UM’s PhD Student Recognized by Harvard for Chinese Medical Sciences Studies

Wan Jianbo, a PhD student of UM’s Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS), returned from Harvard University with remarkable research achievements. He was the second visiting scholar to Harvard under the auspices of a cooperation programme between the two universities.

UM signed an agreement for cooperation of medical sciences with Harvard Medical School in 2004 July. Since then both parties have established good research collaboration and a joint training programme of excellent postgraduates. In 2005, ICMS gained sponsorship from the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao to develop a “Study on Anti-atherosclerosis Effect of Active Ingredients from Chinese Medicine with ‘Huo Xue Hua Yu’ Property” in cooperation with experts from the Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. And for this research project, Wan Jianbo headed for Harvard in July 2006 to carry out half-year studies in the capacity as the second PhD candidate of UM who joined the bilateral cooperation programme.

During his stay there, he fulfilled the research target for atheroprotective effect of ingredients from Panax notoginseng using apoE gene knockout mice. His working performance and research studies were also much appreciated by professors of Harvard. Further, UM’s achievements in the studies of active ingredients and quality control achieved full recognition there.

Wan Jianbo revealed that the extracts of Panax notoginseng have curative effect on atherosclerosis and are likely to be developed into new medicine. Considering it a precious experience to study in a world-renowned university, he remarked, “The substantial cooperation between UM and first-class universities allows resource integration and mutual complementarity, hence ensuring quality completion of research projects and enhancing UM’s research level and innovation capability. He also stated that the visiting scholar programme enabled a quick understanding and command of the latest scientific development in related disciplines and improves the training of PhD candidates”.