SIMM hosted the Fourth PANDA Annual Conference and Training Program and International Seminar of UNESCO Regional Network of Natural Products Chemistry for Safety and Well-being in Asia Pacific
From November 29 to December 2, 2023, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), held the Fourth Annual Conference and Training Program of Pan-Balkan Alliance of Natural Products and Drug Discovery Associations (PANDA) and International Seminar of UNESCO Regional Network of Natural Products Chemistry for Safety and Well-being in Asia Pacific. More than 100 experts, scholars, and young students from 21 countries and regions including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, and Macau attended the conference. The meeting was presided over by Professor Ye Yang, the Deputy Director of SIMM.
Mr. Zhao Quan, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, attended the opening ceremony of the conference and made a speech. Mr. Zhao congratulated the conference and mentioned that Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality has witnessed the birth and growth of the PANDA Alliance since 2019. He hopes that the PANDA Alliance and the UNESCO Regional Network can learn from each other's experiences and play an active role in promoting cooperative research on the sustainable application of natural products in the areas of health, agriculture, food science, and biotechnology. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening international cultural exchanges among young scientists in the region.
Professor Zhou Bing, Deputy Director of SIMM, stated that the development of the PANDA Alliance has received strong support from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Municipal Government, and the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO). Both the PANDA Alliance and the UNESCO Regional Network are international platforms for the research and development of natural products and drug discovery. It is hoped that this conference can provide new impetus and opportunities for the development of both platforms, effectively promoting academic exchanges and cooperation among China, the Pan-Balkan region, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Representative to China, DPRK, Japan, Mongolia and ROK, participated in the meeting online and delivered a speech. He hopes that the reboot of the Asia-Pacific Network for the Safe and Sustainable Use of Natural Products can further promote cooperation and communication among the regions. Dr. Ai Sugiura, the Programme Specialist of the Natural Sciences Unit of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia introduced UNESCO and its programmes related to natural products.
Dr. Marina Sokovic, Assistant Minister of Science, Technology Development, and Innovation of Serbia, together with Zhao Quan, Ye Yang, and Zhou Bing, unveiled the China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory for Natural Products and Drug Discovery. At the same time, the conference held an award ceremony for the two new members of the PANDA Alliance, Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development as well as the Oriental Science and Technology Holding Group Holding Limited. Ms. Feng Jingyuan, ANSO Project Specialist and Dr. Marina Sokovic, presented the honorary chairman certificate of the PANDA Alliance to Dr. Viktor Nedovic of Serbia.
The Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development, Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Institute Research for Drug Discovery, Suzhou Institute for Materia Medica, and Vigonvita Life Sciences Co., Ltd. provided successively introductions on platform construction, new drug research and development, talent cultivation, and technology transfer. They are looking forward to establishing collaborative relationships with the PANDA Alliance and the UNESCO regional network.
The conference revolved around the theme of technological innovation and mechanisms for the transformation of natural products and drug discovery. Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and other forms, the latest progress in research on natural products and drug discovery, mechanisms for technology transfer and transformation, and the establishment of laws and regulations were showcased. This contributed to facilitating exchanges among research institutions, universities, and industry professionals in China, the broader Balkan region, and the Asia-Pacific region in the field of natural product research and new drug development. The aim was to collectively explore new models for technology transfer and transformation and strengthen scientific and technological cooperation among countries.
Prior to the meeting, the PANDA Alliance held its 5th Meeting of the 1st Council and subsequently the 1st Meeting of the 2nd Council at the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Hu Jinbo, the President of the Shanghai Branch, and Mr. Liu Ning, the Deputy Director of Division of European Affairs, Bureau of International Cooperation，Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the meeting. Members of the PANDA Council participated in the meeting.
President Dr. Hu Jinbo delivered a welcome speech, expressing his warm welcome to all participants. He hoped that based on the past collaboration, the PANDA Alliance would continue to share the excellent experiences in technology transfer and transformation among member institutions, thereby expanding the influence of the PANDA Alliance. Mr. Liu Ning delivered a concluding speech, expressing the hope that with the support of the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI), the PANDA Alliance would actively build a broad platform for academic exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Balkan region researchers.
The meeting reviewed the election plan for the new Council, the progress report of the PANDA Alliance's work, applications of new membership, and had extensive discussions on the construction of the PANDA Alliance's website, the inclusion of potential partners, and the support for operational funding.
In the morning of 2nd December, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia hosted the Revival Meeting of UNESCO Regional Network of Natural Products Chemistry for Safety and Well-being in Asia Pacific, and invited experts from different Asian countries to join the discussion. PANDA council members were invited as observers to participate in the discussion.
Group Photo
Mr. Zhao Quan, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, delivered the opening speech.
Speech by Professor Zhou Bing, Deputy Director of SIMM
Speech by Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and Representative to China, DPRK, Japan, Mongolia and ROK
UNESCO regional network panel discussion
The unveiling ceremony of the "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory
The award ceremony for new members and honorary chairman of the PANDA Alliance
Introduction of all institutions
Part of plenary speakers
Photo of PANDA Council members with CAS leaders
Speech by Professor Hu Jinbo, the President of the Shanghai Branch, and Mr. Liu Ning, the Deputy Director of Division of European Affairs, Bureau of International Cooperation，Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Photo of the Council Meeting of the PANDA Alliance
The Revival Meeting of UNESCO Regional Network of Natural Products Chemistry for Safety and Well-being in Asia and the Pacific
(Contributing department: International and Domestic Cooperation Department; Contributor: Wu Yang)