Wang Zhenyi (; born November 30, 1924), also known as Zhen-yi Wang, is a Chinese

pathophysiologist Pathophysiology (or physiopathology) is a branch of study, at the intersection of pathology and physiology, concerning disordered biological process, physiological processes that cause, result from, or are otherwise associated with a disease or i ...

and

hematologist Hematology ( spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. It involves treating diseases that affect the production ...

who is a

professor emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

of Medicine and Pathophysiology at the

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is a public university in Shanghai, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education of China. The university is part of Project 211, Project 98 ...

(SJTU). He is most well known for discovering the cure for

acute promyelocytic leukemia Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML, APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the white blood cells. In APL, there is an abnormal accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes. The disease is characterized by ...

while working with Laurent Degos in France, using

tretinoin Tretinoin, also known as all-''trans'' retinoic acid (ATRA), is a medication used for the treatment of acne and acute promyelocytic leukemia. For acne, it is applied to the skin as a cream, gel or ointment. For acute promyelocytic leukemia, ...

on a trial of 24 patients at Ruijin Hospital in 1986. Wang was bestowed the

Medal of the Republic The Medal of the Republic is the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China. The bestowal is decided by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and presented by the President of China. According to law, this meda ...

, the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China, in September 2024.

Biography

Wang was born in November 1924 in Shanghai, with his

ancestral hometown An ancestral home is the place of origin of one's extended family, particularly the home owned and preserved by the same family for several generations. The term can refer to an individual house or estate, or to a broader geographic area such as a ...

Yixing Yixing () is a county-level city administered under the prefecture-level city of Wuxi in southern Jiangsu province, China, and is part of the Yangtze Delta, Yangtze River Delta. The city is known for its traditional Yixing ware, Yixing clay ware t ...

Jiangsu Province Jiangsu is a coastal province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the third smallest, but the fifth most populous, with a population of 84. ...

. Wang graduated from the

Aurora University Aurora University (AU) is a private university in Aurora, Illinois, United States. Established in 1893 as a seminary of the Advent Christian Church, the university has been independent since 1971. Approximately 6,200 students are enrolled in t ...

in Shanghai in 1948 and obtained his M.D. degree. From 1948 to 1960, Wang completed his

residency Residency may refer to: * Artist-in-residence, a program to sponsor the residence and work of visual artists, writers, musicians, etc. * Concert residency, a series of concerts performed at one venue * Domicile (law), the act of establishing or m ...

and worked as a physician at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. From 1960 to 1982, Wang taught at

Shanghai Second Medical University The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (), formerly Shanghai Second Medical University, is a public medical school in Shanghai, China. Clinical medicine of SJTUSM is consistently ranked first among medical schools nationally an ...

(now Medical School of

), and was the dean of its pathology and physiology departments. From 1982 to 1984, Wang was the director of the Division of Basic Medicine of Shanghai Second Medical University. From 1984 to 1988, Wang was the president of Shanghai Second Medical University. From 1987 to 1996, Wang was the Director of Shanghai Institute of Hematology (SIH). Wang now is the Honorary Director of SIH. Wang's research has led to the improved survival of patients with

(APML). Wang is the author of more than 300 scientific papers and books.

Chen Zhu Chen Zhu (; born August 17, 1953) is a Chinese hematologist and molecular biologist who has served as the president of the Red Cross Society of China from 2015 to 2024. He previously served as vice chairman of the National People's Congress S ...

(former Minister of Health of China) and his wife Chen Saijuan are both hematologists and former students of Wang.

Awards and honors

* 1992: Foreign Member,

French Academy of Sciences The French Academy of Sciences (, ) is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French Scientific method, scientific research. It was at the forefron ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

* 1993:

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

, France, * 1994:

Kettering Prize The Charles F. Kettering Prize was a US$250,000 award given by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation for the most outstanding recent contribution to the diagnosis or treatment of cancer. __TOC__ History The award was named in honor of Ch ...

for Cytodifferentiation Therapy, * 1994: Member,

Chinese Academy of Engineering The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE, ) is the national academy of the People's Republic of China for engineering. It was established in 1994 and is an institution of the State Council of China. The CAE and the Chinese Academy of Sciences a ...

, * 1997: Charles Rodolphe Brupbacher Prize given for his "extraordinary contributions to basic oncological research."

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, * 1998:

Prix mondial Cino Del Duca The Prix mondial Cino Del Duca (Cino Del Duca World Prize) is an international literary award from France. With an award amount of , it is among the richest literary prizes. Origins and operations It was established in 1969 in France by French b ...

for Science, France, * 2000: Qiushi Distinguished Scientist Award,

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

* 2000: ISI Citation Classic Award * 2001: Honorary

Doctor of Science A Doctor of Science (; most commonly abbreviated DSc or ScD) is a science doctorate awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. Africa Algeria and Morocco In Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, all universities accredited by the s ...

degree from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, USA * 2003: Ham-Wasserman Lecturer,

American Society of Hematology The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is a professional organization representing hematologists, founded in 1958. Its annual meeting is held in December of every year and has attracted more than 30,000 attendees. The society publishes the medi ...

(ASH) * 2020:

Future Science Prize The Future Science Prize ( zh, 未來科學大獎) is a scientific award established in January 2016 by the Future Forum, a non-profit organization based in mainland China. The award has sometimes been called "China's Nobel Prize" by the media. It ...

* 2021:

Asian Scientist 100 The Asian Scientist 100 is an annually published list of 100 prize-winning Asian researchers, academicians, innovators and business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region and a range of scientific disciplines. Recipients "must have received ...

, ''

Asian Scientist ''Asian Scientist'' is an English language science and technology magazine published in Singapore. History and profile ''Asian Scientist'' was launched as a blog in March 2011 by Juliana Chan. The blog's popularity eventually led to a partnersh ...

'' * 2024:

Medal of the Republic (China) The Medal of the Republic is the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China. The bestowal is decided by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and presented by the President of China. According to law, this meda ...

, P.R. China Wang is also a member of the Chinese Society of Pathophysiology, and the International Society of Fibrinolysis.

References

American Society of Hematology

Ham-Wasserman Lecture by Dr. Zhen-yi Wang
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Zhenyi 1924 births Living people 20th-century Chinese physicians 21st-century Chinese physicians Chinese hematologists Chinese medical researchers Chinese physiologists Biologists from Shanghai Educators from Shanghai Members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Members of the French Academy of Sciences Physicians from Shanghai Presidents of universities and colleges in China Academic staff of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic staff of Shanghai Second Medical University Highest Science and Technology Award winners

Biography

Awards and honors

See also

References