The WLA panel session of reflections on the pandemic and public health was held online on Nov 3. 

Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, laureate of the 2015 Albany Prize in Medicine and winner of the 2015 Shitsan Pai Outstanding Contribution Award, Randy Schekman, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013, Peter Agre, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2003, Harvey Alter, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020, and Joachim Frank, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017, attended the panel session.

Professor Liu Zhijie, an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences (IEAS), vice-president of the Biophysical Society of China (BSC) and executive director of the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech University (ShanghaiTech), presided over the forum.

The six scientists exchanged views on the spread and control of diseases, cooperation between the government and scientists in dealing with the pandemic, the development of vaccines and other challenges faced by the public health sector via video link. 

IEAS academician Professor Liu Zhijie, who is also vice-president of the BSC and executive director of the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech, chairs the WLA panel session on Nov 3.

During his speech, Professor Xie noted the importance of booster doses. Antibodies and mutant strains can be produced with the application of vaccines and lead to a declining in their effectiveness. With the injection of boosters, the efficacy of vaccines will be greatly improved, he said. 

Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, laureate of the 2015 Albany Prize in Medicine and winner of the 2015 Shitsan Pai Outstanding Contribution Award, speaks at WLA panel session on Nov 3.

Professor Xie also talked about the discovery of DXP-604, a full-spectrum neutralizing antibody that has proven effective against all known emerging variants in laboratory experiments, providing a new means to deal with the pandemic. With the outstanding functions of this antibody, DXP-604 has been approved for “compassionate drug use” in Beijing Ditan Hospital, and 14 patients have been treated so far.

Professor Alter talked about the lack of scientific literacy in America. “Some people are worried about the side effects of the vaccination and the vaccine safety monitoring system in our country. If we do not improve their scientific awareness, more people’s lives will be put in danger,” he said.

Harvey Alter, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020, speaks at the WLA panel session on Nov 3.

Professor Alter also mentioned the impact of the public’s neglect of other confirmed incidents that will endanger human beings, such as the impact of global warming on ecology. He called on the government and the public to increase science literacy.

The World Laureate Forum brought together over 130 top science award winners, including 68 Nobel Prize laureates. Over 20 scholars from the BSC were invited to attend the forum. During the three-day event, experts exchanged views on the topic “open science: build an open innovation ecosystem”.