On 24 October 2016, the International Joint Research Laboratory for Infection and Immunity (China-Germany) co-founded by Wuxi Medical School of Jiangnan University, the Medical Faculty of University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University was inaugurated at the Academic Hall of Wuxi Medical School of Jiangnan University.

Xu Yan, Vice President of Jiangnan University, Xie Shoukun, Director of Wuxi Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, Wu Zhengguo, Assistant to the President and Party Secretary of Wuxi Medical School, Han Xiaofeng, Dean of Wuxi Medical School and Deputy Director of Wuxi Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, Zhou Junwei, Party Secretary of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Huang Lihua, Vice Director of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University as well as leaders from relevant University departments, staff members from the Medical School and Affiliated Hospital, altogether around 150 people attended the ceremony. The meeting was presided over by Professor Chen Yongquan, Executive Dean of Wuxi Medical School and Distinguished Expert of National Thousand Talents Program.

Vice President Xu Yan delivered a speech on behalf of the University. President Xu introduced the schooling situation of Jiangnan University and put forward the earnest hope for the construction and development of the International Joint Laboratory for Infection and Immunity (China-Germany). The University will continue to support the development of the laboratory on the principle of cooperation, openness, sharing together and achieving win-win results. Professor Michael Roggendorf, Former Director of Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty at University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, introduced the cooperation and exchange with China, and the cooperation with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Fudan University and Wuhan University. Later, he will focus on promoting cooperation with Jiangnan University.

According to the speech made by Xie Shoukun, Director of Wuxi Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, Wuxi Medical School of Jiangnan University is an important platform for upgrading local medical level and high-quality medical personnel training. This cooperation is a useful exploration in the international cooperation of health science and technology of Wuxi City, fully realizing the tripartite sharing of resources and talent complementarity. It will play a great role in promoting the level of medical research and the team-building of high-level medical professionals.

Subsequently, Professor Chen Yongquan, Executive Dean of Wuxi Medical School, Zhou Junwei, Party Secretary of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, and Michael Roggendorf, Professor of the Medical Faculty at Duisburg-Essen University, signed a cooperation agreement. Han Xiaofeng, Dean of Wuxi Medical School and Deputy Director of Wuxi Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, and Professor Sandra Ciesek, representative of the German side, jointly unveiled the nameplate for the International Joint Research Laboratory for Infection and Immunity (China-Germany). The establishment of this Joint Laboratory at Jiangnan University is inseparable from the long-term support of the Wuxi-born Professor Lu Mengji of Duisburg-Essen University in Germany. Zhang Yinglu, Director of the Personnel Department of Jiangnan University declared the appointment of Professor Lu Mengji as a guest professor of Jiangnan University. Vice President Xu Yan presented the Visiting Professor Certificate of Jiangnan University to Professor Lu Mengji, and put the school badge on him.

After the signing and opening ceremony, Professor Yang Dongliang from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Research Fellow Zhang Xiaoming from Pasteur Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and two German experts began the academic exchange on the progress of immunotherapy of infectious diseases. After the academic report, the International Joint Research Laboratory for Infection and Immunity (China-Germany) held its first working conference to discuss the work plan in 2017.

Vice President Xu Yan Delivering a Speech

Professor Michael Roggendorf Delivering a Speech

Signing Ceremony

Unveiling the Nameplate

Vice President Xu Yan Presenting Guest Professor Certificate to Professor Lu Mengji

The First Working Conference of the Joint Laboratory