On February 9, the Phase II "Nanhua Class" Work Conference of the Innovation Institute for Pathogen Structure and Clinical Application, University of South China-Guangzhou Laboratory, was convened in Guangzhou.The conference brought together Academician Rao Zihe, Professor at Tsinghua University and former President of Nankai University (honorary class advisor of the "Nanhua Class"); Academician Xu Tao, Executive Deputy Director of Guangzhou Laboratory; experts and scholars from Guangzhou Laboratory, Central South University, ShanghaiTech University, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Lepu Medical, and Lion Lake Microecology Research Institute; and all graduate students of the "Nanhua Class." Participants exchanged research progress and innovative achievements while exploring new collaboration paradigms for the "Nanhua Class."Academician Rao Zihe chaired the meeting, which was attended by Chen Xinwen, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Laboratory; Zhang Zhuohua, President of the University of South China; and Xia Kun, Vice President of the University of South China.
The venue of the work conference
Academician Rao Zihe highly appraised the innovative model of the "Nanhua Class" jointly established by the University of South China and Guangzhou Laboratory, which integrates science and education to cultivate top-notch innovative talents. He suggested actively promoting this model and appropriately expanding the training scale. Academician Rao particularly emphasized the need to keep an eye on the latest trends in the field of artificial intelligence, consistently and systematically carry out the study of artificial intelligence knowledge, and innovatively run the "Intelligent Medicine Class". He said that the postgraduate students of the "Nanhua Class" are full of vitality and energy, with strong class cohesion and centripetal force. The growth and progress of each student are obvious. He hoped that the students would cherish the time, platform and opportunities, further strengthen academic exchanges, earnestly enhance the sense of ownership in the laboratory, create a vibrant atmosphere for scientific research and innovation, form a good mechanism of unity, cooperation and competition, and make greater achievements in the new era.
Academician Xu Tao stated that the "Nanhua Class" model is an important measure to implement the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent system and mechanism by the Party and the country. It has innovated the postgraduate talent training paradigm, carried out organized scientific research and clinical application research, and formed an interdisciplinary and integrated talent team. He proposed further deepening the cooperation between the University of South China and Guangzhou Laboratory, strengthening the application of artificial intelligence in scientific research and talent training. Centering around postgraduate training, a more vivid practice of strengthening the national strategic scientific and technological strength through the synergy of "talent - platform - mechanism" should be formed to promote the Innovation Institute for Pathogen Structure and Clinical Application to achieve more results.
Chen Xinwen fully affirmed the cooperation model and achievements of the "Nanhua Class," expressing hope that the program would appropriately expand its scale and further integrate organized scientific research with talent cultivation at the national laboratory. He emphasized orienting efforts toward serving national needs, driving scientific research breakthroughs, and producing more high-quality innovative outputs.
Zhang Zhuohua highly praised the construction of the "Nanhua Class" and the notable academic progress of its students, extending heartfelt gratitude to Academician Rao Zihe, Academician Xu Tao, and all faculty members of Guangzhou Laboratory for their support. He stated that the establishment of the "Nanhua Class" through collaboration between the University of South China and Guangzhou Laboratory—representing a national strategic scientific and technological force—constitutes an innovative path for the university to build a first-class postgraduate education system."Students in the 'Nanhua Class' conduct research on the shoulders of giants, staying at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation with access to abundant information and opportunities," Zhang noted. "They should earnestly learn the spirit of scientists, cherish the platform and opportunities, and while striving for personal growth, share experiences in cultivating innovative talents and achieving high-level research outcomes with the University of South China. This will help comprehensively reform and elevate the university’s postgraduate education from concepts to implementation."He pledged that the university would further deepen cooperation with Guangzhou Laboratory, enhance its capacity to serve major national strategic needs, and make greater contributions to cultivating and reserving top innovative talents for the nation.
Professor Peng Wei, Dean of the Innovation Institute for Pathogen Structure and Clinical Application at Guangzhou Laboratory and class advisor of the "Nanhua Class," led the supervisor team and 2023-cohort postgraduate students in presenting their academic research progress and major innovative achievements from the past year. Attending experts and scholars provided feedback on the students’ research and engaged in in-depth discussions on the "Nanhua Class" educational model.Students of the "Nanhua Class" stated that in future studies and research, they would remain committed to the Nanhua spirit and the values of the Innovation Institute, actively participate in cutting-edge scientific research, explore uncharted territories, and strive to become innovative talents meeting the needs of the new era.
The "Nanhua Class" represents a groundbreaking exploration by the University of South China and Guangzhou Laboratory into novel approaches for cultivating top innovative talents, as well as a vivid practice of implementing the "three-in-one" integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent. Jointly established by the Innovation Institute for Pathogen Structure and Clinical Application at Guangzhou Laboratory and the University of South China, the "Nanhua Class" currently enrolls 30 postgraduate students from the 2023 and 2024 cohorts. As a national laboratory-local university collaboration for nurturing elite innovative talents, the "Nanhua Class" has become a model case in this field.
Heads of the university’s Scientific Research Department, Graduate School, Hengyang Medical College, and other units attended the meeting.
