Int'l Cooperation News----Shanghai Institute of Material Medical Chinese Academy of Sciences

SIMM-UBC Summer School Concludes in Shanghai

From June 28 to July 9, 2026, the Summer School jointly organized by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the University of British Columbia (UBC) of Canada successfully concluded in Shanghai. During the program, a delegation of young UBC scholars visited SIMM, engaging in a series of in-depth exchanges on chemistry and pharmaceutical research, analytical testing technologies, research platform construction, and the cultivation of young talents. The event laid a foundation for Sino-Canadian scientific cooperation and talent exchange in the biomedical field.

On June 30, the "SIMM-UBC Youth Symposium on Chemistry and Drug Discovery" was held at SIMM’s Niudun Road Campus. Zhou Bing, Deputy Director of SIMM, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. Representatives from the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS, were also invited to attend. Experts, scholars, and young students from both China and Canada gathered to discuss frontier topics such as mass spectrometry analysis, chemical research, and drug discovery.

The scientific frontier report session was hosted by Yue Jianmin, Academician of CAS. Professor David Chen from UBC delivered a special academic presentation titled "High speed information rich tandem mass spectrometry methods for identification and quantification of flavonoids, saccharides, and cancer biomarkers." He systematically introduced the latest advancements of these methods in identifying and quantifying flavonoids, saccharides, and cancer biomarkers. Participants engaged in discussions on the practical potential and optimization directions of these technologies across real-world applications, including complex sample analysis, natural product research, and disease biomarker detection.

During the youth academic salon, young UBC scholars, including William Phillip Chappell, Tuan Trung Nguyen and others, shared their research findings. Chinese and Canadian students actively interacted on topics such as optimizing research methodologies, iterating experimental methods, and exploring interdisciplinary collaboration paths, which broadened their academic horizons.

Throughout the event, the UBC delegation toured the SIMM History Museum as well as various scientific research platforms and public technical support systems, including Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), and the Compound Library. They also visited the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) and the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS (HIAS). Through on-site explanations and roundtable discussions, the delegation gained a comprehensive and intuitive understanding of China's leading infrastructure in the life sciences and deepened their appreciation for SIMM's academic heritage and its journey in innovative drug research and development.

In addition to academic exchanges, the UBC delegation participated in cross-cultural activities. On July 3, SIMM hosted a Chinese and foreign student cultural exchange event themed " City Rhythms of China · Splendid Brocade" Student representatives from both countries introduced the unique city cultures of Changde and Vancouver. Afterward, graduate students from both sides collaborated to craft traditional Chinese Song Brocade shoulder bags, experiencing the charm of traditional Chinese culture while further deepening their mutual understanding and friendship.

The summer school was funded by the "Excellent Young Scholars Program" under the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) and supported by the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS. It was co-organized by the Mass Spectrometry Technology Service Department and the Structural Characterization Research Center of the SIMM Public Technical Service Center.

By seamlessly integrating frontier scientific reports, field visits, group project discussions, club interactions, and Chinese cultural experiences, the event served as a valuable practice for SIMM to deepen international sci-tech cooperation and build a vibrant exchange platform for young scholars. It has also laid a foundation for future substantive collaboration between the two institutions in areas such as innovative drug research and discovery.