Chen Zhu

Chen Zhu ForMemRS (Chinese: 陈竺; pinyin: Chén Zhú; born August 17, 1953) is a Chinese hematologist and molecular biologist who has served as president of the Red Cross Society of China since 2015.

He previously served as vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee from 2013 to 2023, chairman of the Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party Central Committee from 2012 to 2022, president of the Chinese Medical Association from 2010 to 2015, Minister of Heath of China from 2007 to 2013, and vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences from 2000 to 2007.

In the academia, he is academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, foreign fellow of the Royal Society, foreign member of the United States National Academy of Sciences, and foreign member of the French Academy of Sciences. He also holds a professorship at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Biography

Chen was born in Shanghai in August 1953 and his ancestral hometown is Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province.

Chen began his medical career by spending five years in rural China as a barefoot doctor. Chen then obtained his master's degree from the Shanghai Second Medical Sciences University (now the medical school of Shanghai Jiao Tong University) in September, 1981. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Paris Diderot University (Paris 7) in Paris, France. Chen completed his medical residency and postdoctoral research at the same university and its teaching hospital.

Chen is former President of the Shanghai Institute of Hematology and former Director-general of the China Human Genome Center (South) in Shanghai.

Honors and awards

Chen is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences, foreign member of the US Institute of Medicine, foreign member of the French Academy of Sciences, and a member of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Chen is also a Member of the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities. He was elected an Honorary Fellows of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences in 2008.

Chen was awarded the State Scientific and Technological Award by the Chinese government and the "Prix de l'Qise" by "La Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer" of France (he is the first non-French winner).

In 2002, Chen received the Legion of Honour from French Government. In 2005, Chen was given an honorary doctor of science by the University of Hong Kong.

In 2010, Chen was awarded an honorary degree (Doctor of the University) by the University of York, England, at a ceremony in Beijing.

In 2012, Chen was awarded the 7th Annual Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research by the National Foundation for Cancer Research. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2013.

In 2018, Chen was awarded the Sjöberg Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences “for the clarification of molecular mechanisms and the development of a revolutionary treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia”. He shared the prize and the prize amount of one million US dollars with cancer researchers Anne Dejean and Hugues de Thé.

U.S. sanctions

On Dec 8, 2020, Chen Zhu, together with all 13 other vicechairpersons of the National People's Congress of China was designated by US Department of State as connected with the National Security Law (NSL), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13936, “The President’s Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization.”, and added to OFAC's SDN List.

Family

Chen Zhu's father Chen Jialun (陈家伦) and mother Xu Manyin (许曼音) are both prominent doctors and medical professors in Shanghai. He is the eldest of three children. His youngest brother, Chen Zhen (1955–2000), was a globally recognized artist based in France. He also has a sister named Chen Jian (陈简). Chen Zhu's wife Chen Saijuan is also a well-known hematologist and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The couple have a son. Both Chen and his wife studied under Wang Zhenyi.