On the morning of March 26, the inaugural lecture of the "Jieping Forum" at Capital Medical University was successfully held in the school's academic lecture hall. Invited to deliver the keynote academic speech titled "Theory and Practice: Innovation and Curiosity Driven Research" was Professor Barry J. Marshall, a 2005 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine from the University of Western Australia. This event was jointly organized by Capital Medical University (CMU) and Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing (CIMR).

Prior to the lecture, Professor Luo Zhang, Deputy Party Secretary and President of CMU, met with Professor Marshall.

Luo Zhang Opened the Lecture

Lin Mei Hosted the Lecture

Professor Marshall Delivered the Lecture

Professor Marshall, a pioneer in understanding H. pylori's pathogenic mechanisms, co-discovered the bacterium with Professor Robin Warren, earning them the 2005 Nobel Prize. In his lecture, he meticulously deconstructed the entire innovation pathway—from hypothesis generation and experimental validation to clinical translation. His unique research philosophy and relentless spirit of exploration resonated deeply with the audience.

Starting his lecture in Chinese, Professor Marshall quickly connected with the attendees. He recounted the 1980s when the prevailing belief attributed peptic ulcers to stress or excessive gastric acid. Undeterred, he and Professor Warren proposed the novel hypothesis of bacterial infection as the cause, which they validated through a daring self-experiment. This breakthrough not only rewrote medical textbooks but also ushered in a new era of antibiotic therapy for gastric ulcers, leading to the Nobel Prize.

Professor Marshall Delivered the Lecture

In the academic sharing segment, Professor Marshall introduced his team's latest progress in H. pylori research. They discovered that H. pylori can construct an "acid-resistant molecular shield" via its urease system, enabling stable colonization in the stomach's acidic environment. Additionally, the bacteria can activate bone marrow-derived stem cells, inducing chronic inflammation and driving malignant transformation of gastric mucosal cells. This research elucidated key immune evasion mechanisms in gastric cancer development. Using large-scale epidemiological data from Chinese cities, his team further confirmed that early eradication of H. pylori significantly reduces the risk of gastric cancer. They have developed a non-invasive string test combined with qPCR for rapid and precise diagnosis. "China is a high-prevalence country for H. pylori infection and a critical front for gastric cancer prevention and medical innovation," said Professor Marshall, praising China's efforts in early screening and diagnosis while calling for global collaboration to address H. pylotori antibiotic resistance.

Reflecting on the essence of scientific inquiry and innovation, Professor Marshall emphasized that every medical revolution stems from the intersection of clinical problems and fundamental research. From his self-experiment to the development of non-invasive diagnostic technologies, he encouraged young scholars and medical students to remain sensitive to "contradictory phenomena" in research, such as the discrepancy between patient ulcer recurrence and antibiotic efficacy, which led to the discovery of H. pylori.

Professor Marshall Took A Group Photo with the Teachers and Students Present

Following the keynote, an interactive Q&A session took place, where students and faculty engaged in deep discussions with Professor Marshall. Topics ranged from the correlation between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer, improving public awareness of asymptomatic infections, the core value of empirical evidence in clinical research, the role of curiosity in scientific innovation, and the future directions of medical research and career paths for young researchers. Professor Marshall provided detailed and insightful answers, drawing from his extensive experience, and offered valuable guidance, showcasing his academic acumen and humanistic spirit.

In his closing remarks, Professor Lin Mei summarized that Professor Marshall's career exemplifies the importance of unconventional thinking, pioneering courage, and persistent dedication in achieving groundbreaking medical advancements. The successful launch of the "Jieping Forum" not only brought cutting-edge knowledge to the CMU community but also instilled a valuable spirit of scientific inquiry, fostering an environment conducive to nurturing innovative medical talent and promoting academic exchange.

Visit and Exchange Opinions

In the afternoon, Professor Marshall and his team visited CIMR. They toured CIMR's technical cores, including the Medical Mass Spectrometry Core, Cryo-Electron Microscopy Core, High-Throughput Screening Core, Biological Library Core, and Multi-Omics Core. Impressed by the facilities, they discussed the cores' equipment and service capabilities with the respective directors.

Roundtable Discussion

Subsequently, Professor Marshall and his team had a roundtable discussion with Professor Lin Mei, Professor Chuan-Yuan Li, Director of Chinese Institute for Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Professor Shao-Cong Sun, Director of Chinese Institute for Immunology, and over ten young principal investigators (PIs). Professor Lin Mei introduced the development of CIMR, while Professor Marshall's team shared their plans for the Global Biomedicine and Vaccine Innovation (BVI) Center, expressing a sincere interest in collaboration.