On Feb. 19th morning, the Digestive Center of SYSUSH held a video teleconference with Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine. The conference was joined by Prof. Zhang Changhua, Vice President of SYSUSH and Director of Digestive Medicine Center, backbone members and faculty from Digestive Medical Center, Research Center, General Surgery and Infectious Disease. Prof. Eddie Cheung from Digestive Medicine Center hosted the conference.

Prof Jeffery S. Glenn, Director of Center for Hepatitis and Liver Tissue Engineering at Stanford Medicine, introduced the project progress at his lab. Dr. Glenn's primary interest is in molecular virology, with a strong emphasis on translating this knowledge into novel antiviral therapies. Current projects aim to better understand the role of prenylation in the life cycles of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and other viruses--both as a mechanism of intracellular trafficking and trigger of virus assembly, and as a target for a promising antiviral treatment.

Renumathy Dhanasekaran from Stanford Medicine lectured on translational research of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The overall goal of her research is to understand the molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer and identify biologically relevant prognostic biomarkers and molecular targets for therapy in patients with HCC.

Then, Prof. Zhang Changhua, Director Tang from General Surgery, and Prof. Zhu from Research Center gave a general introduction of the development of SYSUSH, clinical work, and scientific research.

The conference with Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine is considered of great significance in a sense that it serves as a platform for international exchange and collaboration for SYSUSH and prepare the ground for future collaborations and common development for both sides in terms of clinic, research, training and drug development.