On September 30, 2024, the Chinese Government’s Friendship Award presentation ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People, member of the State Council Shen Yiqin presented the award to foreign experts and delivered a speech. Dr. Erwin Neher, Director of the Dr. Erwin Neher's Biophysics and Innovative Medicines Laboratory at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) received the honor being the first foreign expert from Hong Kong and Macao to receive this award.
Group Photo: Chancellor Dr. Liu Chak Wan (second from right), President Joseph Hun-wei LEE (first from the left), Secretary General Dr. Chen Ji Min (frist from the right) , Dr. Erwin Neher (second from left) and spouse
Group Photo: Chancellor Dr. Liu Chak Wan (third from right), President Joseph Hun-wei LEE (second from the right), Secretary General Dr. Chen Ji Min (frist from the right) , MUST honorary doctor Dr. Victor Fung Kwok King (first from the left), Member of the Board of Trustees of Macau University of Science and Technology Foundation Ms. Ho Chiu King Pansy Catilina (second from the left), Dr. Erwin Neher (centre) and spouse
Dr. Erwin Neher was honored MUST Honorary Doctor in 2016
Dr. Erwin Neher is a German biophysicist, professor at the University of Göttingen, the director of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry as well as Recipient of Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In recognition of his outstanding achievement in the field of biomedical science, MUST conferred him Honorary Doctor of Science in March 2016. MUST established the Nobel Prize Laboratory in the same year and Professor Erwin Neher was appointed as its director, the Laboratory promotes the industrialization and application of technological achievements in traditional Chinese medicine under the support of the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT)’s funding scheme and collaboration with The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine.
Dr. Erwin Neher delivers lecture to MUST students
Under the leadership of Dr. Erwin Neher, The Laboratory team has made significant breakthroughs in various research areas, including clinical studies, ion channel, brain neuroscience, cancer research and inflammatory diseases. Two professors from the team have even been ranked among the top 2% of global scientists, organized numerous international academic conferences and conducted specialized academic seminars.
Dr. Erwin Neher (on the left) listening to the Pui Ching Middle School students introducing their research project.
Dr. Erwin Neher also puts a lot of effort in the aspects of popularization and education of science, he and the team has participated in local talent development programs, visited Macao local secondary schools and delivered lectures to the students, contributing significantly to science education in Macao.
In terms of the transformation of research achievements, Dr. Erwin Neher and his team has been negotiating with Shandong seahorse breeding company on research and commercialization partnership projects of the quality of seahorse. Recently, they have also successfully established a strategic partnership with Beijing reishi mushroom cultivation company to jointly develop new products, strengthening the foundation for the product development and application of products in future business collaborations.
Dr. Erwin Neher (on the left) advising the Laboratory team
Dr. Erwin Neher also established deep collaborations with research institute in the Greater Bay Area, actively supports China’s development of high-precision physiological research methods over the past years, promotes research on disease mechanisms and the development of new drugs. In 2019, he was appointed as director of the first brain science "Nobel Prize Laboratory" at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences—the Shenzhen Neher Neuroplasticity Laboratory. This appointment has attracted a number of both international and domestic talents to engage in research and innovation activities in Shenzhen, greatly advancing brain science research and development in the Greater Bay Area.
Photo of Chancellor Dr. Liu Chak Wan (second row on the left), Secretary General Dr. Chen Ji Min (second row in the middle), Dr. Erwin Neher (in the front) and spouse
Photo of President Joseph Hun-wei LEE (first on the right), Vice President Dr. Tong Ka Lok (first on the left), Dr. Erwin Neher (in the front) and spouse
The Chinese Government’s Friendship Award offers the highest honor by the Chinese government to recognize foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization as well as reform and opening up. The receiving of this award acknowledge Dr. Erwin Neher’s commitment to promoting scientific research and actively engaging in educational, medical, and health exchanges and talent development. This recognition highlights his leadership role and also signifies significant progress MUST in deepening international cooperation, exchanges, as well as promoting the construction of a high-level university.
