Research Team Led by Prof. Li Lanjuan Wins First Prize of Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award (2015)

The research team led by Prof. Li Lanjuan won the first prize of Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award presented by the Chinese Medical Association for their project—Theoretical Innovations and Technological Breakthroughs in Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Infection with H7N9.

The mortality rate of H7N9 is staggeringly high. The research team led by Prof. Li achieves a series of theoretical innovations and technological breakthroughs in terms of the molecular structure and origin of the H7N9 virus, immunologic mechanisms, clinical treatment, epidemiology, vaccines as well as diagnostic reagents, thus making tremendous contributions to the prevention and treatment of H7N9 both at home and abroad. It is the first to confirm that the viruses found in human cases are highly homogenous with those found in poultry and that live poultry markets are the major source of human transmission, the first to discover that the mutation of key genes in the replication system of H7N9 viruses makes mammals more susceptible to viruses, and the first to find that H7N9 viruses of severe patients have similar cytokine storms to those infected with SARS viruses. It employs the technology of Li-ALS to stop cytokine storms in a creative manner, thus curing severe H7N9 patients. It is the first to reveal the clinical features and the pathogenic mechanism of H7N9 globally and the first to successfully develop vaccine seed viruses of H7N9 and to obtain the qualification for producing H7N9 testing reagents in China. Relevant findings are published in top journals, such as The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Communications.

Its achievements win massive critical acclaim domestically and internationally. On April 13, 2013, Vice Premier Liu Yandong paid a special visit to the State Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and lauded its remarkable contributions in the battle against H7N9. Prof. Li Lanjuan also participated actively in the modification of the diagnosis and treatment program for H7N9 at the invitation of WHO.