The 2017 China Biomedical Engineering Conference opened in Beijing on April 21. Our university sent a strong delegation of four specialists to the event, consisting of Professor X. Edward Guo, founding Dean of our department, Associate Professor Chen Fangyi, Executive Dean, Professor Wu Changfeng, and Associate Professor Tang Bin. Our delegation was greatly cheered when our department won the title sponsorship of the Biomedical Photonics Society. Two of our delegates, Professor Wu and Professor Chen each gave a well-received speech on “Fluorescence Modulation and Optical Imaging of Polymer Quantum Dots” and Middle Ear Nondestructive Testing System Based on Phase Sensitive OCT” respectively.

Associate Professor Chen Fangyi speaking to a capacity audience

Jointly sponsored by the China Biomedical Engineering Society and the China Academy of Medical Science, the conference had a triple purpose of building an academic exchange platform for interdisciplinary biomedical engineering; furthering international cooperation and promoting the innovative development of China’s health-oriented biomedical engineering industry. To these ends, nine forums were set up with the participation of 23 professionals covering the frontiers of biomedical engineering and life sciences, includidng biomedical materials, brain science, medical imaging, medical robots, wearable technology, biological materials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. There were also in-depth discussions on the developmental trend of medical science and technology, biomedical engineering education, innovative medical equipment, medical research and the interface between medicine, enterprise and research in biomedical engineering. Participants enthusiastically shared the latest academic research results, and went over hot-button issues in the field. They unselfishly worked together to address the many challenges facing the integration of medicine and engineering.

The Opening Ceremony

Our department the proud winner of the title sponsorship of the Biomedical Photonics Society

The theme of the conference is “integral development of medicine and engineering—leading the future through innovation”. As biomedical engineering is by definition an integrated, health-oriented and cross-discipline science, it calls for a fusion between medicine and engineering technology, especially advanced technology. It was therefore no surprise that participants at the conference came from many sectors, ranging from industry, academia, research, medicine, as well as from technology management, industry oversight, and technical review. The conference was truly a kaleidoscope of “meeting, exhibition, competition and performance.”

A huddle of academic heavyweights

The conference handed out a special “Huang Jiasi biomedical engineering award”, established by the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering (CSBE). This award was named after the first chairman of CSBE, to focus on the fusion between biomedical science and engineering and promote indigenous innovation and encourage clinical applications and trials, and ultimately drive innovative research. Three first-prize awards were separately won by teams led by Academician Cheng jing, Academician Yu Mengsun and Professor Fan Yubo. To ignite young people’s professional and passionate interest in this field, the conference would also give out the award for “Outstanding Paper by a Young Scientist”. It is hoped that this will bring about the infusion of fresh talent into biomedical engineering.

Group photo

On March 6, 2017, the academic committee of the Southern University of Science and Technology conducted an on-site review of an application by our Biomedical Engineering Department for offering a Bachelor Degree Program. The review included various aspects such as presentations by its specialists, visits to its laboratories and public facilities, unannounced random attendance of lectures, review of materials and feedback information. A panel of blue-ribbon experts of this review consisted of Prof Fan Yubo (Dean of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of Bei Hang University and former Chairman of China Biomedical Engineering Society), Prof Zheng Hairong (Director of Medical Institute of Shenzhen Advanced Institute, Director of Biomedical Imaging Research Center and Member of the Standing Committee of China’s Biomedical Engineering Society), Prof Wang Guangzhi (Deputy Dean of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tsinghua University and Member of the National Biomedical Engineering Professional Guidance Committee), Prof Ruan Ping (Dean of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Deputy Director and Member of the Guangdong Province’s Biomedical Engineering Professional Guidance Committee), Associate Professor Zhang Chao (Vice President of the Engineering Institute of Sun Yat-sen University and Member of the Guangdong Province Institute of Biomedical Engineering Professional Guidance Committee), Prof Zhang Hualing (Vice Dean of Teaching and Research Section, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Information Engineering, Guangdong Medical University and Member of Guangdong Province’s Biomedical Engineering Professional Guidance Committee), Academician Xu Zhenghe (Director of our Engineering Institute), Wang Dejun,(Director of our Teaching Department), and Prof X. Edward Guo (Founding Dean of our Biomedical Engineering Department). Prof Xiao Guozhi (Dean of our Department of Biology), plus Associate Professor Chen Fangyi (Head of our Biomedical Engineering discipline), other teachers and students also took part in the review process.

Evaluation by Experts

President Xu Zhenghe kick-started the meeting by warmly welcoming the assembled team of experts on behalf of the University. He then gave them an overview of the development of the Engineering Institute and of our department.

Director Xu of the Engineering Institute addressed the panel of experts’

Director Wang Dejun introduced our university and its teaching work to the panel

Associate Professor Chen Fangyi, Head of Biomedical Engineering, gave the panel an in-depth look into his department

The panel’s on-site visit to the teaching laboratories, residential college and student dormitories

Upon completion of its review, the panel of experts rendered its verdict: The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology is considered to have possessed the necessary conditions for offering the Bachelor Degree Program, in that it has demonstrated commendable development in the discipline, ranging from the quality of its teaching practice and management, its teaching staff, and the quality of its graduation theses, with its own notable characteristics and advantages. The panel of experts went on to make the following recommendations: expand student enrolment, enhance the caliber of its teaching staff, insist on an individual institutional identity, internationalize its culture, adopt an elitist approach to its education, qualitatively improve its course offerings and teaching materials. After careful deliberation, each of the panelist gave his own considered opinion. They unanimously agreed that the Biomedical Engineering discipline of our University has reached the standards necessary for offering a Bachelor Degree program in this discipline. An approval for setting up the program was therefore collectively given.

Between 24^th and 26^th October, 2016, Led by our founding Dean, Professor X. Edward Guo, a delegation consisting of Professors Chen Fangyi, Wu Changfeng, Tang Bin and Shi Peng called on their counterparts in Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing University of Aviation and Aeronautics and Capital Medical University to learn how they approach teaching and research in biomedical engineering. Also on the agenda was the possibility of cooperation initiatives with the four institutions of higher learning.

On the first day of the visit, bright and early, Prof Guo briefed the Tsinghua hosts on the latest development of biomedical engineering at our university and our strategic plans going forward. The meeting took place in the conference room of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

This was followed by Tsinghua Professor Wang Guangzhi’s introduction of teaching and research in this field in the host university.

To wrap up the discussion, teachers from both universities shared their own experiences and research directions as well as views of changes in the industry. They reached a mutual agreement to organize exchanges of students and teachers, and intent to collaborate in other domains such as professional development and research. The morning program ended with a visit to the teaching laboratories and group research laboratories of the university.

Prof Guo briefing his Tsinghua peers on development at the faculty and university level

The afternoon was reserved for a visit to Peking University, in which Prof Guo again brought his hosts up to date on development and strategic planning in biomedical engineering at our university. His host Professor Ren Qiushi reciprocated. His insights and remarks are rich with meaning for our future development. Finally, both sides reached a mutual agreement for collaboration in joint teaching and scientific research.

Prof Guo reporting to Peking University friends on the department-level and university-level development at our university

On the morning of the second day, 25 October, the delegation called upon the Beijing University of Aviation and Aeronautics. Prof Guo repeated the same courtesy of briefing his hosts on developments at our university. The host university was represented by Prof Fan Yubo who explained the social demand for biomedical engineering in China as well as the research directions, and the teachers and students at his university. After consultation, both sides reached an agreement to explore avenues of collaboration, including exchange visits and joint teaching and research.

The visiting delegation being photographed with their peers from Bei Hang University

The final stop was a visit to the School of Biomedical Engineering at Capital Medical University on the morning of October 26. Again, Prof Guo briefed the hosts on the current situation with regard to the discipline at our university. This was followed by an introduction from Party Secretary of the school Guo Xueqian on the development of teaching and research there. The meeting was concluded after an in-depth discussion on development, teaching and research by teaching staff from both sides. They reached a mutual agreement to pursue collaborative possibilities with regard to joint teaching, internship and scientific research.

 The visiting delegation with their hosts at Capital Medical University

The three-day visit was fast-paced and jam-packed with activities that were enriching and enlightening. We learned from their strengths in certain fields that are helpful in determining our own developmental direction. Equally important is the fact we have secured cooperation in wide-ranging areas. This will help lay the foundation for good localization and internationalization drives.

A visit to the laboratory

Our Gang of Five in a Group Photo

The Department of Biomedical Engineering held its first scholarship signing ceremony at 7 p.m. on September 27, 2016. This was followed by an information session for students. The event was attended by Dean X. Edward Guo, Executive Dean Chen Fangyi, Li Xu of the Office of International Cooperation, Luo Ling of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Mr Chao Long, Chairman of the Shenzhen Qianhai Jingxi Funds Sales and Marketing Co. Ltd, together with some 30 undergraduate students.

The signing ceremony was to officially acknowledge and appreciate the Shenzhen Qianhai Jingxi Funds Sales and Marketing Co. Ltd for its generous donation of 100,000 yuan to establish the “Jingxi Scholarship” in our department. Both the Dean and Executive Dean expressed their grateful thanks for the company’s support of our department. In a formal gesture of gratitude, a certificate of appreciation was presented to Mr Chao Long, chairman of the company. In response, the chairman said that by establishing a scholarship in our department, he hoped to build a lasting relationship with the Southern University of Science and Technology. He intended to pay personal attention to the development of our department. The “Jingxi Scholarship” was the first scholarship to be set up in Biomedical Engineering and therefore has special significance in promoting student interest in the discipline. Twenty thousand yuan will be disbursed from the scholarship fund each year to give assistance to two students from each of Year 3 and Year 4. This may be the beginning of our efforts in canvassing support from society for the educational development of our students.

After the signing ceremony, teachers and students began an exchange session. There were undergraduate students from Year 3 and Year 4, as well as Year 1 and Year 2 students who were leaning towards specializing in Biomedical Engineering. Professors X. Edward Guo, Chen Fangyi, Tang Bin and Shi Peng, were on hand to answer student queries related to disciplinary learning, curriculum and overseas exchange programs. It was a very lively session, with much give-and-take between students and the professors. The activity was concluded at 8:30 p.m.

Now a word of introduction about our donor, Shenzhen Qianhai Jingxi Funds Sales and Marketing Co. Ltd. It was established in 2014, being a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company Guangdong Jingxi Financial Holdings Co.Ltd. It was officially approved by the China Audit Commission and was granted a third party public funds sales license. The company’s vision is the securitization of traditional enterprises and the regularization of private capital. Through integrated banks, securities, trusts, public offerings and private fund sourcing, the company hopes to ride on the success of the internet, to launch both an online and offline marketing strategy to increase its market share, and offer investors a wide choice of high quality products, any time, any place.

Chaired by Prof X. Edward Guo, founding Dean of the department, a regular staff meeting took place in the Administration Building Conference Room on September 27, 2016. Also in attendance were Vice President Tang Tao, Executive Dean Chen Fangyi, and teaching staff Tang Bin, Shi Peng, Peng Cheng, Du E, Zhou Bin, Wang Dan, Chen Ying and Du Li.

The Dean introduced the staff to the departmental ethos of “3A”, i.e. Adventurous, Arduous and Amiable. He urged those present to be resourceful in problem-solving, to have an appetite for risk-taking, to show a gritty determination, and not least, to build a harmonious team spirit. He went on to explain the department’s planning in talent recruitment, research and teaching. He emphasized the importance of talent acquisition. Having acquired three professors to date, the department had met its hiring target for this year.

 

Vice President Tang Tao echoed the Dean’s ideas on development. He pointed out that our strategic thinking lies in encouraging healthy competition, even if it means “survival of the fittest”. He then spoke on the subject of joint nurturing of Master and Doctoral students, and in particular working out the fine points of our partnership with Columbia University in undertaking a joint M.A. and Ph.D. program in Biomedical Engineering. Finally, with input from other teaching staff, he discussed our philosophy in talent recruitment.

The last item on the agenda was a discussion of the 2017 budget. Other subjects were also touched upon, such as professional assessment, the Columbia University Project, method for the evaluation of scholarships, public relations Initiatives, and talent acquisition. The conclusion of the meeting was followed by the taking of a group photo.

Between 9^th and 15^th August, 2016, our department inaugurated its first Biomedical Engineering International Symposium. Presided over by our founding Dean, Prof X. Edward Guo, this blue-ribbon event attracted not only experts from our own department, but also representatives from industry and the world’s leading universities. Scholars in attendance included our President Prof Chen Shiyi, Professor Cheng Xin from the Materials Department, Executive Dean Chen Fangyi, Professors Tang Bin, Chen Fei and Wang Fei, as well as students from our department.

Brains at work

President Chen with a leader’s perspective

President Chen Shiyi began by briefing the delegates on the socioeconomic development in Shenzhen with its favorable environment for innovative entrepreneurship. He also spoke on his findings in his recent visit to the UK and the efforts the University has expended on its internationalization drive. He was hoping to cement a partnership with Columbia University,  in hopes of turbo-charging the growth and development of Biomedical Engineering at our University, and opening the door to fruitful exchange and collaboration with the world’s other institutions of higher learning. This can only be beneficial to the promotion of an international campus culture.

Intellectual Fireworks—the presenters and their presentations

Experts representing Columbia University, New York University Stony Brook, Duke University, Beijing University of Aviation and Aeronautics, University of Toronto, Georgia Tech, UC San Diego, Mechanics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Science, Sydney University, and Suzhou Innomed Medical Device Co. Ltd all gave their presentations in their field of expertise. This might be our first international symposium on Biomedical Engineering, but it had touched on the latest research results from various institutions of higher learning, as well as advances in medical devices and their application and a big-picture view of China’s policy towards biomedical engineering as it relates to life and living.

On July 23, 2016, a seminar on the strategic planning and development of Biomedical Engineering at our university, presided over by the department’s founding Dean Prof X. Edward Guo, was successfully held in conference room 301 in the Executive Building. It attracted no fewer than 18 bigwigs from government, industry and academia, including President Chen Shiyi, Dean Professor Xiao Guozhi of the Department of Biology, Professor Tian Yanqing, Deputy Director of the Department of Materials, Chen Fangyi, the department of Biomedical Engineering’s Executive Director, Associate Professor Tang Bin, Associate Professor Chen Fei, Associate Professor Tian Leilei of the Department of Materials, and leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ministry of International Cooperation and the staff of the Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen ET- Medical Technology Co. Ltd.

 

The first item on the agenda was the research report on Biomedical Engineering at our University. This represented the first time that professors in Biomedical Engineering had come together to map out our research direction and priorities and lay down a solid foundation for a joint declaration on biomedical engineering projects.

A brilliant presentation by Professors

The second item on the agenda was a mission and vision statement on the establishment of Biomedical Engineering Department from our leaders. Prof X. Edward Guo began by defining the vision behind the collaboration between SUST and Columbia University, and introduced the underlying 3A concept, 3A being Adventurous, Arduous and Amiable. This is the ideal to be upheld and adhered to by all staff and students.

Prof X. Edward Guo on the “3A” culture

President Chen Shiyi endorsed the 3A culture for Biomedical Engineering, putting forward his own expectations and requirements. The first is internationalization. This can be achieved through frequent exchange visits with world-class universities and peers, while piggybacking on our partnership with Columbia University. Aim high in launching a world-class faculty. The second is, be bold and proactive to achieve a leapfrog development. A talent assessment system must be in place to recruit and retain researchers who not only produce research papers, but who are dedicated to the core of research interests. We need to usher in innovative talents.  

President Chen Shiyi on his expectations of biomedical engineering

The third item is a brain-storming session. On the development of the Biomedical Engineering, Prof Xiao Guozhi is brimming with confidence. He pledged unconditional support by the Department of Biology for this new initiative, as well as research coordination in various fields. This was followed by a free-wheeling discussion by professors present on the key research direction, industrialization, internationalization, talent scouting, on top of  exchanges and cooperation at home and abroad.

Prof Xiao Guozhi on his vision for biomedical engineering

Finally, under the chairmanship of Prof X. Edward Guo, the participants hammered out a shorter term 2016/17 action plan, plus a longer five-year plan for the development of Biomedical Engineering, with an overarching developmental thinking.

Strategic Planning in action

President Chen Shiyi and biomedical engineering staff members

Seven of our Year-3 students served out their internship at Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital from June 27 to July 22, 2016. Under the patient guidance of their tutor, the hospital’s medical engineer, the interns were assigned to the equipment section. There, they learned about equipment maintenance, purchasing and file management. This is the first time our students took part in external internship activities during the summer. Students enhanced their ability to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-life situations, thereby enriching their social experience and first-hand knowledge of work environment in society.

Formerly known as the Shenzhen City Center Hospital, Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital is a modern comprehensive hospital funded and constructed by the Shenzhen Government. The hospital was completed and officially opened for service in late 1999. In September 2001, the Shenzhen Government entered into a partnership with Peking University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It was subsequently renamed “Peking University’s Shenzhen Hospital” and “Peking University’s Shenzhen Teaching Hospital”. As such, it was incorporated into the system of Peking University’s affiliated hospitals. By 2011, after being given the thumbs-up by the Guangdong Hospital Accreditation Committee, it was classified as a grade-3 First Class hospital.