Renowned Liver Cancer Scientist Returns to China Amid Trump-Era Funding Squeeze

Strategic Insights -

Renowned scientist Feng Gensheng has returned to China after 40 years in the United States, joining the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) as director of its Cancer Research Institute. Feng's return comes amid a funding squeeze during the Trump administration, which imposed significant cuts on public universities, including the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where Feng was a distinguished professor. Feng's research focuses on liver cancer recurrence and immunotherapy, including the discovery of SHP2, a new enzyme.

Key Takeaways:

  • Feng Gensheng, a prominent liver cancer scientist, returned to China after 40 years in the United States, joining the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) as director of its Cancer Research Institute.
  • Feng's research focuses on the mechanisms of liver cancer recurrence and immunotherapy for liver cancer, with a notable contribution being the discovery of SHP2, a new enzyme.
  • Feng's departure from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) comes after US President Donald Trump's administration imposed funding cuts on public universities, with UCSD facing possible losses ranging from US$75 million to more than US$500 million annually.
  • Feng pursued his postgraduate studies in immunology, earning a master's degree from the Second Military Medical University in 1984 and a PhD in molecular biology from Indiana University Bloomington in 1990.
  • Feng aims to develop new immunotherapy strategies for liver cancer that do not rely on immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Statistics:

  • 40 years: Duration of Feng's stay in the United States
  • US$75 million to US$500 million: Possible annual losses for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) due to Trump-era funding cuts
  • 1961: Year Feng was born in Jiashan, Zhejiang province
  • 1984: Year Feng earned his master's degree in immunology from the Second Military Medical University
  • 1990: Year Feng earned his PhD in molecular biology from Indiana University Bloomington
  • 1993: Year Feng discovered SHP2, published in Science

Sources:

  • South China Morning Post
  • Malay Mail