Chronic kidney disease is one of public health problems, affecting about 11-13% of the world population. Echoing the central government’s initiatives towards “A Healthy China” and “Educational Excellence in China” and complying with the policies of “People First” , the East China Normal University recently decided to set up a cross-discipline nephrology institute, in efforts to enhance the prevention, early diagnosis and personalized treatment of kidney-related diseases and to promote clinical and basic research and novel medical practices.
Co-hosted by the ECNU Health Science Center and the ECNU Wuhu Hospital, an opening ceremony was held on August 26-27, 2023. Dignitaries including Prof. Weiping Jia (Academician of CAE, Director of National Office for Diabetes Control and Management, Former Director of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Shanghai), internationally-esteemed epigeneticist Prof. Esteban Ballestar (Academician of Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, ECNU Purple River Chair Professor), ECNU Vice Presidents Qili Lei and Guoyue Shi, and Prof. Chaoshu Tang (Renowned Medical Educator and Distinguished Cardiovascular Investigator, Peking University), as well as distinguished experts in the fields of nephrology, cardio-vascular diseases and metabolic diseases from top-ranking institutions including Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Army Medical University, Navy Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Harbin Medical University and Dalian Medical University attended the ceremony. The inauguration was also witnessed by more than 130 delegates including ECNU authorities, the Directors and/or representative from ECNU affiliated hospitals and ECNU faculty members and students. In their enthusiastic welcoming addresses, Prof. Youfei Guan (Honorary Dean, The Health Science Center of ECNU), ECNU Vice President Qili Lei, Prof. Esteban Ballestar and Prof. Chaoshu Tang highlighted the vision and mission for the Institute respectively.
Prof. Guan delivered the welcoming address
ECNU VP Qili Lei delivered the welcoming address
Prof. Ballestar delivered the welcoming address
Prof. Tang delivered the welcoming address
Hosted by Minhua Xu (Associate Dean, The Health Science Center), ECNU Vice President Guoyue Shi, together with Prof. Tang, Prof. Ballestar, Prof. Changlin Mei (Director of Nephrology, Changzheng Hospital), Prof. Wei Kong (Dean, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University), Jian Wu (Associate Director, Graduate School, ECNU), Xiaolong Pu (Director, Human Resources, ECNU), Prof. Guishu Zhang (Director, Division of Informatics, ECNU) and Prof. Guan ushered in the establishment of ECNU Kidney Health Institute.
The Inauguration of ECNU Kidney Health Institute
Prof. Guan was appointed as the Director of ECNU Kidney Health Institute and Prof. Feng Zheng and Prof. Xiaoyan Zhang were appointed as Associate Director. ECNU also appointed Profs. Jing Nie (Peking University), Jinghong Zhao (Army Medical University), Aihua Zhang (Nanjing Medical Uni-ersity), Nanping Wang (ECNU), Feng Zheng (ECNU), Xiaoyan Zhang (ECNU) and Lihong Chen (ECNU) to be the members of the academic committee of the ECNU Kidney Health Institute. Meanwhile, Profs. Nanping Wang, James Y Yang, Yunxia Shao, Longying Tang and Xiaoming Hu were appointed as the Principal Investigators of the Institute.
Director and Associate Director Appointment
Academic Committee member appointment
PI appointment
To promote the long-term university-hospital collaboration in basic and translational medical research, on behalf of ECNU Kidney Health Institute Prof. Guan signed contracts to set up collaborative research centers with Dr. Zhifeng Gu (representing Nantong University Affiliated Hospital), Dr. Yunlong Pan (representing Northern Jiangsu Hospital), Dr. Han Wang (representing Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated Jianding Jiangqiao Hospital), Dr. Lixia Sun (representing ECNU Wuhu Hospital) and Dr. Wenli Fang (representing ECNU Maternity and Infant Health Hospital) respectively. The inauguration of these kidney health centers signifies our collaborative efforts in promoting the disciplinary development not only by focusing on nephrology, endocrinology and cardiovascular diseases but also emphasizing subspecialties. It is hoped that through our effective collaboration we can quickly enhance our institutional reputation in the Yangtse River Delta Region and the country.
Signing of Collaboration Contracts
Inauguration of Kidney Health Centers
The opening ceremony was followed by Academician Forum, Round Table Discussions and Keynote Lectures, focusing on kidney disease-related public health management and clinical and basic renal research. More than 20 renowned scholars (including academicians, MOE Changjiang Scholars, the NSF for Distinguished Young Scholars, and the NSF for Excellent Young Scholars) actively participated in the in-depth discussions.
Academician Weiping Jia delievered a leture entitled “Diabetic nephropathy in China: epidemic characteristics and influencing factors”
Round Table Discussions
Keynote Lecture Discussions