Board of Directors

Members of the Board of Directors (BoD):

President: Prof. Rudolf Bauer

I studied pharmacy 1976‑1980 at University of Munich; 1984 graduation as Ph.D. at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Munich; 1993-2002 associate professor at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Düsseldorf; since 2002 full professor of pharmacognosy at University of Graz, Austria, 2004 Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Graz; since 2008 head of TCM Research Center Graz – medicinal plant research. Guest professor at School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (CM); Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants and Institute of Guangxi Medicinal Plants, Nanning; Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), China Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; Chengdu University of TCM; Hei­longjiang University of CM, Harbin; Changchun University of CM). Recipient of the Egon-Stahl-Award of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) and the Norman Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award. Editor of Planta Medica and active in several other journals on CM; president of GA for six years. Long experience in natural product chemistry, analysis and activity-guided isolation of plant constituents; ca. 270 scientific publications. Member of the expert groups on Chinese herbs of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission; member of the TAM Advisory Board of the Austrian Minister of Health. Return to top

President-Elect: Prof. De-an Guo

I am currently working as a chair professor and director of Shanghai Research Center for TCM Modernization, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.R. China. I received my Bachelor degree in 1983 and master degree of pharmacognosy in 1987 and Ph.D. in 1990. Worked as a postdoctoral fellow in Texas Tech University, USA from 1993 to 1996, I mainly pursued research on biosynthesis and biotransformation of natural products. My social concurrent posts include expert committee member of Chinese Pharmacopoeia since 2000 the Chairman of Natural Medicine Expert Committee; Expert Committee Member of United States Pharmacopeia, President of Society for TCM Analysis, WFCMS;  Board member of Society for Medicinal Plant Research (GA); Associate editor, editor or editorial board members of 11 international journals such as “Journal of Ethnopharmacology”. I had been pursuing phytochemical analysis, metabolism and biological studies on Chinese herbal drugs for a long period with over 430 papers (among which 260 are in SCI cited journals) published in the past 20 years with over 3000 citations. I received the National Outstanding Youth Grant of NSFC in 1999. I have supervised 12 postdoctoral fellows and over 45 Ph.D. students. Return to top

Other BoD Members (in alphabetical order):

Prof. Kelvin Chan

Professor Kelvin Chan is Joint Chair Professor in Traditional Chinese Medicine at The University of Sydney and University of Western Sydney since Dec. 2009. He was formerly Founding Chair Professor in Pharmacy & Pharmacology, and Director of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Wolverhampton, UK; Chair Professor and Director at the Institute for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University and Chair Professor and Director at the School of Pharmacy, Liverpool Johns Moores University. He has held Visiting Professorships at the University of Liverpool and Middlesex University (UK); Institute of Pharmacognosy & Pharmacy, University of Vienna, Austria; China Pharmaceutical University (Nanjing) and Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (China). Presently he is a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development in Beijing, JiNan University in Guangzhou (China) and the University of Wolverhampton, UK. His research expertise and interests in Chinese medicine include Good Practices in agriculture, supply, laboratory QC and clinical studies of products derived from Chinese materia medica (CMM). His current research focuses on: developing platforms, based on systems biology, for mechanistic screening of paired CMM for future R&D of Chinese medicines; integrating measurable biomarkers and patients’ reported outcomes (PRO) instrument for evidence-based studies in TCM practice. Return to top

Prof. Pierre Duez

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Toxicology), Pierre Duez heads teaching and research departments in the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Faculty of Pharmacy) and the Université de Mons (Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy); he is teaching Pharmacognosy and Bromatology, both in theoretical and practical courses. His laboratory, equipped with the main chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, welcomes several Belgian and foreign PhD students. Specialized in the study of natural products, in bioguided fractionation of medicinal plant extracts and in the analysis of phytodrugs, herbal nutritional supplements and food constituents, the Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, de Bromatologie et de Nutrition Humaine detains a Belgian agreement for the analysis of natural products. Pierre Duez is member of the European Pharmacopoeia TCM working party, of the Belgian Commission of Pharmacopoeia, including 2 sub-commissions, of the Belgian Commission for Registration of Veterinary Medicines. He has participated to cooperation activities with Algeria, Argentina, Germany, Burkina Faso, France, Uganda, UK, DR Congo, PR China, Rwanda, Madagascar, Vietnam and is member of the GP-TCM consortium.  He is author and co-author of 6 didactical books, 66 scientific papers, 7 book chapters, 1 report for the European Development Fund and 102 communications in national and international meetings, congresses and symposium. Return to top

Dr. Tai-Ping Fan (Secretary-General)

Born in Taiwan, I received my PhD from University of London and moved to University of Cambridge in 1986. Capitalizing on my immunopharmacology background, I set up Angiogenesis & Chinese Medicine Laboratory and embarked on a quest to transform the art of TCM into a rigorous evidence-based science of healthcare. From clinically effective herbs, we have been investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their compounds in the prevention and treatment of angiogenic diseases e.g. cancer, diabetic retinopathy and chronic wounds. With an international team of researchers from the US, the Netherlands and Hong Kong, we were the first to report in Circulation (2004) that the differential effects of ginseng on vascular pathophysiology was due to the specific make-up of pro- and anti-angiogenic ginsenosides in different types of ginseng. Commissioned by Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, I reviewed the development of plant-derived drugs as an important step in modern drug discovery. This review also formed the basis of my plenary lecture at the 15th World Congress of Pharmacology in 2006. Working closely with research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, philanthropists and government agencies, I aspire to create a research centre in Cambridge for promoting international collaborations of TCM and other traditional medicines. Return to top

Prof. Peter Hylands (Treasurer)

Professor Hylands is a pharmaceutical chemist and started his career with academic appointments in the University of Strasbourg, as a Royal Society European Fellow, and in the University of London.  His special research interest has always been natural products in medicine.  He joined the commercial world in 1988 as Director of Chemistry and then Research Director of biopharmaceutical companies in the UK and the USA.  He has consulted for the United Nations and Commonwealth Science Council.  He has worked or collaborated with institutions on every continent in natural medicines and natural product research and development.  He serves on a number of boards and advisory boards and is currently Head of the Department of Pharmacy, King’s College London and Joint Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London.  He teaches organic chemistry, including the application of spectroscopy to structural studies, and pharmacognosy, for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  His current research emphasises the application of chemometrics and emerging biotechnologies to the problems of standardisation and quality control of plant medicines.  He now has a research group in the Centre for Natural Medicines Research, King’s College London of which he is Director. Return to top

Prof. Aiping Lu

Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing Degree: Ph.D. July 1997 (China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences) Research Interests: Clinical evaluation with RCT focusing on RA with TCM pattern diagnosis; Pharmacological evaluation on herbal mixtures Focusing on RA; Data mining and bioinformatics analysis on TCM pattern and biological diseases; New drug (herbal product) research and development. Nationality: China

 

 

 

Scientific research experience:

• July 1987 – 1992: Assistant Professor, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

• July 1990 – Oct 1991: Visiting scholar in Ohio State University, USA

• 1992-1997: Associate professor, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

• April 1995 – August 1996: Visiting scholar in Lund University, Sweden

• 1997- : Professor, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

• 2006- : Deputy Director, Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

• 2008- : Chief Professor, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

• 2008- : Quest professor, Medical School, Montpellier University

• 2009- : Deputy Director, Standardization Office, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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Prof. Nicola Robinson

Professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Integrated Health at LSBU.  Previous posts: Professor of Complementary Medicine, UoWL, Consultant Epidemiologist Brent and Harrow Health Authority, Senior lecturer in Primary Healthcare, UCL.  Graduate of Leicester (Biological Sciences) and Manchester Universities (PhD  immunology). Registered acupuncturist (British Acupuncture Council) since 1982, Faculty of Public Health Medicine membership (1993) for contribution to epidemiology and health services research. Winston Churchill Travelling Fellow (2004), visiting China, exploring TCM education and research. Keen interest in TCM and its assimilation and integration into mainstream health care.  Involved in initiatives within the acupuncture profession and member of professional committees; British Acupuncture Council Research Committee, Chair Research Council for Complementary Medicine, member of the Institutional review panel, Advertising and Borderline Products (MHRA), Editor in Chief, European Journal of Integrated Health, member of International Advisory Board for Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, and member of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Complementary Therapies Clinical Studies Development Group. Nicola is a beneficiary member of GP-TCM involved in WP6 and 8 with various research links with academic institutions in China, and successfully supervised both Chinese and UK PhD students. Her current post closely links with the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine LSBU. Return to top

Prof. Monique Simmonds

For the last 25 years I have researched different aspects of plant-animal interactions with an emphasis on evaluating the biological activity of plant- and fungal-derived compounds. The results of this work has presented in over 300 publications. I head a group of 20 scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew that work on different aspects of plant chemistry, including the quality control of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This work involves not only active collaborations with China but also with international pharmaceutical and food companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever that are researching the commercial potential of the flora of China. Since the mid 1990’s my research group has become more involved in developing methods that can be used to authenticate plants entering the trade including those used in TCM, which is why in 1998 we set up the Centre for the Authentication of Traditional Chinese Medicinal plants at Kew that now has a collection of over 7,000 samples. This collection of verified samples provides a platform for the development of innovative metabolomic and genomic techniques to not only identify species and evaluate their quality but also assist monitor whether plants are being sourced sustainably. (www.kew.org) Return to top

Prof. Rob Verpoorte

Rob Verpoorte (Natural Products Laboratory, IBL, Leiden University, the Netherlands) – Professor of Pharmacognosy at Leiden University since 1987, pharmacist from origin (MSc in 1972), I have worked on many aspects of medicinal plants and plant secondary metabolism. In the past years the application of systems biology approaches using metabolomics to study activity and quality of medicinal plants and the role of secondary metabolism in plants has been my major field of interest. I published more than 650 papers and 4 books in the field of natural products. In different ways I served the scientific community in the past years: as Chairman of the Phytochemical Society of Europe; in the organization of a number of international scientific meetings; and as reviewer for many journals and Scientific councils. Since May 1, 2011 I am retired, but will continue to work the coming years to supervise my last 15 PhD-students and finalize the various ongoing projects and I will also continue my activities as Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Phytochemistry Reviews as well as executive-Editor of Biotechnology Letters. Return to top

Prof. Vivian Taam Wong

Vivian Taam Wong, J.P., MBBS, FRCOG, FFPH, FRCP(London), FRACMA, FHKAM Fellow of University of Hong Kong & Open University of Hong Kong Hon Advisor in Integrative Medicine, Hospital Authority, HK Senior Advisor to Dean, Medical Faculty, HKU

 

 

 

 

 

Current Service to Professional Organizations:

• Council Member, Chinese Association for Integrative Medicine
• Council Member, China Association of Acupuncture Moxibustion
• Council Member, Cross-Strait Scientific Collaboration Centre for Chinese Medicine
• Hon Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, HKU
• President, Hong Kong Association for Integration of Chinese-Western Medicine
• Council Member, the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association

Past Service to International Organizations:

• Secretary, Panel on Steroidal Contraceptives, IPPF
• Chairman, Committee on Safe Motherhood, FIGO
• Member, International Committee, ISSHP
• Member, Scientific Council, IAMANEH
• Member of committees under WHO
• Consultant on Health Project IV & VI in China for the World Bank

Key Past Appointments:

• Research Fellow, Medical Unit, Royal Free Hospital Medical School, London
• Public Health Specialist, Policy & Research, Population Health & Nutrition, The World Bank
• Reader in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, HKU
• Hospital Chief Executive, Queen Mary Hospital, HK
• Director, Strategy & Planning, Hospital Authority, HK
• Chief Executive, Hospital Authority, HK

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Dr. Qihe Xu

With 22 years of continuous track record in renal medicine in China, UK and USA, I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Renal Medicine at King’s College London, UK, presiding over laboratory research and supervising PhD and MSc students. As an established nephrologist, I have a focused research interest, i.e., the roles for vitamin A and Chinese herbs in chronic kidney diseases. I am funded by many prestigious national and international funders and my publications include 2 books, 10 book chapters and 60 peer-reviewed papers. Relevant past experiences include Chairman, Chinese Students & Scholars Association of the Central London (2002-2003), Secretary-General, Chinese Students & Scholars Association of the UK (2003-2004), Chairman, Chinese Life Scientists Society in the UK (2007-2009) and Founding Vice President, Academy of Life Sciences for Chinese in the UK (2008-2009), etc. Since 2000 when I organised a seminar entitled Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the UK: Opportunities and Pitfalls in London, I have become dedicated to promoting mutually beneficial interactions between academia and the TCM industry. Since 2009, I have served as Coordinator of the FP7 GP-TCM project, EU’s 1^st Coordination Action dedicated to EU-China collaboration on TCM research. Return to top