Bats, the only flying mammal, carry a variety of viruses, many of which are zoonotic. Some of these viruses can spread to humans, often causing severe disease and even death, such as coronavirus, Ebola virus and paramyxovirus. Even though they can host so many viruses, bats maintain a healthy state by producing only a limited inflammatory response. Uncovering the mechanisms by which bats fight off these viruses has important implications for human health. Aaron T. Irving's research team recently published an article in PNAS about the complementary mechanisms by which bats suppress inflammation.Picture：Complementary relationship between M. davidii, E. spelaea, and P. alecto caspase-1 and IL-1β.（Published in PNAS） Caspase-1（or cysteine aspartic protease 1）is the central inflammasome effector for pyroptosis and triggers cytokine ( such as IL-1β) secretion. The team identified residues in caspase-1 which are critical for enzymatic activity yet have been targeted for inhibition in Pteropus bats. Further, they discover cleavage-site flanking residues which led to the loss of IL-1β cleavage in Myotis bats. The team report an inverse relationship between caspase-1 function and IL-1β cleavage in bats within two suborders, with different evolutionary mechanisms resulting in a consistent reduction of downstream signaling by the inflammasome.  https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/10/21/2003352117  Dr Aaron Irving trained at the Diamantina Institute (UQ Australia), Monash Institute of Medical Research (Melbourne Australia) and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medial School (Singapore). He recently opened his lab at ZJE with a focus on emerging zoonotic viral infections and the host-pathogen interactions triggered by these viruses. There is a special interest in comparative biology using bats as a model organism and identifying key factors from bats that may be utilized to improve the human immune responses to pathogen infections. Other projects in the laboratory include novel diagnostic techniques to identify current or historical infection of wildlife by zoonotic viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and establishing/evaluating factors that may contribute to zoonotic potential. 

In order memorialize the westward migration of Zhejiang University, enhance the relationship between teachers and students, and carry forward the team spirit, ZJU-UoE institute organized a trail-walk on the morning of October 11 with a distance of 10 kilometers. Nearly 400 teachers and students from ZJE, other joint institutes and campus units participated in the activity.01.Before the start of trail-walk, ZJE Vice Dean Ye Chen expressed her wishes for all participants: “I hope you will enjoy the warm autumn sun and get close to nature with relaxation; I hope you can build up your body and feel the happiness brought by sports and sunshine ; I hope you can work together and experience the strength and courage of the team. Finally, I wish ZJE and you are always on the way to build a dream together, on the way to move ahead together.”02.The trail-walk is divided into two parts: around the cuckoo lake and around the campus. At 9:00 a.m., as the whistle blew, the teams who had already gathered in front of the South Gate rushed out to start their journey of happiness and sweat.Starting from the first spot, a total of 8 check-in points distributed on the trail-walk route need to be clocked in. Check-in point No. 4 is the supply point to provide water and food to the participants, and No. 2 and No. 7 are the task points, which need to complete the task of taking group photos and small games. All the team members used their intelligence and worked together to complete the tasks. While enjoying the scenery along the way, they talked and laughed with new friends, encouraged each other, and rushed to the next check-in point.03.  After all the participants gathered at the finishing point, they got the souvenirs, signed their names on the spray painting, and took the characteristic group photo of their own team, the trail-walk activity was successfully completed. Ultimately, every participant received a well-designed ZJE passport, which stamped with the mark of "trail-walk".04.    In this trail-walk activity, I was honored to be a team leader. With the sunrise, the sky is so bright, the ground is so wide, the feeling is so rippling, the heart is so waves, the beautiful scenery is accompanied by friends all the way, what a wonderful memory.——BMI student Xinyue Huang Although the sun is very bright, although we have been walking for a long time and were tired at last, the perseverance of “Left Behind” team is perfect. We have gained growth, friendship and positive energy.——BMS student Pengwei Yu One thing that I want to highlight from ZJE 2020 Trail-walk as a sport event is that it is inclusive for everyone despite their sport ability. I think having inclusive event like this will make everyone feel appreciated and belong to the ZJE family. It also helps breaking the barriers between the International and Chinese members of ZJE.——PhD student IAN MELIALA I believe that all participants today can understand what Trail-walk is. The participants walked ten kilometers under the sun, which was a test of perseverance. Volunteers accompany the participants, busy but fulfilling. Everyone gains a lot through ZJE Trail-walk.——BMS student Lingyun Jin(Volunteer) It's the best reward for scientific research workers to have a walk in the beautiful autumn, enjoy the pleasant sunshine and boundless scenery. What's more, you have many friends to walk with you. ZJE trail-walk not only liberates us from the busy scientific research life, but also gives us a chance to blow the breeze on the lake, enjoy the time with your friend. Although this activity has just ended, we are looking forward to the coming of the next trail-walk.——Postdoctoral Mingxu Zhang

The Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) new student welcome ceremony was held in the Multi-Function Hall of Campus on 13 September 2020, with 147 new undergraduate and postgraduate students in attendance. Many distinguished guests attended the ceremony including Vice President of Zhejiang University (ZJU) and Secretary of Party Working Committee of ZJU International Campus Lianzhen He, ZJE Vice Dean Linrong Lu, ZJE Vice Dean Ye Chen, ZJE Assistant Dean Suhong Xu, and ZJE faculty and staff. Everyone gathered to witness this special moment.The ceremony began with the new students and guests signing their names and creatingmulti-coloured handprints on the signature wall. These colourful handprints symbolize the bright futures expected for the new students. The college has also prepared a special mailbox for students. Students will express what they want to say to their parents and family members on postcards. ZJE's mailbox will convey the students' heavy missing to their families. ZJE 2020 welcome ceremony officially started at 9am.Professor Lianzhen He delivered a welcome speech to students. Professor He expressed her welcome and congratulations to all the new students. She said in this special period, humanity’s health needs biomedical sciences, you who choose biomedical/biomedical informatics will be our heroes to save the world! She also put forward three expectations for students: have dreams; embrace the new era though unity of knowledge and action; master ways to success.  Dean of biomedical science, University of Edinburgh Professor Mike Shipston, Vice Dean of ZJU International Campus and ZJE Dean Professor Hongwei Ouyang, ZJE Executive Dean Professor Sue Welburn and ZJE undergraduate programme director Dr. John Menzies sent their best wishes to the students through videos. They hoped students can make full use of the excellent resources of Zhejiang University and University of Edinburgh and expressed that all ZJE faculty and staff will do best to support the students’ dreams.  The Launching Ceremony was attended by Prof. Lianzhen He, Prof.Linrong Lu, Chen Ye, Prof. Suhong Xu, ZJE faculty, and student representatives. Many forces gather together to open a new starting point and a new journey for students and ZJE.  On behalf of undergraduate and postgraduate freshmen, Jiashang Xu and Feiran Gao gave speeches. They expressed their joy at coming to ZJE and the beautiful campus and were very honored to open a new chapter in ZJE with students from all over the world. At the same time, they expressed the expectation for the future study and life and determined to work hard for the future of biomedicine.  Then, all the freshmen took the oath ceremony. As scholars who will study and explore in biomedical field, ZJEers have faith and responsibility, and will shoulder the responsibility of human health in the future. Parents also sent their sincere wishes to the freshmen through videos. Each word carried the parents' strong care and love for their children. We believe that the students can understand their parents' love and work hard to achieve their dream in ZJE.The versatile ZJEers also gave a wonderful performance to all the guests attending the welcoming ceremony, everyone enjoyed their great performance. The welcome ceremony is a starting point for freshmen, from here, they will embark on a new and unknown but hopeful journey. We sincerely hope that every new student can be confident, face challenges bravely, and keep moving on!

Continuing the success of fruitful collaborations between the ZJE Institute and the University  of Edinburgh, two articles were published in a joint effort of the Leptihn group, together with Prof. Susan Welburn and Dr. Xiaoting Hua from the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, in Hangzhou. One article was published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine entitled“ Secondary Bacterial Infections in Patients with Viral Pneumonia”. In a “back-to-back publication” the group published a second review article with the title “Secondary Bacterial Infections during Pulmonary Viral Disease: Phage Therapeutics as Alternatives to Antibiotics?” in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Microbiology.Picture: Comparison of scientific, clinical, and pharmaceutical characteristics of chemical antibiotics, endolysins, and bacteriophages in the treatment of bacterial infections (published in Frontiers in Microbiology).Article summaries:Both articles describe the complex disease progressions of viral pneumonias, which are often complicated by secondary bacterial infections. In the review published in Frontiers in Medicine, the frequency, treatment and impact of secondary bacterial infections during viral pneumonia are discussed, comparing influenza, SARS, MERS and SARS-CoV-2 related infections. Case studies were analysed to interpret the severity of disease progression due to secondary bacterial infections during the global pandemic and antibiotic treatment regimes. The authors reported that up to 15% of the COVID-19 mortality may be caused by secondary bacterial infections, although regional differences do exists.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.00420/fullIn the publication in Frontiers in Microbiology the authors highlight the use of antibiotic therapy to prevent or cure secondary bacterial infections or co-infections that are occur during viral pulmonary diseases. The authors discuss the potential of using phage therapy or phage-derived compounds as alternatives to antibiotics, in particular for strains that are antibiotic resistant.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01434/fullThe Leptihn’s research group is working on bacteriophage biology and phage therapy. Prof. Sebastian Leptihn’s Research Group (http://leptihn-lab.org/) includes Dr. Belinda Loh (Post-doc) and Dr. Prasanth Manohar (Post-doc), the two lead-authors on the articles.

Recently, Prof. Wenwen Huang has been awarded a ZJU-Cornell Joint Seed Fund to design and synthesize multi-stimuli responsive biomaterials. The funding is provided by Zhejiang University and Cornell China Center to support world-class research, education, collaboration and entrepreneurship across diverse communities in ZJU and Cornell.  About this joint project:China is grappling with demographic shifts due to the global trend of rapid aging that exacerbates the burden of noncommunicable diseases and causes an urgent need to improve preventions and treatments. To address this, we are developing soft, adaptive, and responsive biomaterials using elastin: a major structural protein with high water content, tunable viscoelasticity, and biocompatibility. Using recombinant DNA technology, mechanically weak elastin can be fused with strong silk to adjust the mechanical properties of the dynamic elastin system, dubbed silk-elastin- like proteins (SELPs). We will design and synthesize reconfigurable, self-assembled SELP hydrogels with controllable properties to perform highly specific, pre-programmed functions. We will tightly integrate computational modelling and synthetic biology to design hydrogels that respond to combinatorial changes in temperature, pH, light, and electromagnetic fields. We embed computational modelling into the early stages of material synthesis to achieve time- and cost- efficiencies in generating specific targeted functions from molecular building blocks.Figure. The amino acid sequence in silk-elastin-like proteins can be specifically tailored to imbue the resulting hydrogel with a broad range of stimuli-response About ZJE/Cornell labs:Huang lab (ZJE, China) has extensive knowledge and expertise in the development and integration of de novo designed protein biomaterials with high throughput screening and regenerative medicine. Her lab focuses on the synthesis of tailored proteins with tunable functional properties using recombinant DNA technology and the translation of protein biomaterials for tissue engineering and controlled release systems.Yeo’s lab (Cornell, USA) deploy bio-inspired, bottom-up, computational approaches to rationally design next-generation biomaterials and precisely obtain the desired properties and functions. His lab harness polymeric design principles developed by Nature and combine multiscale modeling with high throughput simulations to rapidly test and validate the properties of these materials for implementation. E-mail: wenwenhuang@intl.zju.edu.cn; jingjieyeo@cornell.eduWebsite: https://person.zju.edu.cn/wenwenhuang; https://www.mae.cornell.edu/faculty-directory/jingjie-yeo

On June 23, 2020, Prof. Wenwen Huang’s lab published their collaborative research on bioinspired actuators in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). This research provides a novel approach to build smart biocompatible actuators for in vivo biomedical soft robotics and bionic devices.Figure. Schematic of the fabrication of thermo-responsive and ionic strength responsive SELP/CNF actuators.About this research article:‘Smart’ stimuli-responsive materials, which are sensitive to environmental triggers or biological signals, are appealing platforms for the development of biomedical devices. However, most smart materials are synthetic polymers that are not biocompatible and biodegradable, limiting their use in vivo. In this study, the researchers at ZJE and Tufts designed and built a new class of bionic actuator entirely out of biocompatible and biodegradable materials, using genetically engineered silk–elastin-like proteins (SELPs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). Programmable and reversible deformations in response to the stimuli have been achieved with the SELP/CNF actuator. This novel bioinspired actuator can provide an avenue to customized responsiveness toward applications for in vivo biomedical devices.  Movie. The transformation process of the SELP/CNF actuators over time in 1M NaCl solutions at room temperature.Link of this article: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/25/14602About Huang Lab:Huang lab focuses on predictive design, synthesis and functionalization of protein-based biomaterials for regenerative medicine and sustainable technology innovations. The ultimate goal of the lab is to advance the basic research in biomedical science, promote sustainable technologies, and translate biomaterials to the clinic.E-mail: wenwenhuang@intl.zju.edu.cnHome page of Prof. Wenwen Huang: https://person.zju.edu.cn/en/wenwenhuang

The first cohort of students to graduate with a Dual Award from The University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University celebrated their achievements at an event on 22 June. The seventeen graduates are the first to complete the four-year Integrative Biomedical Sciences programme run at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Joint Institute (ZJE) in Haining, PR China. The majority of the graduates intend to go on to postgraduate study, with many joining postgraduate programmes in Edinburgh. The graduates were joined at the celebration by their families, friends and staff at the Institute, as well as receiving messages of congratulations from Prof Peter Mathieson, Prof Moira Whyte, the President of Zhejiang University Prof Wu Zhaohui, the Dean of Zhejiang University International Campus Prof He Lianzhen, the Vice Dean of International Campus and Dean of ZJE Prof Ouyang Hongwei, the ZJE Executive Dean Prof Sue Welburn, and the Dean of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh Prof Mike Shipston, as well as many staff who have been with them on this journey. You [our graduates] have shown exceptional talent in developing your strengths to undertake biomedical research over these past four years, in what is the early state of your career. We hope you will continue to build these strengths going forwards, as your careers develop in the years ahead. The global impacts of the pandemic and the increasing pace of technological innovation on medicine are likely to be profound and you are our pathfinders to a brighter future.Professor Sue  WelburnZJE Executive Dean

On April 7, 2020, Prof. Zhi Hong’s lab from the Joint College of Edinburgh University and Zhejiang University together with Cong Yi’s lab from the Basic Medical College of Zhejiang University published a research article on Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology，titled "Mitochondrial Fusion Machinery Specifically Involved in Energy Deprivation-Induced Autophagy". This research expounded the relationship between mitochondrial morphology and energy deprivation-induced autophagy.  Main idea:Autophagy is a process in which cells degrade intracellular substances for reuse when facing internal and external environmental changes. Autophagy can be classified into non-selective autophagy and selective autophagy according to different degradation substrates. Non-selective autophagy, commonly known as macroautophagy or autophagy, has no selectivity for degradation substrates. Selective autophagy relies on the interaction between specific autophagy receptors with LC3 / Atg8 to degrade damaged organelles. Numerous studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role in maintenance of cellular homeostasis and development of biological organisms. Dysfunctional autophagy contributes to various human diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, typeⅡdiabetes, fatty liver, cancer etc.Mitochondria, as the center of cell metabolism and signal transduction networks, regulate ATP synthesis, intracellular calcium homeostasis, oxidative phosphorylation and cellular apoptosis, and are one of the most important organelles for maintaining normal physiological functions of cells. Mitochondria vary in different cells and show dynamic changes. The dynamic balance of fusion and division affects the distribution and morphology of mitochondria, which in turn determines their physiological functions. Mitochondria form a dynamic network that is mainly regulated by mitochondrial fusion, fission, and tubulation machinery, which play an important role in maintaining the integrity of mitochondrial genetic material and DNA in living organisms. Mitochondrial damage will rapidly initiate mitophagy, but the link between mitochondrial morphology and non-selective autophagy remains poorly understood.Drawn by Yuling Qin (PhD student in Prof. Zhi Hong’s lab)In this study, they found that the mitochondria fusion machinery Ugo1, Fzo1, etc. regulate the interaction between Snf1 (AMPK homolog in yeast cells) and Mec1 (ATR homolog in yeast) by participating in aerobic respiration in an energy-deficient state. Depletion of Ugo1, Fzo1, etc. leads to a decrease in Snf1 activity and Mec1 phosphorylation level, which fails to recruit Atg1/ULK1 and other autophagic proteins to the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS), therefore inhibits the occurrence of energy-deficient induced autophagy. Interestingly, the molecular machineries responsible for mitochondrial fission and tubulation are not involved in energy deprivation-induced autophagy.Associate professor Choufei Wu and assistant researcher Weijing Yao are the co-first authors of this article. Researcher Cong Yi (left) and researcher Zhi Hong (right) are the co-corresponding authors of this article.This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Key R&D Program of China.Lab info:Zhi Hong’s research team has been focusing on spatiotemporal regulation of vesicle transport, organelle crosstalk network and cell homeostasis maintenance, and is keen to solve biological problems by using different disciplines. If you are also interested in freely exploring and risk taking, welcome to join us! E-mail: zhihong@intl.zju.edu.cnHome page of Prof. Zhi Hong: https://person.zju.edu.cn/hongzhi

Professor Ouyang Hongwei, Dean of Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, was inducted as fellow of The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE College of Fellows class of 2020) for his pioneering work in tissue engineering, biomaterials and sports medicine. 156 scientists in the world were elected in 2020.The induction ceremony was originally scheduled to be held at the American Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 2020. However, due to the current global special situation, it was announced online. About AIMBEThe American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., representing the most accomplished individuals in the fields of medical and biological engineering. No other organization can bring together academia, industry, government, and scientific societies to form a highly influential community advancing medical and biological engineering. AIMBE’s mission is to provide leadership and advocacy in medical and biological engineering for the benefit of society.The health and value of AIMBE as an advocate for public policy issues related to improving lives through medical and biological engineering is ensured by a College of Fellows comprised of experts in areas such as clinical practice, industrial practice, and education.  Fellows and constituents of AIMBE cultivate ideas and address current issues by attending national events intended to advance the mission of AIMBE.  Among these events is the AIMBE Annual Event which takes place each winter.  At this event, Fellows and distinguished guests meet and discuss innovations in biomedical engineering, pertinent legislation, and the future of AIMBE.About Prof. Hongwei OuyangProfessor Hongwei Ouyang is Dean of ZJU-UoE Institute, Vice Dean of ZJU School of Medicine, Vice Dean of ZJU International Campus, Honorary Professor, The University of Edinburgh, The “Qiu-shi” Distinguished Professor, Zhejiang University. He is also the awardee of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars（Jie-Qin）He devotes himself to multidisciplinary research and education for musculoskeletal system restoration and regeneration, leading the team to make outstanding progress in the field of regenerative medicine.In the last 10 years, he has initiated and demonstrated the first clinical application of tissue-engineered cartilage transplantation technology and has accelerated the translational research of innovative silk medical implants in China. He has established a research system of multidisciplinary intersection and upstream-downstream integration and has promoted the development of joint surgery from replacement to regeneration.Check the list of AIMBE ELECTS 2020 FELLOWShttps://aimbe.org/2020-fellows/  

Recently, the shortlist of 2019 Zhejiang Province “10 Thousand Talent Programme” Outstanding Young Scholar is released, 252 people in total and Dr. Wenwen Huang is one of them.Dr Wenwen Huang, Assistant Professor/PI of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, received her bachelor’s degree in Physics from Peking University, her PhD in Biophysics from Tufts University, and postdoctoral training in SITEP joint program at Tufts (BME) / MIT (CEE).Dr Wenwen Huang’s research lies in highly interdisciplinary area at the interface of biophysics, biomedical engineering and material science. Her research focuses on the development and integration of de novo designed protein biomaterials with multi-scale modeling, high throughput screening and regenerative medicine. The ultimate goal of her research is to advance the basic research in biomedical science, translate biomaterials to the clinic, and promote sustainable development of Zhejiang province.Meanwhile, Dr. Wenwen Huang seeks for international communication and collaboration, and she is keeping close contact with Professor David Kaplan, an expert in biomaterials and tissue engineering field from Tufts University, Professor Markus Buehler, an expert in multi-scale simulation field, and Professor Karen Gleason, founder of the CVD technology from MIT etc.Dr. Wenwen Huang has published more than 30 papers on international top journals, such as Chem. Soc. Rev (IF 40.443), Acc. Chem. Res (IF 20.268), Adv. Funct. Mater (IF 15.621) and Macromolecules (IF 5.997) etc.

Dear international faculty and staff at IC and all our friends at UoE and UIUC,It has been a tough time since late January, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Over the period of nearly two months, all-out efforts have been made by the Chinese government to curb the spread of the virus and the situation has much improved. Zhejiang University has been committed to offering whatever expertise and aid we could extend for the prevention and control of the disease. Over 500 doctors and nurses from the affiliated hospitals have been sent to the area where the outbreak happened, and many more have been trying their best to cure those who have been infected in this province. We’ve moved teaching, research and administrative work online to ensure the smooth running of the International Campus and the University as a whole. During this process, support from ourfriends at UoE and UIUC, and the entire IC community has proved valuable and helped us through the most difficult time. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to you all.Beginning in late February, the terrible virus started to spread worldwide, involving over 150 countries and regions as of today. Keeping an eye on the update of the situation worldwide, the health and safety of our international faculty and staff and all our friends at UoE and UIUC has been our major concern. Our experience over the past nearly two months shows that, to strengthen self-protection, it helps to minimize outdoor activities, avoid crowded areas and group gatherings, wash hands frequently and wear medical masks in public places, maintain proper ventilation, and more importantly, to keep a balanced schedule of work, rest and exercise to improve immunity and live a healthy life.In time of difficulties, the entire IC community stands together. We look forward to welcoming our international faculty and staff back to campus safe and healthy and wish all our friends at UoE and UIUC well. International Campus   March 18, 2020      

 For the 30th edition of ECCMID, we would like to highlight 30 outstanding young scientists 30 years of age or younger. ZJE post-doctor, Dr. Prasanth Manohar is one of the awardees and the only one in China.Dr. Prasanth Manohar is working as a post-doctor in Dr Sebastian Leptihn’s lab in ZJE. He completed his Ph.D in Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India, during which he was awarded with 'Young scientist award' from INNO Indigo projects, European Union and 'CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship' from Government of India. His research interests are bacteriophage biology, phage therapy and antibiotic resistance.When asked why came to China for research, he mentioned that China is one of the fastest growing economy in the world withhands-on-use latest technologies, and there are substantial research funding sources available to meet the global needs that eventually supports the scientists to do innovation. Additionally, he loves Chinese people and the life in Haining has been pleasant.During the COVID-19 outbreak, China carries out strict and effective prevention and control management. Therefore, Dr. Prasanth Manohar and his family still stay in India and waiting for new guideline. As a scientist in close area, Dr. Prasanth tells us that compared with SARS and MERS, covid-19 has lesser fatality rate but rapid transmission within the population. Being pandemic, countries with minimal health aids needs to be more cautious and such global emergency can only be controlled by public support. He stresses that 'prevention is better than cure'.When it comes to future plan, Dr. Prasanth precisely states that he wants to become one of the reputed scientists in the field of phage therapy and he is working towards bringing phage therapy into a reality to treat antibiotic resistant infections. About ECCMID&ECSMIDSince its founding in 1983, ESCMID has evolved to become Europe’s leading society in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases with members from all European countries and all continents. For more than 30 years, ESCMID has been an influential component in the professional lives of microbiologists and infectious disease specialists and now reaches more than 8,500 individual and 30,000 affiliated members around the world.ECCMID held by ECCIM, has become one of the most comprehensive and influential congresses in the field of infection and an exciting networking place bringing together >13,000 colleagues from all over the world. The scientific programme is built by the ECCMID Programme Committee, and independent group of experts representing all disciplines related to clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. The programme is built in two phases, based on submitted session proposals or submitted abstracts.

Work in concert and pull together.Cherish everyday and wait to turn to the page of spring.If Wuhan wins the battle against the virus, Hubei will. If Hubei wins the battle, the nation will.This is not only a tough job for China, but a common challenge for the people all over the world as well.Far away in Scotland, on the other side of the world, the faculty and students at the University of Edinburgh are also on the move, to try to convey their care and best wishes to their Chinese friends.Distance can neither affect our familiarities, nor keep us part.When things go well, we don’t stop to think about the strong connections between us；When there are difficulties,we feel them too.UoE is Here with You！On February 5th 2020, University of Edinburgh Zhejiang Alumni Association, together with the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE), launched the " UoE is here with Zhejiang" anti-epidemic fund-raising proposal, which received strong support and positive response from faculties and students, alumni and other people who are concerned with the situation!At the same time of raising capital for charity, we also try to promote the mutual understanding and integration of the voice at home and abroad. This video was produced by the volunteer team of the fund-raising project, and also helped by many people.It is hard to estimate and repay every kindness in this critical period. Thank you all! Dr. Zhong Nanshan is one of the three finalistsfor the 2020 Being Edinburgh Award.Voting period: 9am 24 February – 12pm 4 March GMTOnly open to UoE alumni, faculities and studentshttps://www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/being-edinburgh-award/vote-winner In 1881, Marion Blake, a 26-year-old graduate of the University of Edinburgh, came to Hangzhou as the first president of Guangji Hospital (the predecessor of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine). [The "UoE is here with Zhejiang" anti-epidemic fund-raising activities are ongoing]Gather sand to form a tower, accumulate water to converge into a river. Even small kindness has great righteousness!Stay Strong Zhejiang! Donation Proposal from UoE Alumni&ZJEDonation MethodsAll the donations are collected through the account of Zhejiang University Education Foundation.For all donors for this project, please remember to make notes for later statistics and data tracking.The unified note is “StayStrongZJ".Bank transfer (UK)Account Name: Zhejiang University Education FoundationAccount Number: 364968853401Bank Name: Hangzhou Zheda Sub-Branch, Bank of ChinaSwift Code: BKCH CN BJ910Bank Address: 28, Qiushi Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 

Prof. Sue Welburn, Executive Dean of Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Chair of Medical and Veterinary Molecular Epidemiology, very concerned  about the situation of 2019-nCoV in China. She analyzed several possible outcomes of this disease in the article named The Only Thing We have to Fear is Fear Itself.The only thing we fear is fear itself ?As humans, we have lots of fears; fear of snakes, fear of heights, fear of spiders and of course fear of diseases. In 1933, Franklin D Roosevelt the 32nd President of the US at the lowest point of the Great Depression said “let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”.These words are as important today as they were back in 1933, as China now battles an unseen enemy causing fear and heartbreak in communities. Fear can cause unjustified terror that impedes public health efforts to contain the spread of infection.In December 2019, a new illness emerged in Wuhan, caused by a novel RNA coronavirus, 2019-nCoV – a virus that seemingly came from nowhere, unknown to science. Suddenly, everyone was working day and night to manage the impact of this tiny little pathogen, to try and stop its spread regionally and globally, and to work to develop drugs and vaccines to prevent a global pandemic. The speed at which 2019-nCoV is spreading is truly incredible and the response of the PRC (and globally) is unprecedented.The disease is so new and there are so many unknowns. We do not know where it came from, how it spreads or how deadly it really is? We don’t know how the outbreak will end, but experience tells us that it will end. There are several possible outcomes.Firstly, that the spread of 2019-nCoV is brought under control by extensive public health interventions (fast diagnosis, isolation and effective treatment of affected individuals, close identification of close contacts and their treatment). This is how two previous coronavirus outbreaks - SARS and MERS ended. Both viruses had made the jump from animals to humans and spread between them. SARS infected 8,096 people, and killed 774 people across 17 countries, but by 2004 SARS was no longer a public health problem. For SARS, health authorities identified cases quickly isolating and treating infected cases to prevent the infection spreading. Airports screened international travelers to establish whether they had been in contract with the virus. Today SARS may still exist in reservoir animal hosts, for example the forest civet, but it is not spreading among humans.SARS could be contained, infected people, mostly did not spread the virus until they were showing symptoms, so when someone was sick, they were identified quickly, placed in quarantine and transmission was stopped.2019-nCoV appears to be able to spread before any symptoms arise making it harder to contain. People do not know they are sick before they spread the virus to other people, and as they are not feeling ill, they will not seek medical care.SARS also conveniently tended to stay within the hospital or healthcare setting with transmission fueled by a few “super-spreaders” who were disproportionately infectious.The 2019-nCoV outbreak has outpaced SARS. A new mathematical model published in The Lancet suggests that up 75,800 people in Wuhan may have been infected by January 25 but also showed that if transmission could be reduced by a quarter, the growth rate of the outbreak would slow down.Secondly, the virus might die out after it infects all or most of the people that are most susceptible to it. Disease outbreaks need susceptible individuals to spread and a virus outbreak will stop when there are no susceptible people left to infect. The 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic infected >35,000 people but died out when the number of susceptible individuals reduced. People who were most at risk of coming into contact with Zika carrying mosquitoes had already been exposed to the disease. Zika is still around today but is not spreading.If 2019-nCoV runs low on susceptible individuals to infect, for example people showing some immunity, then public health interventions can finish it off. Lastly, 2019-nCoV may become yet another common seasonal virus, as has been seen before for flu. In 2009, a new flu strain H1N1 emerged and became pandemic but eventually became part of the normal flu architecture each flu season. 2019-nCoV could become another one of the 4 coronavirus strains that commonly infect humans every year, in China or globally.Ultimately, the outbreak of 2019-nCoV will likely be ended with the invention of a new vaccine(s) but development and deployment may take some time. In the mean while we need to support a strong public health response such as is being launched in China. It is important to keep fear at bay and this virus in perspective, each year globally 500,000 people die of flu and many more would die of flu if we did not have flu vaccination programmes for high-risk groups.