After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from China Pharmaceutical University in 2013, I entered the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to pursue my Ph.D., under the supervision of Prof. Yao Xiaoqiang, conducting research on ion channels and cardiovascular diseases. Later, I worked as a research assistant in Prof. Zhao Hui’s lab, focusing on developmental biology.
During my four years at SBS, I grew from a novice, unfamiliar with research, into an independent researcher capable of conducting experiments and publishing SCI papers, ultimately earning my Ph.D. This growth was made possible through the patient guidance and strong support of professors such as Prof. Yao Xiaoqiang, Prof. Zhao Hui, and Prof. Huang Yu, along with the help of my classmates who shared the similar struggles and achievements in the Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building. I also received support from CUHK staff who ensured my safety during late nights after experiments. My time in Hong Kong and at CUHK is filled with fond memories of a rich and systematic professional training in basic medicine and life sciences. After graduation, I successfully joined Kunming Medical University as a faculty member, where I continue to pass on the knowledge and cultural values I gained at CUHK to my students.
In 2018, I joined School of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming. Since 2020, I have served as a Master’s supervisor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. In 2022, I became a Ph.D. supervisor. At Kunming Medical University, my research primarily focuses on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the pharmacology of natural products. I am dedicated to exploring the therapeutic potential of natural products in cardiovascular disease and the mechanisms underlying infectious cardiovascular diseases.
My research has been recognized by both society and academia. In 2019, I was honoured with the “Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program” Youth Scholars, and in 2022, my team received the “Youth Civilization Award” from Kunming Medical University. That same year, I was awarded the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department–Kunming Medical University for Distinguished Young Scholars. I also won the second prize in the Yunnan Provincial Health Science and Technology Achievement Award in 2022 and the third prize in 2023.
My team, the “Kunming Medical University Scientific Innovation Team for Infectious Cardiovascular Diseases and Drug Development,” focuses on research and translation of cardiovascular damage caused by viral infections and strives to apply our research to clinical settings. So far, I have published 49 papers, 44 of which are SCI-indexed. As the first or corresponding author, I have published 26 SCI papers in journals such as PNAS, Acta Pharmacol Sin, Natl Sci Rev, and JAHA. I have also led multiple research projects, including three National Natural Science Foundation grants, and hold five national patents.
It has been six years since I left CUHK. I have grown from a student into a Ph.D. supervisor, leading my own team in cardiovascular pharmacology research. There is an old saying: “One does not understand the cost of living until they are responsible for it.” In these years of teaching, leading my team, I have deeply appreciated the passion of each professor in SBS for research and their dedication to students. I am immensely grateful to my alma mater, SBS, and to Prof. Yao Xiaoqiang for nurturing me. As the Year of the Snake approaches in 2025, I wish SBS continued success in cultivating world-class academic talents. I wish all teachers and students good health and all the best in the coming year.
Prof. Zheng Changbo (2nd from right) and Prof. Yao Xiaoqiang (2nd from left)
