Wang Qilong, an expert in cancer immunology, the First People's Hospital of Huai’an city, has been dedicated to anti-cancer research to serve his country.
The 37-year-old Wang Qilong has long been known for his research in the field of tumor immunology. In 2011, Dr. Wang Qilong, who specialized in infectious immunity, earned his doctoral degree and was invited by his alma mater Wuhan University and other universities to be a teacher. But at this time, Wang had decided to go abroad for further studies.
Wang Qilong, Director of the Central Laboratory of Huai'an First People's Hospital
The West, especially the United States, has the most developed modern medicine. In order to better improve my professional skills, I decided to go abroad for further study.
At the University of Louisville in the United States, Wang Qilong changed his research field and engaged in research on targeted delivery systems for new cancer chemotherapy drugs. The efficacy of drugs needs to rely on drug carriers, and high-quality drug carriers can often improve the utilization, safety and effectiveness of drugs. At that time, the carrier materials of chemotherapeutic drugs were basically artificially synthesized. While fighting tumors, these materials had large toxic side effects on the human body and they were expensive. Wang Qilong was committed to the preparation of a naturally non-toxic, inexpensive carrier material.
Wang Qilong, Director of the Central Laboratory of Huai'an First People's Hospital
We imagined whether we can extract some lipids from this natural source of plants or daily foods, and make it into a nano-carrier, so that after it is loaded with chemotherapy drugs, it can ensure its anti-tumor effect with less toxic side effects on the human body.
After more than two years of painstaking research, in 2013, Wang Qilong finally succeeded in extracting a new non-toxic and highly effective drug carrier from grapefruit, which significantly improved the targeted therapeutic effect of the tumor.
Everything seemed to be in the right direction and everybody believed that he would settle in the United States. In 2015, however, Wang Qilong took his wife and embarked on a journey back to China.
Wang Qilong, Director of the Central Laboratory of Huai'an First People's Hospital
I was trained by the country to become a post-doctoral fellow.After so many years of study, it is now the time for me to repay the country.
Wang Qilong joined the Huai'an First People's Hospital and continued to work in the field of tumor immunity. In a few years, he has become the lead investigator of a number of national and provincial research projects. In 2018, Wang Qilong was included in the provincial 333 high-level talent training project. Today his nanomedical translation research laboratory is developing a new green "nano drug delivery system" that hopes to provide new strategies for the precise treatment of tumors.
Wang Qilong, Director of the Central Laboratory of Huai'an First People's Hospital
Now our country's rapid development of science and technology provides a good research platform for these young people. My biggest wish in the future is to transform the results of my laboratory into clinical practice as soon as possible to benefit more patients.
