International Experts Join SYSU to Boost Medical Research
With the recommendation of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, the second affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU), Dr. Hiromu Suzuki from Sapporo Medical University, and Dr. Lan Huiyao from Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), have been recently employed as Guest Professors at SYSU. Their appointments are believed to boost the hospital’s medical research, and to further the latter’s medical and academic influence in the international platform.
Dr. Hiromu Suzuki
Introduction of Dr. Hiromu Suzuki:
Dr. Hiromu Suzuki is currently a professor at the Molecular Biology Department of Sapporo Medical University. By working on the genome-wide epigenetic modifications in cancer development and progression for the past years, Dr. Suzuki has managed to identify various tumor suppressor genes and other tumor-related genes that are controlled by methylation, which include SHFR genes, CHFR gene, RASSF2 gene, BNIP3 gene, DFNA5 and microRNA-34b/c. Moreover, his approach of modifying DNA methylation patterns, such as MCA and “5-aza-dC-microarray” (or “pharmacological unmasking”), has lay a profound foundation for the research on the specific changes of DNA methylation of cancer genome. His research also proves the common existence of CIMP in human cancers and the important role of methylation in regulating proto-oncogene and tumor suppressor genes. By far, Dr. Suzuki has published over a hundred SCI papers in prestigious journals such as Nature genetics, Oncogene , PNAS, Carcinogenesis, and Cancer Research. His work has been internationally acknowledged and allows him to win many awards in Japan.
Dr. Lan Huiyao
Introduction of Dr. Lan Huiyao:
Dr. Lan Huiyao is the chair professor of the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Treatment at CUHK, deputy head of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences (LiHS), and director of the Inflammatory Diseases Laboratory at CUHK. Internationally known for his expertise in kidney disease, Dr. Lan Huiyao has enjoyed many titles in his life of medical pursuit. He has been a senior instructor at Monash University in Australia, professor of Internal Medicine Studies at Hong Kong University, tenured professor of Internal Medicine and Pathology Studies at Baylor College of Medicine in the U.S., and director of the Kidney Diseases Research Center and Training Center of National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S.. Having chaired more than 200 international symposiums, Dr. Lan Huiyao also played a leading role in more than 45 key research programs in Australia, the U.S., Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. With his accomplishments on the studies of kidney diseases, especially the inflammation and fibrosis of kidney diseases, he has published 245 pieces of papers at internationally prestigious journals, with an impact factor of 7280 and a h-index of 49. Dr. Lan Huiyao also works as the board editor of J Am Soc Nephrol and Int J Biol Sci, as well as the associate editor of Nephron Exp Nephrol.
Their Significance to the Hospital:
Since 2009. Dr. Suzuki has worked closely with Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, including co-chairing the Asia 3 Foresight Program by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, with the hospital’s vice president Dr. Song Erwei. His expertise at the epigenetics of tumor will help nurture international medical professionals in the field, improve publication qualities of the hospital, further international collaborations, and extend the international influence of the hospital.
Dr. Lan Huiyao has been keeping an eye on the development of the Nephrology Department of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital since 2010, when the hospital began its collaboration with the Inflammatory Diseases Laboratory of LiHS. With the cooperation, Dr. Lan Huiyao has paid visits to the hospital to hold lectures, conduct research and tutor medical students for several times. Meanwhile, the hospital has sent its staff to CUHK for further studies. It is believed that with Dr. Lan Huiyao’s joining SYSU as guest professor, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital will achieve further success in kidney disease treatment and research in the international platform.
