In a significant step towards international scientific collaboration, Academician George F. Gao, Director of the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Disease (CEEID), convened a virtual meeting with a delegation from the University of Pennsylvania on July 14, 2026. The meeting focused on initiating a joint clinical trials study on allergic diseases, a major global health concern.

    Academician Drew Weissman, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2023) and Director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, participated in the zoom meeting alongside Dr. Jan Davidson, Chief Medical Officer of a partner biotechnology company. Professor Weissman, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Inventors, is globally renowned for his pioneering work on RNA biology and the innate immune system.

    The collaboration builds upon initial discussions held during Professor Weissman's visit to Beijing earlier this year. The virtual meeting served to align strategic goals and explore mechanisms for launching a Phase I clinical trial in China.

    We are eager to collaborate and learn from the expertise in China regarding the management of atopic patients, stated Dr. Davidson in correspondence leading to the meeting.

    The discussion was furthered by contributions from Professor Hu Haitao of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Wang Likui, Secretary-General of CEEID. Their participation underscores the collaborative effort to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into tangible clinical applications that can benefit patients worldwide. This initiative exemplifies the power of global scientific partnerships in addressing complex health challenges.