Vice President Kwong-Hang Tam (left) with Academician Dongxin Lin (right) in a group photo
On-site photo
The Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) Faculty of Medicine successfully hosted an academic lecture as part of its 24th-anniversary celebrations, titled "Molecular Mechanisms of Esophageal Cancer Development and Prevention," on the afternoon of March 28, 2024, in Room N316. The lecture was delivered by esteemed academician Dongxin Lin, a renowned expert in cancer genetics and genomics, professor at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, professor at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center, and chairperson of the Oncology Committee of the Chinese Society of Pathophysiology. The event was attended by Vice President of MUST, Professor Paul Kwong-Hang Tam, along with faculty members and students from the School of Medicine.
Vice President Paul Kwong-Hang Tam delivering a welcome speech
Vice President Tam delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the university, presenting a commemorative gift and expressing gratitude to Academician Lin for sharing his expertise with the MUST community.
In his lecture, Academician Lin explained that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is highly prevalent in China, accounting for more than half of the global cases. This type of cancer has a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 30%. Therefore, uncovering the biological mechanisms behind esophageal cancer is critical for improving prevention and treatment strategies. Over the past 20 years, Lin’s team has utilized multi-omics approaches to map the genomic alterations associated with esophageal cancer. Recently, the team has applied cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial RNA sequencing to comprehensively analyze the genomic and microenvironmental changes throughout the multi-stage development of ESCC. They revealed the genomic characteristics and microenvironmental factors driving the progression of precancerous lesions. The findings highlight the significant role of genomic changes and the interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment in the carcinogenesis and evolution of ESCC. These insights may lead to improved screening, intervention, and treatment strategies for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Academician Dongxin Lin giving the lecture
Academician Lin is a highly respected professor at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center and a tenured professor at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College. He has dedicated his career to multi-omics research in cancer genetics and genomics, making significant contributions to understanding the genomic and transcriptomic changes in common cancers such as esophageal, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers, and translating these findings into practical prevention and treatment strategies. He has led major national research projects, including those under the Changping National Laboratory and the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s "Basic Research Center." He has previously led projects under the National 973 and 863 Science and Technology Programs, the National Distinguished Young Scientists Fund, and key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation.
With over 300 scientific papers published in prestigious journals like Nature and Nature Genetics, and more than 22,000 citations, Academician Lin has an H-index of 88. He has received numerous accolades, including two second-class National Natural Science Awards, one first-class and two second-class National Science and Technology Progress Awards, and one first-class Ministry of Education Natural Science Award. He also holds several invention patents and has co-authored books such as Oncology and Cancer Genetics. He is a recipient of the State Council’s Special Government Allowances and has been honored as a National Outstanding Science and Technology Worker, Beijing Model Worker, and National Outstanding PhD Supervisor (four times).
