Chancellor Collins, faculty attend biomedical research conference in China

	Chancellor Collins with Li Weibo and John Kerry at the 2018 Shenzhen Life and Health Sciences Conference in Shenzhen, China.

Chancellor Michael F. Collins and several members of the UMass Chan Medical School faculty joined former Secretary of State John F. Kerry for the 2018 Shenzhen Life and Health Sciences Conference in Shenzhen, China.

UMass Chan Medical School faculty members were prominently featured in the two-day event, which drew 600 attendees and was hosted by Li Weibo, founder, chairman and CEO of Glory Harvest Group Holdings, Ltd. and honorary chairman of the Li Weibo Charitable Foundation.

Chancellor Collins delivered the keynote address, focusing on statewide efforts to establish and sustain an innovation life sciences ecosystem, and how UMMS has significantly increased support for its world-class research enterprise while recruiting and retaining top talent.

“We understand and appreciate that the biomedical research and health care sectors draw from a diverse global talent pool. That is why the commonwealth has long welcomed the best talent from anywhere and everywhere in the world. It makes us stronger and it makes us better,” Collins said. “To operate successfully in this competitive landscape, we recruit leading scientists who want to be part of a unique research community, who are passionate about making a lasting contribution to human health, and who appreciate that science and discovery are team-based.” 

The conference informed attendees about the importance and global impact of biomedical research and life sciences innovation, while serving as an opportunity to celebrate UMass Chan Medical School’s strategic partnership with Li Weibo. Last year, UMMS established the Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research with a $10 million endowment gift from the Li Weibo Charitable Foundation. The institute brings together more than 40 researchers committed to unlocking the causes and discovering potential cures for rare diseases.

Kerry, the former U.S. Secretary of State and senator from Massachusetts, delivered remarks during the ceremonial opening of a new science and technology museum before joining Collins and Li Weibo on a tour. The museum, which is the brainchild of Li Weibo, makes science history accessible for visitors from around the world. It is located in the recently opened Winlead Innovation Park in Shenzhen, which is also home to a research incubator facility.

Scientific presentations were given by Guangping Gao, PhD, the Penelope Booth Rockwell Chair in Biomedical Research, professor of microbiology & physiological systems, director of the Horae Gene Therapy Center and co-director of the Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research; and Silvia Corvera, MD, the Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research, professor of molecular medicine and co-director of the MD/PhD Program at UMMS. Dr. Gao shared the latest information about gene therapy and how UMMS is employing it as a platform to potentially treat a number of rare diseases, while Dr. Corvera presented her research into adipose stem cells and their importance to people with diabetes.

Related links on UMassMedNow:
UMass Chan Medical School announces The Li Weibo (李伟波) Institute for Rare Diseases Research