: creating a new model for international cooperation
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Given Professor Jiao’s emphasis on “overtaking on corners” in the field of immunology, what specific innovative strategies or areas of focus do you believe will be critical for the Institute to maintain its cutting-edge position in the future?
## Thematic Interview Questions Inspired by the Article:
Here is a breakdown of potential interview questions, divided by theme, inspired by the provided article:
**I. Foundation and Collaboration:**
* **The article describes a decade of successful collaboration between Guangdong Medical University and the University of Strasbourg. What specific challenges did you face in establishing this partnership, and how did you overcome them?**
* **Professor Hoffmann mentions “a high degree of mutual trust” as foundational to the partnership. How have you cultivated this trust over the years, and what role has transparency played in that process?**
* **The Institute was envisioned as a bridgehead for translating research into practical applications. Can you share specific examples of how the Institute has facilitated this process, and what future projects are on the horizon?**
**II. Research Focus and Impact:**
* **The article highlights the Institute’s focus on immune recognition and defense mechanisms. What are some of the most exciting discoveries made by the Institute in recent years, and how do these advancements contribute to our understanding of diseases?**
* **Guangdong’s unique environment is cited as conducive to research on infectious agents. How does this environment inform the Institute’s research priorities, and are there any specific pathogens or diseases being actively studied due to their prevalence in the region?**
* **The Institute has training programs for both graduate and undergraduate students. How do these programs prepare students for careers in immunology, particularly in the context of global collaboration? What are the advantages and challenges of such an interdisciplinary approach to education?**
**III. The Future of Immunology:**
* **The article suggests that the Institute’s model of international collaboration could serve as a blueprint for other institutions. What key lessons have you learned from this experience that could be applied to other fields of scientific research?**
* **Looking ahead, what are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the field of immunology, and how do you see the Institute playing a role in addressing them?**
* **Professor Jiao discusses the Institute’s focus on “overtaking on corners.” What specific strategies are being implemented to ensure the Institute’s competitive edge in the global landscape of immunology research?**
**IV. Personal Reflections:**
* **Professor Hoffmann won the Nobel Prize for research in development. How has this experience shaped your perspective on leadership and scientific discovery, particularly within the context of international collaboration?**
* **Professor Jiao mentions the importance of mentorship. Who have been your most influential mentors throughout your career, and what specific lessons have you learned from them?**
* **What advice would you give to young scientists interested in pursuing a career in immunology, particularly those who are considering international collaboration?**
**Note:**
* These are just starting points for discussion. Feel free to adapt them to your specific interview objectives and the expertise of your guests.
* Encourage your guests to elaborate on their answers and provide concrete examples to illustrate their points.
* Be prepared to follow up with probing questions to delve deeper into their perspectives and experiences.
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