SYSMH Delegations Visit European Institutions to Further Scientific Exchanges
In October 2025, Professor Song Erwei, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital (SYSMH), and Professor Liu Chao, Vice President of SYSMH, led delegations to Europe separately, visiting renowned universities and medical institutions in Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France, to strengthen academic cooperation, talent exchange and global scientific communication.
The First Stop-Italy: Focus on Tumor Vaccine Insights
On October 1st, a delegation led by Prof. Song Erwei attended the VAX-ON Tumor Vaccine Seminar at Italy's National Cancer Institute of Naples. At the seminar, Prof. Song introduced his team’s recent breakthrough study published in Nature Immunology, which revealed that a specific “CA-repeat sequence” in tumor DNA can uniquely activate the DNA sensor cGAS, thereby enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Based on this discovery, the research team investigated the application potential of CA-repeat DNA in tumor immunotherapy, providing an important theoretical foundation for the development of novel tumor vaccines and immunotherapies. The presented research attracted keen interest and sparked active discussions centered on its methodology and potential future directions.
Prof. Song Erwei shared the latest research findings at the VAX-ON Cancer Vaccine Seminar.
The Second Stop-Sweden: Consensus on International Cooperation
On October 3, the delegation led by Prof. Song Erwei arrived at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden, marking the second important stop of the European academic exchange tour. The delegation engaged in in-depth academic dialogues and cooperation negotiations with a number of world-renowned experts from KI, focusing on frontier fields such as tumor biology, oncology, and disease mechanism research. After in-depth discussions, the two sides reached a clear consensus on promoting long-term international cooperation in scientific research collaboration and clinical research, and established a preliminary framework for future cooperative projects.
As a highlight of this stop, Prof. Song Erwei was specially invited to give a keynote lecture at the auditorium of Karolinska Institutet. With the cutting-edge topic "Phase Separation Regulating Disease Progression", Prof. Song systematically elaborated on the latest research findings of his team regarding how intracellular and extracellular biomacromolecules form phase-separated condensates to synergistically activate inflammatory signaling pathways, thereby driving the onset and progression of major diseases such as tumors and chronic inflammation. He explained the core mechanism of phase separation in disease regulation with vivid cases and rigorous data, and put forward innovative insights into the development of targeted therapeutic strategies based on this mechanism. Prof. Song's lecture triggered a lively interactive discussion among the on-site scholars.
Prof. Song Erwei delivered a keynote lecture at Karolinska Institutet.
The delegation held talks at Karolinska Institutet to advance collaboration.
The Third Stop-France:Forging Surgical Collaboration & Garnering Prestigious Medal Recognition
Subsequently, Prof. Song Erwei, accompanied by his research team, was invited to France to attend the Annual Congress of the French Academy of Surgery. During the visit, the delegation visited the Institute of Digestive System Oncology, where in-depth deliberations were conducted on the collaborative innovation of surgical techniques and the precision training of surgical professionals. The delegation also carried out an on-site observation at the Strasbourg Surgical Training Center in France.
Following these extensive exchanges, the two parties reached broad consensus on cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This initiative established an international platform to underpin the implementation of Joint Training Program in Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery. On the afternoon of October 9, Prof. Song was awarded the Ambroise Paré Medal at the Annual Congress of the French Academy of Surgery.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between SYSMH and the Institute of Digestive System Cancer.
The Fourth Stop-Germany: Advancing Sino-German Collaborative Endeavors
From October 8 to 10, a delegation led by Prof. Liu Chao visited the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. For 27 years, both parties have maintained a strong partnership, yielding remarkable achievements in talent cultivation and scientific research. On the morning of October 8th, the delegation conducted a joint academic seminar, where discussions centered on ongoing international collaborative projects. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing short-term and long-term Sino-German talent development initiatives—a strategic step poised to strengthen talent exchange and research collaboration between the two nations.
SYSMH’s team held a joint academic seminar with the West German Cancer Center.
Prof. Liu Chao shared his latest research progress at the University of Duisburg-Essen Medical School in Germany.
From October 17th to 21th, the highly authoritative and influential 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was held in Berlin, Germany. The oral presentation sessions at this year's congress placed an international spotlight on two landmark clinical studies led by Prof. Song Erwei: the HORIZON-Breast01 study and the CULMINATE-02 study. The HORIZON-Breast01 study focuses on exploring the efficacy and safety of treatments for HER2-positive advanced/metastatic breast cancer, providing crucial data to support precision therapy for this subtype. The CULMINATE-02 study, centered on HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, not only opens new therapeutic pathways for patients with this subtype but also highlights the potential application of novel cell cycle inhibitors in breast cancer treatment, offering prospects for further improving patient prognosis.
