Prof. Wang Shizhen

Wang Shizhen (1916–2016) was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a biochemist, and a nuclear medicine specialist. He served as a member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a professor at Peking Union Medical College, and the honorary director of the Institute of Radiation Medicine at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. As the founder of China’s nuclear medicine field, he pioneered new research areas in the structure-function relationship of thyroid hormones and synthesized plasmochin domestically. He also researched, synthesized, and produced various labeled compounds.

His work in integrating experimental nuclear medicine with clinical nuclear medicine—such as radioimmunoimaging and the clinical application of stable isotopes—improved the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases and advanced the development of both basic and clinical medicine.

Wang Shizhen passed away at 16:16 on May 27, 2016, at the age of 100.

Preface

In the grand hall of medical science stands an immortal giant revered as the “Father of Chinese Nuclear Medicine.”

He often said, “Scientific discoveries must strive to be the first in the world.”

His name is etched into the path of China’s nuclear medicine development, each step steady and resolute. For decades, he swept like a spring breeze across the soil of medical technology, nurturing countless new buds in the field of Chinese nuclear medicine.

In his hands, nuclear medicine was no longer a cold science but a vibrant art. With prolific writings and abundant achievements, he was like an artist painting on the canvas of history—using science as his brush and research as his ink—to create one masterpiece after another that astonished the world.

Wang Shizhen—academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, biochemist, nuclear medicine pioneer, member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professor at Peking Union Medical College, and honorary director of the Institute of Radiation Medicine at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

For decades, both internationally and domestically, Wang Shizhen devoted his life and intellect to opening new chapters in nuclear medicine. He advanced research, led applications, and stood as a shining model of his era.

01 The Nuclear Medicine Pioneer in the Tide of History

In early 20th-century East Asia, amid the shifting tides of international politics, China produced a generation of students determined to save their nation through education—among them was Wang Shizhen’s father, Wang Xiaoxiang. An early overseas student in Japan, he once attended the Far Eastern Medical Conference as China’s sole representative while actively engaging in political movements to rejuvenate the nation.

On March 7, 1916, the son of this patriotic scholar was born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He was named Wang Shizhen.

His mother, Lin Jianyan, was a courageous and resilient Chinese woman. As the great-granddaughter of the national hero Lin Zexu, she carried on her shoulders both the weight of her era’s challenges and a vision for China’s future.

Lin Jianyan had a profound influence on her son, shaping his path and values from an early age. A modern woman of her time, she instilled in him her love, her outlook on life, and her patriotic spirit. Filled with hope for a new China, she passed this love for the nation to Wang Shizhen—a gift that would become his most cherished treasure.

In early 20th-century China, every family was inextricably tied to the nation’s fate, and Wang Shizhen’s was no exception.

When he was two years old, shortly after the collapse of the Qing dynasty, he returned to Fuzhou with his mother. China at the time was in crisis, teetering on the edge. In the streets of Fuzhou, one could feel the clash, fusion, and tension between traditional China and the modern world.

For young people of that era, education was perhaps the best path to national salvation—and Wang Shizhen was no exception. He completed his primary and secondary education in Fuzhou and Nanjing. A brilliant student with outstanding grades, he later enrolled in the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions.

In 1938, he graduated from Tsinghua with a Bachelor of Science degree. The university provided him with a platform for academic research and intellectual exchange, where he was mentored by several distinguished professors—most notably the chemist Yuan Hanqing.

That same year, as the full-scale War of Resistance Against Japan erupted, many Chinese intellectuals turned their gaze toward the southwest.

On Yuan Hanqing’s recommendation, Wang Shizhen traveled to Guiyang, becoming a young researcher at Guiyang Medical College.

As the smoke of war darkened the skies and the flames of resistance burned in every Chinese heart, Wang Shizhen did not stand aside. He channeled his expertise into the most critical wartime need—medicine.

During the war, he successfully developed plasmochin, a new antimalarial drug, and rimifon, a breakthrough treatment for tuberculosis. These contributions became indispensable to China’s war effort.

With the end of the war, Wang Shizhen’s research in pharmacology gained recognition both domestically and internationally.

In 1946, seeking deeper exploration in chemistry and medicine, he traveled to the United States, first studying pharmacology at the University of Toronto before moving to the University of Iowa for advanced research.

He devoted himself entirely to radiopharmaceutical research, laying the foundation for his future as a nuclear medicine pioneer.

At a time when atomic energy applications in medicine were rapidly advancing worldwide, he defined his research focus: radioisotope tracing and the synthesis of labeled compounds. His academic achievements during this period earned him acclaim not only from American peers but also recognition from the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which honored him with memberships. This period solidified the academic cornerstone of his illustrious career.

02 The Nuclear Medicine Pioneer in the Tide of History

The 1950s marked an era of explosive advancements in global science and technology, and talent was the foundation of a nation’s progress. At the time, China was still in its infancy regarding the medical application of atomic energy. Wang Shizhen realized that his expertise and passion could significantly contribute to his homeland’s scientific and technological development.

In 1951, shortly after the founding of New China, Wang Shizhen felt a strong urge to return. He decided to forgo the superior conditions in the U.S. and told his lab director before leaving: “China needs me back. Here, I am merely ‘N+1’—just another professor adding a few more papers to the pile. But my country needs me more.” Soon after, he returned with his family and joined Peking Union Medical College (PUMC).

Not long after his return, Wang Shizhen achieved another milestone—he synthesized China’s first batch of the anti-tuberculosis drug Rimifon (isoniazid), ensuring that tuberculosis would no longer be a death sentence in China. To this day, Rimifon remains one of the primary treatments for tuberculosis in the country.

He was promoted to associate professor and, by 1956, became a full professor at PUMC. He also took leadership roles at the Capital Nuclear Medicine Center and the Institute of Radiological Medicine under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

In the early years of the People’s Republic, Wang Shizhen quietly advanced nuclear medicine in China. In 1956, China unveiled its 12-Year Science Development Plan, which listed isotope applications in medicine as a key national research project—with Wang Shizhen personally drafting its implementation strategy.

With support from the Health Department of the General Logistics Department, he organized China’s first isotope instrumentation and application training programs, cultivating a generation of specialists and laying the groundwork for isotope medicine in China.

Wang Shizhen was a masterful speaker. He meticulously prepared his lectures, often refining them late into the night. His academic presentations were rich in clarity and depth, tailored to his audience—whether delivering rigorous scientific discourse or simplifying complex concepts for public understanding. He believed: “To make others understand, you must first grasp it fully yourself. Never speak on what you haven’t mastered.”

Internationally, Wang Shizhen emerged as a pioneer in radiopharmaceutical synthesis, becoming one of the earliest scientists to develop radioactive tracers. He personally synthesized China’s first batch of labeled compounds, profoundly elevating the nation’s nuclear medicine capabilities.

In the 1960s, he innovated further by developing 6-iodocholesterol for adrenal cortex imaging, opening new avenues for nuclear diagnostics. He also synthesized 15N-labeled glycine and pioneered gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques for stable isotope quantification in biomedical research, advancing protein metabolism studies.

Endurance Through Adversity

In 1968, during the Cultural Revolution, Wang Shizhen was sent to a rural labor camp in Jiangxi. While there, his mother—approaching her 80th birthday—was critically ill, partially paralyzed. Unable to visit, he received a poignant poem from her, “Eighty Years of Reflection”, which conveyed resilience and optimism. Deeply moved, he wrote to his sister: “If Mother departs, do not grieve—what remains is her undying spirit.” These words sustained him through hardship.

Revival and Leadership

In 1973, the Ministry of Health entrusted Wang Shizhen with revitalizing nuclear medicine. He organized a national isotope technology training program, reigniting progress after years of stagnation. His seminal work, “Isotope Technology and Its Biomedical Applications”, became a cornerstone text, propelling China’s nuclear medicine forward.

From 1978, as a Standing Committee Member of the Ministry of Health’s Science Commission and Chair of the Atomic Medicine Committee, he spearheaded the Chinese Society of Nuclear Medicine and founded the Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine, fostering deeper research and collaboration.

That same year, after the passing of his first wife, he later married Professor Zhou Qian, a fellow scientist.

Academic Eminence and Legacy

In 1980, Wang Shizhen was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a testament to his monumental contributions. Over the next decade, his lab synthesized over 100 isotope tracers, with three landmark achievements honored as First-Class Scientific Breakthroughs at the National Science Conference.

His research spanned:

    - Liquid scintillation counting

    - Radioimmunoassay techniques

    - Medical activation analysis

    - Stable isotope applications

His most profound work was in thyroid hormone tracer studies, where he and his team:

    - Developed novel labeling methods for thyroid hormones and      metabolites.

    - Synthesized and analyzed thyroxine analogs.

    - Deciphered thyroid hormone biosynthesis pathways.

Key publications included:

    - “Biosynthesis of Thyroid Hormones I: Pathways from Tyrosine” (with Liu Xiuming et al.)

    - “Biosynthesis of Thyroid Hormones II: Iodination Process” (with Yao Chuzheng)

    - “Thyroid Hormones and Cholesterol Metabolism” (with Xia Zongqin)

    - “Dexamethasone’s Impact on Thyroid      Hormone Metabolism” (with Yang Shouli et al.)

Through these efforts, Wang Shizhen not only enriched medical science but also strengthened global exchanges in nuclear medicine. His legacy endures as a pillar of China’s scientific ascent.

03 Beyond the Age of Sixty: A Lifetime of Devotion

Even in his sixties during the 1980s, Wang Shizhen never ceased his scientific and academic pursuits. His influence extended far beyond China’s borders. In 1980, he was invited to the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) in the U.S.—a milestone that not only recognized his personal achievements but also bridged Chinese nuclear medicine with the global scientific community.

Two years later, as the head of the Chinese delegation, he attended the 3rd World Congress of Nuclear Medicine, where he chaired discussions on in vitro radioassay, underscoring China’s growing stature in the field.

Simultaneously, Wang devoted immense effort to advancing provincial and municipal nuclear medicine research, education, and clinical applications, accelerating the nationwide growth of this emerging discipline.

A Voice for China on the Global Stage

In 1985, Wang Shizhen served as a keynote speaker and session chair at the International Conference on Nuclear Medicine and Medical Applications of Nuclear Technology, where he presented China’s latest advancements. His contributions helped shape a proactive and sophisticated image of Chinese nuclear medicine worldwide.

By 1987, at a United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, he demonstrated that China’s nuclear medicine development was mature, forward-looking, and socially responsible—earning international respect for the country’s scientific planning.

Pioneering Innovations in the 1990s

Wang’s visionary thinking not only propelled nuclear medicine forward but also became a driving force in China’s medical modernization.

In 1990, he introduced groundbreaking diagnostic techniques, including:

    - 13C-labeled lipid acid breath tests

    - Dual 13C/14C breath tests

    - 13C-urea breath tests for detecting Helicobacter      pylori (H. pylori) infections—a major health      issue in China.

These innovations later became widely adopted, benefiting millions of patients and spurring the growth of medical diagnostic companies.

Under his leadership, his lab also developed novel radiopharmaceuticals and clinical testing kits, further solidifying China’s capabilities in nuclear medicine.

A Legacy of Infrastructure and Breakthroughs

In 1998, Wang was honored as a Senior Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. That same year, he spearheaded the establishment of China’s first government-funded PET Center at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH)—a landmark achievement showcasing China’s commitment to cutting-edge medical research.

At the turn of the 21st century, he successfully synthesized octreotide, breaking the Dutch monopoly on this critical diagnostic agent. Today, it is widely used in China for tumor imaging.

In 2007, recognizing the pivotal role of molecular imaging, Wang facilitated the introduction of state-of-the-art PET/CT scanners and microPET systems at PUMCH. These advancements revolutionized precision diagnostics and cemented China’s position in next-generation medical imaging.

Mentorship and Academic Contributions

Wang Shizhen was equally dedicated to education and knowledge dissemination. He:

    - Authored and edited seminal works like “Nuclear Medicine” (a volume in      the Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine) and the “English-Chinese Dictionary of Nuclear Medicine.”

    - Led the compilation of “Nuclear      Technology in Biomedical Applications”,      elevating China’s academic standing.

    - Mentored generations of scientists, including renowned      figures like Chen Zhizhou, Fan Zhenfu, and Jiang Guohui, who later      became leaders in nuclear medicine.

A Life of Dedication, A Legacy of Inspiration

On May 27, 2016, Wang Shizhen passed away in Beijing at the age of 100. In accordance with his wishes, his family donated his body to medical science, making him the 1,230th body donor at PUMCH.

Wang’s life was one of relentless pursuit of knowledge, humility, and innovation. His rigorous scholarship, pioneering spirit, and selfless dedication continue to inspire future generations of scientists.

His name and contributions remain etched in the annals of global nuclear medicine, motivating young researchers to push the boundaries of science and human health.

Wang Shizhen’s legacy endures—not just in laboratories and hospitals, but in the countless lives his work has touched.