At the newly-established Institute of Virology, Wenzhou Medical University, Li Xiaokun, who is academician and Chancellor of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, acts as President; Academician Jin Shengwei, who is Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, acts as Executive President, Hou Yunde, who is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a Chinese leading figure of medicine and virology, acts as Honorary President; Academician Li Lanjuan, who is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a leader in key national disciplines of infectious diseases, acts as Chairman of the Academic Committee; and Academician Wang Chen, who is Vice Chairman of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chairman of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Chancellor of Peking Union Medical College, is invited to act as Honorary Adviser.

The Institute of Virology, Wenzhou Medical University will integrate disciplinary resources, clinical resources and scientific research forces of Wenzhou Medical University and its affiliated hospitals in different disciplines in virology, immunology, respiratory medicine, public health and epidemiology, optometric medicine, pharmaceutics, laboratory medicine and foundation medicine to jointly study pathogenic mechanisms of viruses, new intervention technologies, diagnosis methods and key scientific issues of new drug studies.

Speaking of the origin of establishing this institute, Li Xiaokun stated that in the period of epidemic prevention and control, Wenzhou Medical University and its affiliated hospitals played pivotal roles in epidemic prevention and control of Wenzhou. However, during key scientific research on COVID-19, we became more aware of the importance and urgency of studying virus-related diseases.

Li Xiaokun said, “We will actively carry out related work dependent upon the Institute of Virology and the P3 Laboratory to be built, in an attempt to develop Wenzhou into a fairly important urban node for preventing epidemic and infectious diseases in China, in order that Wenzhou can become one of the important commanding heights for viral treatment, prevention and control in China. Meanwhile, Wenzhou’s strengths in private capitals and policies will be fully utilized to promote the commercialization of virus-related research findings. Unremitting efforts will be made to promote the construction of China Genetic Medicine Valley and Sci-tech Corridor around Daluo Mountain to assist with industry transformations and upgrades in Wenzhou and make contributions to the development of health industries in Zhejiang.

In the inauguration ceremony, Academician Hou Yunde and Academician Li Lanjuan made video calls respectively to congratulate the institute for its inauguration, while Academician Wang Chen sent a letter of congratulation. Professor Wu Zunyou, as Chief Epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, was contacted on the spot, and he expressed his congratulation for the inauguration on the line. Experts attending the ceremony, including Li Xiaokun and Qu Jia, unveiled the sign together for the inauguration of the institute.

After the unveiling ceremony, the experts present conducted a special seminar on COVID-19, discussed and exchanged with each other concerning critically ill cases, COVID-19 cases retested viral PCR positive, sequencing technologies, early warning models for COVID-19, immunological barriers, follow-up visits of COVID-19 cases, innovative scientific research and applications of outcomes and so on.

浙江新闻客户端记者了解到，温医大病毒研究院由中国工程院院士、校长李校堃担任院长；副校长金胜威任执行院长；中国工程院院士、中国医学病毒学泰斗侯云德院士担任名誉院长；中国工程院院士、国家传染病重点学科带头人李兰娟院士担任学术委员会主席；中国工程院副院长、中国医学科学院院长、北京协和医学院校长王辰院士受邀担任名誉顾问。

温医大病毒研究院将整合温医大及其附属医院在病毒学、免疫学、呼吸病学、公共卫生与流行病学、眼视光医学、药学、检验医学和基础医学等方面的学科资源、临床资源和科研力量，联合开展病毒发病机制、新型干预技术、诊断方法、新药研究的关键科学问题研究。

谈起成立研究院的起因，李校堃说，疫情防控期间，温医大和温医大附属医院在温州疫情防控中发挥了中流砥柱作用。但是疫情科研攻关过程中，我们更加意识到基于病毒相关性疾病研究的重要性和紧迫性。

李校堃说：“我们将依托病毒研究院和即将成立的P3实验室，积极开展这方面的工作，争取把温州建成中国预防流行病、传染病中的一个非常重要的节点城市，让温州病毒治疗与防控成为全国重要制高点之一。同时发挥温州民间资本优势和政策优势，推动病毒相关研究的成果转化，不断推进中国基因药谷、环大罗山科技走廊建设，助力温州的产业转型升级，也为浙江的大健康产业发展贡献力量。”

成立仪式现场，侯云德院士、李兰娟院士分别发来视频对研究院的成立表示祝贺，王辰院士发来贺信。中国疾控中心首席流行病学家吴尊友教授现场连线表示祝贺。李校堃、瞿佳等与会专家领导共同为研究院成立揭牌。

揭牌仪式后，与会专家开展新冠病毒专题研讨会，在重型病例治疗、新冠复阳、测序技术、疫情预警模型、免疫屏障、新冠随访、创新科研与成果应用等方面进行研讨交流。

(Executive Editor: Ye Ke)