On October 26, 2023, renowned immunologists and co-founders of BioNTech, Professors Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, visited Peking University Health Science Center for academic exchanges and discussions. BioNTech is a German-based biotechnology company that  is committed to improving the health of people worldwide with R&D of immunotherapies utilizing the full potential of the immune system to fight cancer, infectious diseases and other serious diseases. In 2020, Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine became the world's first approved mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

In the morning, Professor Qiao Jie, Executive Vice President of Peking University, extended a warm welcome on behalf of the university to Professors Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci as they arrived at the university campus and initiated an academic exchange. The meeting focused on public health topics of global relevance and significance to the People’s Republic of China, including cancer,  potentially tuberculosis, and other serious diseases. Both parties also engaged in discussions regarding potential future collaboration.

PICTURE 1 – Group photo of participants of the meeting 

In the afternoon, convened by Prof. Ming Xu, Dean of the Department of Global Health, School of Public Health of Peking University, Professors Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci met with distinguished scientists from Peking University, its affiliated hospitals and from related academic institutions. The seminar placed its spotlight on the research and development of mRNA vaccines, where participants exchanged insights on their research advancements and explored avenues for potential future collaboration.

PICTURE 2 – Group photo of participants of the seminar