The importance of tackling SARS with a scientific approach backed by advanced technology was the focus of discussion at a recent meeting on Prevention and Cure of SARS through Science and Technology attended by representatives of most schools and departments of Tsinghua.
Participants at the April 30 meeting came from the schools of Medicine, Life Science, Engineering, Information Science and Technology, Mechanical Engineering, School of Sciences, Economics and Management, Public Policy and Management, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Journalism and Communication, Architecture, and Electrical Engineering, and the Institute of Environment Science and Technology.
Also, as a result of the emphasis on S&T in the fight against SARS, applications for 17 anti-SARS projects had been made to the Office of Research and Development at Tsinghua as of May 2. The Ministry of Education is responsible for approving all projects.
Distinguished professors such as Cheng Jing, Rao Zihe, Chen Yinghua, Chen Yehua, Luo Yongzhang, Meng An’ming and Yao Qiang have been instrumental in getting these projects off the ground.
Several nation-level laboratories, such as the State Key Laboratory of Bio-membrane and Membrane Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Clean Combustion of Coal, MOE Laboratory of Protein Science, and Capital Biochip Company Limited are also working closely with the S&T-based anti-SARS prevention program.
Three projects have been given the go-ahead by MOE for first-phase work. They are: “High throughput cloning, expression of all the proteins and their fragments from the SARS virus” sponsored by Professor Rao Zihe, from the Department of Biology; “Building a SARS Data Grid” by Professor Zhou Lizhu, from the Department of Computer Science and Technology; and “SARS Vaccine and Therapy” by Professor Luo Yongzhang, from the Department of Biology.
Total funding for these projects is 600,000 RMB Yuan. More projects are now in development stages, and nearly ten projects involving advanced technology have been delivered to the National Anti-SARS Head Office and the Beijing Anti-SARS Head Office.
Tsinghua Vice President Gong Ke has stressed that the basic tactics against SARS involve developing science and depending on the public cooperation, and the triumph over the deadly virus requires the concerted efforts of all the staff and students. He has also pointed out that the health everyone at the university comes first in the battle against SARS, and patients’ interests should be given priority during hospital treatment.
