Source: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital
Author: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital

Recently, the Ministry of Education of China has announced the results of the 2012 Higher Education Institutions Outstanding Achievements Award in Scientific Research. The “Basic Research of Non-coding RNA in Targeted Therapy for Malignant Tumor” presided by professor Song Erwei from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital has been honored with the first prize in Natural Science of Higher Education Institutions Science and Technology Award, joined by fellow colleagues of the project, Yao Herui, Su Fengxi, Gong Chang, Yu Fengyan and Yao Yandan.

The Higher Education Institutions Outstanding Achievements Award (Science and Technology) is given annually towards higher education institutions across the country, including awards for Natural Science, Technological Invention, Progress in Science and Technology, Progress in Science and Technology (Popularization), and Patent. The Natural Science Award is for the discoveries made in basic research and applied basic research of natural science, and scientific research achievements in clarifying natural phenomena and features and revealing the laws of nature. Of all 36 first prizes and 70 second prizes in Natural Science that were given in 2012, the finding of Professor Song Erwei was the only first prize in Natural Science that Sun Yat-sen University received as the first participant unit.

Molecular targeted therapy is one of the efficient ways in treating malignant tumor. However, the lacking of knowledge in molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression and the immature technology in introducing genetically targeted interventional medications have been standing in the way of the development in molecular targeted therapy. Focusing on this challenging question, Professor Song Erwei has led his research team in launching a series of researches funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in tumorigenesis and progression mechanisms of breast cancer and other malignancies, centering on gene expression regulation. After over 10 years’ hard work, profound researches in discovering the possibilities of applying non-coding RNA in treating malignant tumor have been carried out, theories related to tumorigenesis and progression and therapeutic intervention have been updated and completed, and the foundation for the development of non-coding RNA application has been laid. Most of the research findings of the project were the first to be reported across the world, pointing out the direction of research in the fields of molecular targeted therapy of cancer, non-coding RNA and cancer stem cells. 23 related articles have been published on journals such as Cell, Cancer Cell, and Nature Medicine, with a total impact factor (IF) of 203, among which the highest IF for a single article is 32.403 (Cell). Several influential and impactive journals including Science have cited those research findings with favourable comments, and the total citation by other journals has reached 1,690.