PhD graduate makes final of Study UK Alumni Awards in China

Huge congratulations to Dr Jinwei Zhang (PhD Biotechnology, 2011) who was shortlisted in the Science and Sustainability Award at the 2023-24 British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in his home nation of China.

Study UK Alumni Awards

The annual Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions, and countries. 

The Science and Sustainability Award recognises alumni who have distinguished themselves through their career and achievements in the world of science and sustainability, and who can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements in their profession, and beyond.

At an awards ceremony held in Beijing on Saturday 9 December 2023, Jinwei – who is currently Professor of Medicine at Xiamen University – was celebrated along with other Chinese alumni from UK universities. Read on to find out more about Jinwei and his achievements since graduating from Newcastle University.

Life-changing drug discovery

Having completed his undergraduate and Master’s degrees in his home country of China, Jinwei arrived in the UK in 2008 to embark on his PhD journey at Newcastle University, supported by the prestigious Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award.

Jinwei’s PhD was in the field of biotechnology, and during his time at Newcastle, he studied natural bioactive compounds and their applications in human health. This research laid the foundation for his later discover of potent kinase inhibitors, a monumental step in combatting Parkinson’s disease, and a discovery which gained Jinwei international recognition.

Jinwei is considered worldwide as an expert in cellular chloride homeostasis, cell volume regulation, and drug discovery. During his decade studying and working in the UK, he honed his skills in medicine and their applications to human health, shaping his scientific approach.

In 2019, Jinwei's journey came full circle as he was awarded a Fujian Min-jiang Scholar Program Professorship, joining Xiamen University School of Medicine in China. Here, his development of a neuroprotective agent, ZT-1a, has offered hope to countless families grappling with cerebral edema and other brain swelling conditions.

An internationally acclaimed researcher with an unwavering commitment to scientific excellence

Jinwei’s academic career, both in China and in the UK, has culminated in remarkable achievements in the realm of drug discovery and cellular signalling. Through the interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities offered in the UK, Jinwei was able to develop new drugs addressing serious brain conditions that has garnered global recognition and patents have been granted in multiple countries. He has been invited to give seminars at prestigious institutions such as Yale School of Medicine, Xiamen University China, Nanjing University China and Aix-Marseille University in France and now, as a Professor at Xiamen University, he is inspiring the next generation of medics and researchers.

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