To further deepen the integration of industry and education as well as the convergence of science and education, and to comprehensively assess the quality of the joint training programme, the thesis defence for the 2023 cohort of master’s students jointly trained by Shandong First Medical University and the Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory was successfully held on 9 June 2026.
The defence strictly adhered to the university’s relevant regulations and procedures, aiming to systematically assess the postgraduate students’ academic calibre and scientific research innovation capabilities. The defence committee comprised four senior experts spanning multiple fields, including immunology, pathogenic biology, pathology and clinical medicine. Professor Wu Junhua (PhD supervisor) from the School of Medicine at Nanjing University chaired the defence committee, with Professor Li Xingang (PhD supervisor), Deputy Director of the Jinan Laboratory; Professor Jiang Chunping (PhD supervisor), Deputy Director of the Jinan Laboratory; and Professor Diao Hongyan (PhD supervisor) from the School of Medicine at Zhejiang University serving as committee members. Director Han Xiao from the Supervision Group of the Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University attended the laboratory to oversee the entire process, ensuring the defence proceedings were fair, rigorous and conducted in accordance with established standards.
The defence venue was characterised by a strong academic atmosphere and orderly proceedings. Eight postgraduate students from disciplines including Immunology, Pathogenic Biology, Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Epidemiology and Health Statistics presented their research in turn. The research topics were closely aligned with cutting-edge academic developments and clinical challenges, covering areas such as the regulation of gut microbiota and autophagy, novel oncolytic virus therapies, the regulatory mechanisms of berberine in inflammatory liver disease, and the association between the gut microbiota dietary index and cardiovascular-renal-metabolic syndrome. The postgraduate students systematically elaborated on the research background, methodological innovations, experimental findings and practical applications.
During the Q&A session, the experts, upholding a rigorous and pragmatic academic approach, posed in-depth questions regarding the scientific rigour, data reliability and logical consistency of the conclusions, whilst offering constructive suggestions for revision. The postgraduate students demonstrated clear thinking and composed responses, showcasing a solid professional foundation and strong research potential. Following a secret ballot by the defence committee, all eight postgraduate students successfully passed their Master’s thesis defences.
The topics of the theses presented at this defence closely aligned with national strategic needs and clinical practice, combining theoretical depth with practical value. This fully demonstrated the substantial collaborative achievements attained by Shandong First Medical University and the Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Microecological Biomedicine under the mechanism of ‘resource sharing, complementary strengths, and collaborative education’. In the future, both parties will continue to leverage their respective strengths to further optimise disciplinary structures and training programmes, working together to cultivate high-level biomedical talent with innovative spirit, practical skills and an international perspective.
Also in attendance at the event were postgraduate supervisors, heads of relevant departments and research staff from the Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Microecological Biomedicine in Jinan, as well as jointly trained postgraduate students from other cohorts.
