Recently, the General Office of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and the General Office of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province announced the list of the seventh batch of special-grade experts in Zhejiang Province. Chen Zhong, President of ZCMU and Professor of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was selected as one of the super experts of this batch and was awarded the title of super expert of Zhejiang Province in recognition of his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of neuropharmacology.

Super experts in Zhejiang Province hold the highest academic and technical title established in the province. The selection criteria include significant achievements or contributions in various fields, such as basic research in natural sciences (including applied basic research), and academic and technical proficiency at a leading level in China. The selection is conducted every three years. In 2023, the selection committee of super experts in Zhejiang Province selected 30 candidates for the seventh batch of super experts in Zhejiang Province.

Chen Zhong, a second-level professor and “Changjiang Scholar” Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education, is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. He enjoys special government allowances from the State Council and holds the position of Qiushi Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University. Additionally, he is a core member of the Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and one of the first batch of top healthcare leaders in Zhejiang Province. He is also listed in “the 151 Talent Project”. He is the Head of the key technology innovation team of small molecule drugs research in Zhejiang Province, and serves as the Director of the Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province.

Prof. Chen Zhong has long been involved in neuropharmacology research, focusing on the pathogenesis of chronic brain diseases and the study of therapeutic targets in both Chinese and Western medicine. His research on major brain diseases such as epilepsy and stroke has yielded original results with international influence. He has led numerous national-level research projects, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, four key programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the key program of the National Natural Science Foundation Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund, and the major program of National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 for “Brain Science and Brain-like Research”, etc. He has published over 300 SCI academic papers in Nature, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Communications, Nature Nanotechnology, PNAS, Annals of Neurology, Molecular Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Cell Reports, Journal of Cell Biology, Pharmacology Therapeutics and other international high-level journals, and cited more than 10,000 times. Thirteen of his papers have been recommended by F1000 faculty members. He has consistently been recognized as one of Elsevier’s Highly Cited Chinese Researchers. He has participated in the preparation of 14 books, obtained 8 authorized patents (two commercialized), and mentored 4 national excellent young scholars. His achievements have been honored with the Second Prize of the National Science & Technology Progress Award, the First Prize of the Natural Science Award of the Ministry of Education (twice), the First Prize of Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Award, the First Prize of Zhejiang Provincial Teaching Achievement Award, and the WuXi AppTec Life Science and Chemistry Award, among many other accolades.