Eighth "Fok Ying-Tung Prize-The World Outstanding Chinese Doctor Award" Ceremony Honors Ten Distinguished Physician Scientists
The eighth award ceremony for the prestigious "Fok Ying-Tung Prize-The World Outstanding Chinese Doctor Award" was grandly held in Macao, recognizing the highest honor in the global Chinese medical community. Two Distinguished Professors from Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZCH) - Professor Zhao Zhengyan and Professor Daqing Ma- were among the ten exceptional recipients honored this year.
The award was initiated in 2018 by the World Association of Chinese Doctors and receives support from the Fok Ying Tung Foundation. It stands as the sole highest honor in the field for Chinese doctors worldwide, aiming to recognize outstanding representatives within the Chinese medical community worldwide, inspire more Chinese doctors to contribute to global health, and enhance the recognition and support for Chinese doctors in their respective countries and regions.
This year's award celebrated ten distinguished medical professionals from multiple countries and regions, including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The recipients include Huang Taosheng, Zhuang Hui, He Jianxing, Zhao Zhengyan, Zhao Guoguang, Lo Yuk Ming, Cheng Lirong, Xiao Lei, Cai Qiang, and Daqing Ma (listed in no particular order).
Notably, ZCH contributed two of this year's ten global laureates. This remarkable achievement not only recognizes the professional accomplishments of Professors Zhao Zhengyan and Daqing Ma but also affirms ZCH's international leading influence in pediatrics. It is one of the examples in demonstrating the development of pediatric medicine in the Chinese mainland and its significant contributions to global health.
Professor Zhao Zhengyan: Pioneering Work in Neonatal Screening and Child Health
Professor Zhao, a distinguished figure in global pediatrics, holds the esteemed positions of Vice President of the World Association of Chinese Pediatricians and Honorary President of the Pediatrics Society of the Chinese Medical Association, having previously served as President of the Zhejiang Children's Hospital (ZCH).
He is widely recognized as a pioneering force in advancing newborn screening initiatives in China. Under his leadership, one of the world's largest and most efficient neonatal disease screening networks and information systems has been established. This system boasts an annual screening capacity of 700,000 newborns for 48 different diseases/developing disorders and has cumulatively screened over 18 million infants. These efforts have led to the early diagnosis and treatment of more than 20,000 children with inherited metabolic disorders, thereby significantly improving their life quality. A remarkable milestone was achieved in 2015 when Zhejiang Province, under his guidance, reached 100% screening coverage. Furthermore, he has organized extensive training programs that significantly improved screening rates and equity in 367 impoverished counties across China.
As a leading authority in neonatal genetic screening, Professor Zhao pioneered the world's first provincial-level, population-wide neonatal genetic screening program. He has led the development of several national screening guidelines, created four screening software packages, and designed a comprehensive gene screening panel covering 85 diseases. His scholarly contributions include serving as Chief Editor for three fundamental textbooks. His work has been twice honored with the Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (First Class). In a landmark achievement, he became only the second scholar globally to receive the prestigious International Society for Neonatal Screening (ISNS) Special Achievement Award in 2024.
In the field of child health, his over three decades of dedicated work culminated in the establishment of internationally recognized facial growth standards for individuals aged 0-18 years, innovating the application of anthropometry. He also developed a groundbreaking computer-aided diagnostic prototype system that utilizes 3D facial analysis for genetic syndrome screening.
His virology research is equally impactful, involving the development of two novel vaccine strains for measles and mumps. He successfully constructed recombinant measles and mumps viral vectors and innovatively applied them in oncolytic virotherapy for both pediatric and adult cancers. This work has demonstrated efficacy against various tumors and helped reveal the underlying mechanisms of action.
For 21 years, Professor Zhao served as the leader of the National Health Commission's expert group on newborn screening, and for a decade, he has been an advisor to the ISNS. His profound contributions have been instrumental in standardizing the field and enhancing its international standing in China. Additionally, he founded China's first all-English pediatric journal, the World Journal of Pediatrics, which achieved an impressive Impact Factor of 9.186 in 2021, further cementing his legacy in global pediatric academia.
Professor Daqing Ma: Innovations in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Professor Daqing Ma, MD, PhD, FRCA, MAE, is a Tenured Chair Professor of Imperial College London, a Qiushi Chair Professor of Zhejiang University, Executive Vice Dean of School of Pediatrics, and Vice President of World Association of Chinese Anesthesiologists.
A trailblazer in the theory of using anesthetics to prevent postoperative delirium, Professor Ma focuses on neurocognitive disorders in elderly surgical patients. His systematic research helped elucidate the link between postoperative delirium/cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation, identifying its mitigation as a key mechanism. He discovered that low-dose anesthetic/sedative effectively prevents postoperative delirium, providing a new theoretical foundation for clinical practice.
In oncology, he has conducted foundational work in researching perioperative risk factors for cancer recurrence following surgery. He is one of the leaders of the "European Perioperative Intervention and Outcome in Cancer Research Platform," investigating how anesthetics and perioperative risk factors influence cancer cell biology. His work has helped identify key perioperative factors affecting cancer patient prognosis, providing evidence for selecting anaesthetics and/or techniques and improving long-term survival.
His innovative research on inert gases has helped reveal the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of xenon on organs like the kidneys and brain, establishing their role in organ protection. This work also contributed to evidence considered by the World Anti-Doping Agency in its regulation of xenon and argon use by athletes.
With more than 430 publications in the leading scientific journals, an H-index of 89, and over 28,000 citations, Professor Ma's work has impacted anesthesiology and related disciplines. He holds four international patents and has received numerous honors, including the European REX IERLM Medical Award and the "Hall of Fame Award" from the Chinese Academy of Anaesthesiologists and Andreas Hoeft Award of European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.
As an educator, he is committed to nurturing talent with global perspectives and innovative capabilities. Many of his doctoral and postdoctoral trainees have become leading figures in their institutions, receiving prestigious national grants and awards.
The dual recognition of Professors Zhao Zhengyan and Ma Daqing at this year's Fok Ying-Tung Prize ceremony is far more than a personal accolade. It serves as a powerful testament to the rising global stature of Chinese pediatrics and the world-class research and clinical excellence cultivated at Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine. This honor not only celebrates past contributions but also ignites future aspirations. It inspires a new generation of medical professionals at ZCH and beyond to push the boundaries of knowledge, translate discovery into practice, and carry forward the legacy of excellence on the world stage.
