On January 13th, a seminar entitled "New Drug Development Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Medicine" was held in the conference room of the State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology. Focusing on the theme of "New Drug Development Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Medicine", this seminar discussed the research directions, research content and cooperation approach of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Innovation Team of State Key Laboratory. This seminar was chaired by Chen Quan, director of the State Key Laboratory, and attended by Bai Gang, Guo Yuanqiang, Chen Yao, Lu Zhaoyong, Chen Guo, PIs from the State Key Laboratory, Chen Qiang from the College of Life Sciences, Li Jing from the College of Pharmacy, and so on.

Professor Chen Quan pointed out that PIs should make full use of the this platform – the State Key Laboratory - to gather advantages and reach a consensus, apply valuable resources of traditional Chinese medicine, to create a platform for screening and identification of effective components of traditional Chinese medicine, research chemical synthesis modification and the action mechanism of effective components, similarly, specify the research direction, making the research concrete and practical.

Professor Bai Gang pointed out that we should combine the marked Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) monomer components with corresponding dominant diseases treated by TCM, and accurately analyze and verify the mechanism of action of TCM monomer components by combining traditional and Western medicine. A four-step strategy would be formed that includes exploration of the mechanism, structural optimization, preparation and medicine evaluation, thus contributing to the construction of an innovative TCM research and development system belonging to the State Key Laboratory of Nankai University. We should take full advantage of the strengths of Nankai University, combining previous research results with future development directions.

Finally, Professor Chen Quan made a summary and recommended Professor Bai Gang to serve as the project leader, and stated that all researchers should actively participate in this project to give full play to their advantages and create an innovative TCM team in the State Key Laboratory.