Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine closely aligns with the national strategies and devotes itself to constructing international centers of economy, finance, trade, shipping, and sci-tech innovation in Shanghai. We are deeply concerned about China’s most fundamental interests. We continuously adhere to the Four Orientations and practice the Four Services. Driven by problem-solving and demand-satisfying goals, we are committed to accomplishing major scientific research tasks and reinforcing organized scientific research. We are pooling resources to strengthen original and leading scientific and technological research and enhance our comprehensive capacity for scientific and technological innovation. Our vision is to achieve self-reliance in medical science and technology, promote the advancement of medical science and technology, and make greater contributions to human health. Recently, several research achievements in basic medicine and clinical innovation have been published by secondary colleges in internationally renowned journals. Below is a brief introduction to the latest research findings.
The team led by Zhang Jian from the College of Basic Medical Sciences develops an AI-assisted drug design technology to find lead molecules
Recently, the team led by Zhang Jian from the College of Basic Medical Sciences published a paper inNature Machine Intelligence online, titled “Electron-density-informed effective and reliable de novo molecular design and optimization with ED2Mol”, reporting a self-developed AI-assisted drug design technology, ED2Mol (transforming Electron Density to bioactive Molecules).
A uniform intelligent framework integrating slim molecule generation to lead compound optimization is established. The automatically generated bioactive molecules exhibitoptimal intermolecular and intramolecular reliability intherelated field. Several bioactive molecules as targets in four major diseases have been designed and optimized. The new tool not only identifies molecules targeting orthosteric sites but also generates molecules targeting allosteric sites, a challenging issue that is often encountered using conventional methods. Several categories of inhibitors and agonists have been discovered. The technology offers a highly efficient and reliable design platform for innovative drug discovery. This research is featured on the front cover of the journal, given its importance for AI-assisted drug design.
The team led by Wang Hui from the School of Public Health worked with other teams to reveal how gene loss drives adaptive evolution ofVibrio parahaemolyticus
Recently, the team led by Wang Hui from the School of Public Health worked with other teams and published a paper inNature Ecology & Evolution, titled “Wave succession in the pandemic clone ofVibrio parahaemolyticus driven by gene loss”. This paper discloses the molecular mechanism of adaptive evolution ofVibrio parahaemolyticus, an important pathogenic bacterium causing foodborne illnesses in China.It is found that Vibrio parahaemolyticus significantly enhances environmental adaptation (forming biofilms and undergoing chitin-mediated adhesion and proliferation) and human host adaptation (intestinal adhesion, colonization, and proliferation) via deletion of putrescine gene clusters. These survival benefits makeVibrio parahaemolyticus the dominant popular strain causing diseases and spreading widely. This researchoffers a new perspective for understanding the adaptive evolution of pathogens.
The research team found that during the evolutionary process, four waves evolved from the pandemic clone successively, causing disease outbreaks in humans. The fourth wave (Wave-4) gradually replaced other waves to become predominant in the past decade. Genome-wide variant sites were analyzed for Wave 1-4. Compared with Wave 1-3, Wave-4 lost 9 genes related to the metabolic pathways of putrescine, a common polyamine. Further investigation would reveal a similar loss of putrescine-metabolizing genes in other bacteria. For example, the loss of such genes inVibrio choleraeandEscherichia coliequally enhanced biofilm formation and cell adhesion capacity. This finding indicates that gene loss may be a universal but underestimated adaptive evolutionary mechanism in bacteria. The study proposes a distinct molecular mechanism by whichVibrio parahaemolyticus acquires a competitive advantage through gene loss from an evolutionary perspective, using bioinformatics and genomics tools, and by conducting experiments.
The team led by Wang Xiyi from the School of Nursing revealed the complex determinants of hospital discharge readiness among patients with acute myocardial infarction from an adaptation perspective.
Recently, the team led by Wang Xiyi from the School of Nursing published a paper inInternational Journal of Nursing Studies (IJNS, IF=7.1),titled “Complex determinants of hospital discharge readiness among patients with acute myocardial infarction: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis”.
Guided by the middle-range theory of adaptation to chronic illnesses, the study introduces, for the first time, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) into the analysis of hospital discharge readiness among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The interactions between multi-dimensional factors and the causative path are systematically analyzed.Overcoming the limitations of the conventional univariate linear analysis, the research offers solid evidence for precision and individualized nursing intervention.
The study shows that the hospital discharge readiness among AMI patients is not determined by any single factor, but is the result of synergy between various factors. Their team identifies six configuration paths for high hospital discharge readiness and proposes three readiness modes, namely, hospital-driven, family-hospital-driven, and individual-family-hospital-joint-driven. Among the above configurations, family dynamics, discharge education quality, and adaptability are the core levers at work, which can beutilized toenhancehospital discharge readiness significantly among low-income orless educatedpatients. It is also found that income and family function are replaceable levers in some paths, highlighting the key compensatory effect of social support in resource-limited scenarios. The finding may be used as international evidence for establishing a precision, family-oriented cardiovascular care model.
The team led by Lin Kailin from the College of Stomatology published a study on how functionalized microneedles reshape microenvironmental homeostasis to promote regenerative repair of hypertrophic scars.
Recently, the team led by Lin Kailin from the School of Stomatology collaborated with the team led by Zou Chaoyong from Wuhan University of Technology published a paper inInterdisciplinary Materials (the latest impact factor 31.6), titled “Remolding Microenvironmental Homeostasis for Enhancing Regenerative Hypertrophic Scar Treatment Based on Functionalized Microneedles”. They reveal a multi-mechanism synergy consisting of inhibiting abnormal fibrosis, inducing cell apoptosis, and regulating the immune microenvironment. The tissue repair effect observed in the rabbit ear model further validates the clinical transformation value of the research findings.
The results showed thathypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) had an abnormal increase in mitochondrial autophagy, accompanied by apoptosis inhibition. These two changes, along with excessive inflammatory response, constitute a characteristic pathological microenvironment for hypertrophic scar (HS). Based onthese findings, the research team constructs a functionalized microneedle (MN) patch system that precisely targets the mitochondrial autophagy-apoptosis-inflammation axis to treat HS. The synergistic regulation strategy based on MN delivery involves mitochondrial autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation, offering a novel minimally invasive therapeutic option for HS. Future efforts will prioritize preparation process optimization, long-term safety evaluation, and extension to more complications for the MN patch.
The team led by Yan Fuhua from the College of Health Science and Technology published an explainable deep learning model for focal liver lesion diagnosis using multiparametric MRI
Recently, the team led by Yan Fuhua from theCollege of Health Science and Technology published an article inRadiology: Artificial Intelligence (IF13.2, Q1),titled “An Explainable Deep Learning Model for Focal Liver Lesion Diagnosis Using Multiparametric MRI”.
An explainable AI diagnostic model is built and validated, resolving the clinical trust dilemma arising from the black box nature of the conventional deep learning model. This model simulates the diagnostic reasoning made by radiologists and achieves whole-process transparency and explainability of diagnostic decisions extracted from radiological manifestations. The study describes a new paradigm and technical route for a clinically trustworthy intelligent diagnosis and treatment system. The model shows potential values in clinical applications. First of all, the model is a highly efficient diagnostic tool that dramatically boosts the diagnostic efficacy of less experienced physicians for complex lesions. It can be used to promote downward allocation of high-quality medical resources and promote the homogenization level of primary medical care. Secondly, the model-empowered diagnostic paradigm will significantly improve clinical efficiency, reduce the workload of radiologists, and optimize the clinical workflow. The study also demonstrates the potential of an explainable AI diagnostic model in enhancing the quality and efficiency of clinical decision-making.The model improves the trustworthiness of human-machine collaboration and provides an important basis for technology transfer and practical application of AI diagnostic models.
Yin Kun's team from the School of Global Health was invited to review the research progress in CRISPR inAdvanced ScienceandeBioMedicine.
Recently, the team led by Yin Kun from the Department of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, the School of Global Health, published a review article titled “One-Pot Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Assisted CRISPR/Cas Detection Technology: Challenges, Strategies, and Perspectives” inAdvanced Science (IF=14.1).Emerging one-pot CRISPR detection strategies are summarized, alongside an outlook about the future research direction in this field.
Besides, team members Liu and others published a review article titled “Revolutionizing CRISPR-based RNA diagnostics with single nucleotide resolution” ineBioMedicine (IF=10.8). The article analyzes and reviews the topologically constrained DNA-mediated one-pot CRISPR assay with single nucleotide resolution.
The current status of CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic techniques is summarized systematically, and the necessity and challenges in promoting one-pot CRISPR are demonstrated. Three countermeasures are proposed, namely, system isolation, reaction component optimization, and integrated equipment development. Finally, the article discusses the limitations of the current one-pot CRISPR detection strategies and points out the future research direction. Efforts should be made to improve the sensitivity, expand the multiplexing capability, promote the applications of non-amplification detection, quantitative detection, emerging Cas effectors, and portable POCT, and facilitate the development of AI platforms. Improvements in these aspects are expected to overcome the existing bottlenecks and unleash the full potential of the CRISPR technology in molecular diagnosis.
