Addressing the long-standing Cannabis problem, an oddity that has vexed scientists for decades, joint research by Professor LI Xiao-Ming and Professor ZHANG Yan from Zhejiang University School of Medicine achieved a breakthrough by unraveling signaling bias mechanism toward cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), facilitating safer synthetic cannabinoid targeting CB1. The findings were published in Cell under the title “Snapshot of the cannabinoid receptor 1–arrestin complex unravels ...

From December 4 to 8, FU Qiang, vice chairman of the Zhejiang University Council, led a delegation on a tour of Austria and the United Kingdom, aiming to foster and deepen collaborative ties with key partner universities and international organizations. The focus was on promoting cooperation in relevant disciplines and reinforcing the cultivation of qualified personnel for international organizations.The delegation commenced its visit on December 4 with productive discussions between FU Qiang an...

On November 28 and 29, the 13th Forum for Japanese and Chinese University Presidents was held at Hiroshima University in Japan, bringing together academic leaders from both nations. WU Jian, vice president of Zhejiang University, was invited to attend the forum and deliver a speech.Themed “Diversity and Integration: The Required Talents and Higher Education in the Future,” the forum delved into two main topics: “Utilization of ICT in New University Education in the Post-Covid Era” and “Chal...

In a study published in Molecular Plant on December 5, 2023, the research team led by Prof. DU Hao from the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology revealed a promising strategy to enhance rice production while conserving water and reducing fertilizer usage. Addressing a significant agriculture challenge, this study focuses on the effects of water-saving treatments (WST) in rice cultivation, which, while environmentally friendly, have led to a substantial redu...

Researchers at Zhejiang University have developed an intelligent formulation of insulin that could achieve sustained blood sugar-responsive insulin release. After one subcutaneous injection, the formulation formed a pea-sized depot that can remain effective for over a week with negligible hypoglycemia risk.The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, was conducted by a research team led by GU Zhen, the Distinguished Chair Professor and Dean of College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhej...

The heterogeneity of cancer cells and the underlying drivers play a crucial role in understanding tumorigenesis, malignant progression, and in devising effective cancer therapies. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can accurately capture the transcriptional information at the single-cell level, allowing for a deeper understanding of tumor heterogeneity.However, scRNA-seq has unique logistical and technical challenges in the processing of clinical tumor samples, especially archival materials ...

Nitrogen-based fertilizers have hugely increased agricultural output, but rain washes them into rivers and oceans with dire consequences. Zhejiang University researchers are searching for a middle ground.Every summer, vast quantities of algae and zooplankton flourish in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These algal blooms gobble up oxygen, leaving a ‘dead zone’ in the ocean that covers around 10,000 square kilometres, and is largely devoid of life. The oxygen-zapping algae and zooplankton ...

From November 13 to 15, HE Lianzhen, Vice President of Zhejiang University, led a delegation on a tour to renowned academic institutions in Germany, including the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), and Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin).The primary aim of the visit was to enhance communication and exchange initiatives with key partners.At LMU, HE Lianzhen engaged in fruitful discussions with Frances...

On November 14, Zhejiang University played host to the 3rd Sino-German Sustainable Development Forum in Berlin, Germany. The forum, co-organized by the Marie Curie Alumni Association, convened a galaxy of experts and scholars from 10-plus institutions in China and Germany, including Zhejiang University, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Technische Universität Dresden, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, the German Federal Environment Agency, and the P...

From November 16 to 21, DU Jiangfeng, President of Zhejiang University, led a delegation on a tour of European universities, including the University of Oslo in Norway, KU Leuven and Ghent University in Belgium. This visit marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation across various dimensions. The first leg of this visit took the delegation to the University of Oslo, where they met with Rector Svein Stølen and a select group of distinguished professors. Both sides conducted a comprehensive ...