Ex-Chinese Health Minister Receives "Award for International Understanding" at ZJU

On October 25, Dr. CHEN Zhu, China’s former health minister, was presented with the second “Dr. Clyde and Helen Wu Award for International Understanding” at Zhejiang University. The award ceremony was a major highlight of the First Joint Forum of ZJU-ITM and CUMC held at ZJU on October 24-25.

Footage from China Global Television Network

Set up by cardiologist Dr. Clyde Wu and his wife Helen Wu, the award is given annually by the Wu Family Center for Health Initiatives at Columbia University to individuals or institutions whose achievement has helped to foster understanding, combat illness, enhance wellness, and/or address pressing issues worldwide with a specific application to the US and China. The first award was offered in 2016 to Dr. Henry Kissinger for his contributions to China-US relations.

Dr. CHEN accepts the award from Roger Wu (son of Dr. Clyde WU) and Ivy Wu (chairman of Hong Kong Red Cross).

At the award ceremony, Dr. CHEN expressed his thanks to ZJU and Columbia University for organizing the event. He recalled the generous support from the Wus for his research on blood diseases as well as their encouragement continued over a long-lasting friendship.

Addressing an audience of 200 faculty members and students, Dr. CHEN shared his team’s discovery of two important medicines for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), namely, All-Trans-Retinoicacid (ATRA) and Arsenic trioxide (ATO). The combination of ATRA and ATO has been widely recognized as an effective cure for APL.

Drawing on his experience as former health minister, Dr. CHEN emphasized the importance of accurately using medical resources and establishing a universal healthcare system. In addition to implementing the "Healthy China" Strategy, it is also crucial to work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to promote international peace and tackle humanitarian crises, he pointed out.

Dr. CHEN said the award is a great honor for him and he would continue to facilitate the biomedicine and policy exchanges between China and the US.

Forum attendees congratulate Dr. CHEN on receiving the award.

Dr. CHEN now serves as vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the Red Cross Society of China. In 2016, he received an honorary degree from Columbia University.

As member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr. CHEN pioneered the concept of synergistic cancer targeting therapy and, by combining traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine, provided the first successful model in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide.