On May 20, 2021, the ceremony of 2020 Guangdong Science and Technology Award was held in Guangzhou, following a provincial conference on sci-tech innovation. Three physician-scientists from Southern Medical University (SMU) won the awards, including one first prize winner on sci-tech progress and two second prize winners on natural science discoveries. The award ceremony was witnessed by top government leaders of Guangdong Province, including, for example, Secretary Li Xi, Governor Ma Xingrui, and Deputy Secretary Wang Weizhong.
The first prize on sci-tech progress was awarded to Professor Hu Zhiqi for his scientific and technological achievements in “Research and Application of Hair Follicle Regeneration and Tissue Repair”. Professor Hu, from Nanfang Hospital of SMU, has been dedicated to theoretical exploration of alopecia and technological development of hair regrowth. In his decade-long systematic research, he has made a series of technological innovations, including a pathogenetic survey of the mRNA level of androgen alopecia, a simulation of the micro-environment of hair follicle cells, a construction of tissue engineered hair follicles and animal model of hair follicle reconstruction, as well as the clinical standardization of hair transplantation technology and the instrumental development of product lines. Thanks to his continuous efforts, Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia for Chinese, has been put forward for the first time in China and has become an operating industrial standard. In addition, as for wound repair, Professor Hu has initiated a series of new biological dressings, surgical instruments and power braces for limb rehabilitation.
The second prize winners on natural science discoveries went to Professor Ke Yiquan from Zhujiang Hospital of SMU and Professor Qu Shaogang from Nanfang Hosptical of SMU. Their respective contributions are listed as follows.
Professor Ke won the award for his “Research on the Molecular Mechanisms of the Occurrence and Development of Glioma and a Targeted Therapy”. The research explores the mechanisms of glioma in fields like angiogenesis, stemness, cell proliferation, and drug resistance, and carries out a a targeted therapy with a combined use of techniques like immunotoxins and nano-drug delivery systems. It is also worth noting that his research has borne fruit by crossing disciplines like cellular molecular biology and biomaterials and integrating innovative techniques.
Professor Qu’s prize-winning achievement lies in his “Research on the Molecular Mechanism of Transmembrane Transport for important transporters and Their Roles in Disease Pathogenesis”. His research reports for the first time the interaction between the trimer interface of glutamate transporter and the core area of transport, analyzes the crystal structure of the transporter in the inward open state, and clarifies the regulatory mechanisms of the expression and change of the above-mentioned important transporters in neurodegenerative diseases, and finally provides new insights and targets for developing new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.
