On November 7, Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) held the Inauguration Ceremony for College of Pharmacy and 2020 Pingshan International Forum on Drug Discovery and Development.

Inauguration Ceremony for College of Pharmacy and 2020 Pingshan International Forum on Drug Discovery and Development are successfully held. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

The inauguration ceremony was joined by Sun Handong and Hao Xiaojiang, academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Chen Fener, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Su Dingfeng, foreign academician of French National Academy of Pharmacy and French National Academy of Medicine; Jiang Yuyang, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress and chairman of Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology (SZAST); Tao Yongxin, secretary of CPC Shenzhen Pingshan District Committee; Li Yong, deputy secretary of CPC Shenzhen Pingshan District Committee and district mayor of Pingshan; Ye Wencai, vice president of Jinan University; Kong Lingyi, vice president of China Pharmaceutical University; Qiu Huawei, secretary of the Party Committee and president of China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Company Limited (CR Sanjiu); Ruan Shuangchen, president of SZTU; and He Zhendan, dean of College of Pharmacy of SZTU. The guests jointly unveiled the College of Pharmacy. The ceremony was also witnessed by several university presidents and college deans, over 30 renowned domestic pharmacy experts, hospital representatives, senior executives of well-known pharmaceutical companies and teachers and students of SZTU.

College of Pharmacy of SZTU is inaugurated. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Many experts and scholars have made suggestions for the future development of the college.

Jiang Yuyang, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress and chairman of SZAST [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Jiang Yuyang pointed out that Shenzhen supported Pingshan District to build the biomedical industrial park. College of Pharmacy should set up specialties closely matching the needs of the industry based on Pingshan; focus on clinical pharmacy knowledge in terms of curriculum setting; invite renowned entrepreneurs in the biomedical industry to give lectures and help students understand the frontier hotspots and difficulties in the industry; and ultimately cultivate application-oriented talented people urgently needed.

Tao Yongxin, secretary of CPC Shenzhen Pingshan District Committee [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Tao Yongxin pointed out that as of September this year, Pingshan boasts 615 biomedical companies, gradually forming a biomedical advanced manufacturing cluster with bio-innovative drugs, high-end medical devices, and biotechnology as the mainstays. College of Pharmacy of SZTU will provide scientific and talent support for the development of the biomedical industry in Pingshan, Shenzhen and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Prof. Ruan Shuangchen, president of SZTU [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

“The founding of College of Pharmacy showcases our mission to protect human life and health. We will overcome the obstacles and rise to the challenge.” Prof. Ruan Shuangchen said that as the first application-oriented pharmacy college in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, SZTU’s College of Pharmacy takes advantage of the biomedical industry in Pingshan and will help build Shenzhen into a city leading the way in medicine and science education.

Sun Handong, academician of CAS [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

“College of Pharmacy shoulders an important mission in personnel training and new drug discovery as the pandemic is raging around the world.” Academician Sun Handong also recognized the far-reaching significance of College of Pharmacy to the development of the biomedical industry in Shenzhen and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. China is a big country in the production of generic drugs, but it is still weak on new drug development and lacks professionals in this field. College of Pharmacy must learn from the pharmacy professional training in Germany, Switzerland and other countries with medical powers.

Ye Wencai, vice president of Jinan University [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Ye Wencai said that College of Pharmacy of SZTU is committed to training application-oriented graduates, developing new drugs, and building a high-end platform. It is hoped that the college and other related colleges can learn from each other and make greater progress, so as to make contributions to higher education in China and the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Qiu Huawei, secretary of the Party Committee and president of CR Sanjiu [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Qiu Huawei said that the demand for medical health has grown rapidly in recent years as consumers have a growing awareness of health. CR Sanjiu insists on being innovation-oriented and extensively promoting school-enterprise cooperation. He looked forward to working hand in hand with College of Pharmacy in the future.

College of Pharmacy of SZTU was founded in March 2020. It set up the major of biomedical engineering (biomedicine) and enrolled 60 students in the first year. It aims to train professionals in drug R&D, pharmaceutics, management, production, and circulation. The faculty team consists of doctoral and post-doctoral fellows from famous pharmaceutical universities in China and developed countries in biomedicine such as the United States, Germany and Switzerland. It includes nine teaching and research sections: medicinal chemistry, natural medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, biopharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmaceutical analysis, clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical management.

The college plans to build multiple platforms for teaching and research such as molecular biology experiment platform and cell biology platform. It will also provide students with practical training bases by cooperating with Sinopharm Zhijun (Shenzhen), CR Sanjiu, Shenzhen Main Luck Pharmaceuticals, Joincare Pharmaceutical Group, Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals and other well-known pharmaceutical companies. In the next 5 years, the college will offer undergraduate majors in pharmacy, biopharmaceutics, Chinese pharmacy, and clinical pharmacy.

Experts and scholars give reports at the forum. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

After the inauguration ceremony, the 2020 Pingshan International Forum on Drug Discovery and Development was held. The forum focused on new drug development, clinical drug research and pharmacodynamic mechanism. Participants discussed independent innovative drug R&D and the opportunities, challenges and future development of the industry. 17 experts and scholars including Academician Sun Handong, Academician Hao Xiaojiang and Academician Chen Fener, gave reports on the frontier knowledge of the industry.

Drafted by Daisy（姚琦）/ International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office