Fan Chunhai： I am a ＂learner＂

　Fan Chunhai is a member of the Central Committee of Jiu San Society, a professor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Shanghai Jiaotong University, and a member of the Shanghai Municipal Political Consultative Conference. In 2019, he was co-elected as an academician of China Academy of Sciences.

At the age of 26, he received a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Nanjing University.

At the age of 33, he was supported by the Outstanding Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

At the age of 42, his team developed a new method for inducing nano-scale precise mineralization by DNA self-assembly structure, which was published in Nature, and achieved the first breakthrough in the field of DNA nanotechnology by China researchers.

He has been selected as a "highly cited scientist in the world" in the past six years.

At the age of 45, he was elected as an academician of China Academy of Sciences, the youngest among the Shanghai academicians in 2019.

He is Fan Chunhai, member of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society, member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and director of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Jiu San Society.

Fan Chunhai’s office is located in the Translational Medicine Research Center of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Next to the simple and bright office is a uniform laboratory. The experimental platform is filled with all kinds of equipment. The window is bright and clean, with few other colors except black and white. Fan Chunhai, who has just been interviewed by his alma mater, is still immersed in the memories of middle school life. Talking about today’s achievements, he said with emotion: "These 20 years happened to be a period of rapid development in China, and the conditions and level of scientific research have undergone tremendous changes. I am glad to catch up with such a good era and let me make great achievements in scientific research."

Fan Chunhai belongs to the Ministry of Chemistry in the published results of the co-election of academicians of China Academy of Sciences. He once won the Tan Jiazhen Prize for Innovation in Life Sciences, one of the most influential awards in the field of life sciences in China. After returning to China, he chose the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences as his work unit. Under such a "cross-border", it seems difficult to define his professional field. His explanation for this is: "Subject field and research direction are different concepts, and my research direction has not changed for more than 20 years. I have been engaged in basic research on biosensing since I was a graduate student, just to explore the unknown world and need a broader vision. "

In 1992, Fan Chunhai, who was preparing to take the college entrance examination, applied for the Department of Biochemistry of Nanjing University. "At that time, the choice of biochemistry was blind and I didn’t understand it at all. But I vaguely feel that biochemistry has both biology and chemistry. This name is cool! " Fan Chunhai recalled.

樊春海在南京大学读书时，生物化学系就有浓郁的学科交叉氛围，系里的口号是“学不好化学，就做不好生物化学”。我国生物制药技术研发的开拓者之一，肝素、尿激酶工业的创始人朱德煦时任系主任，中国科学院院士、生命分析化学概念的创导者和生命分析化学国家重点实验室创始人陈洪渊的博士李根喜在生物化学系任教，樊春海在研究生期间得到他们的指导，在生物化学和生命分析化学两条学术传承线的交叉点起步，从事电化学生物传感器的研究，这在当时属于前沿交叉学科。

在前沿学科里不断前进，必须更多地了解国际上的科研动态，“我读书那会儿，经常需要看国外文献，遗憾的是那时看到的文献会滞后至少半年。”樊春海偶然读到《先进材料》（Advanced Materials）杂志对圣塔芭芭拉加州大学（UCSB）艾伦？黑格（Alan J. Heeger）教授（诺贝尔化学奖获得者）的专访文章。文章中黑格表示，自己在获诺贝尔奖后希望做一些以往不敢做的事，比如生物学，特别是生物传感方面的研究。樊春海内心有种一拍即合的快感，随即就向黑格教授申请了博士后，并最终获得认可。

Allen? Haig is a professor in the Department of Physics, but he always advocates interdisciplinary research. Many years later, Professor Haig said modestly in a speech in China: "I knew nothing about biology at that time, even the most basic knowledge such as DNA molecular structure was taught by Chunhai."

"Studying in a Nobel Prize winner’s laboratory, the vision of seeing problems and the way to deal with problems are very different from those in an ordinary laboratory." Fan Chunhai admits that when he was working as a postdoctoral fellow, he realized a deeper connotation about interdisciplinary. Working in Haig’s laboratory, Fan Chunhai had to carry out multiple scientific research projects at the same time, which once overwhelmed him. "You just pick the most important thing to do." This sentence of the tutor made Fan Chunhai enlightened, and he still often guides him to make judgments.

Under the guidance of Professor Haig, Fan Chunhai has made some research progress, and related research work has been published in authoritative magazines such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). Among them, an electrochemical DNA biosensor named E-DNA has been developed, which has been widely praised by international peers. American Chemical Society C&E News rated it as one of the important chemical progress in 2003.

The postdoctoral experience has greatly broadened Fan Chunhai’s horizons and strengthened his confidence in interdisciplinary research. At that time, China was in the initial stage of discipline construction and needed a lot of new blood. In January 2004, Fan Chunhai joined sinap with the support of the "Hundred Talents Program" of China Academy of Sciences. Coincidentally, the day when he joined the defense was the day when the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Light Source Project undertaken by the Institute was approved after ten years of hard preparation. This internationally advanced synchrotron radiation light source was completed in only five years. The scientists who participated in the project are not afraid of hardships and hard work, and are praised as "Shanghai Light Source Spirit". In the past five years, under the inspiration of "Shanghai Light Source Spirit", Fan Chunhai built a laboratory from scratch.

In 2008, Fan Chunhai and others established a physical biology laboratory and set up a multidisciplinary research team integrating physics, chemistry and biology. This unique interdisciplinary research atmosphere not only enabled the biosensor research to advance rapidly, but also broadened more frontier research directions. In 2016, the important achievement of the laboratory, "Research on Mechanism, Regulation and Application of Biomolecular Interface", won the second prize of National Natural Science.

In recent years, Fan Chunhai’s team has applied biosensing probes detected in vitro to cells, and is committed to developing frame nucleic acid cell imaging technology. "It doesn’t matter what technology you use, physics or chemistry, or nanotechnology. What matters is that you find some new methods and use some new technologies to observe and decipher the mysteries of life."

"Individual growth cannot be separated from excellent collectives"

Fan Chunhai always appreciates the strength of the collective. Whether it is the study and life in middle schools and universities or the scientific research work, Fan Chunhai believes that the excellent collective has given him the motivation for personal growth.

He recalled that he was never the best student in middle school. "I am a person who knows by learning, not a person who knows by birth." In high school, many of my classmates were excellent. Everyone always discussed problems harmoniously and equally, forming a rich learning atmosphere. Under the professional guidance of teachers, everyone was growing and making progress. In the end, the whole class handed over an excellent answer sheet in the college entrance examination. "

There is such a collective star effect in scientific research, such as the famous Cavendish laboratory, which has trained more than 20 Nobel Prize winners in the past 100 years. "So scientific research has never been alone, and the progress of each group cannot be separated from individual efforts, and the growth of individuals cannot be separated from an excellent group." Fan Chunhai said.

At the beginning of this century, the scientific research conditions in Chinese universities were still relatively difficult, and the information was not as developed as it is now. It was the dream of many analytical chemists in China to be able to publish papers in Analytical Chemistry in the United States. At that time, only Mr. Chen Hongyuan in Nanjing University published papers in this magazine. Fan Chunhai published a paper in Analytical Chemistry as the first author under the guidance of his tutors, and achieved a breakthrough.

Interdisciplinary cooperation is also inseparable from the cooperation between scientists and the whole team. Fan Chunhai, deeply inspired by the "Shanghai Light Source Spirit", hopes to do the same internationally influential research work in Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Mr. Li Mingan and researcher Hu Jun are early explorers in the cross-research of nano-organisms in China. With their guidance and help, Fan Chunhai gradually made it clear that DNA nanotechnology is the starting point to form research characteristics.

DNA nanotechnology is to use the excellent self-assembly and recognition ability of DNA molecules as a nano-material to achieve accurate nano-construction. In 2006, the nano-scale "Map of China" assembled by DNA molecules was successfully created and published in both Chinese and English editions of Science Bulletin, which made an international appearance with China characteristics and became the second published work in the frontier cross field of "DNA origami", which was jointly completed by Fan Chunhai, Hu Jun and Academician He Lin of Shanghai Jiaotong University.

After years of accumulation, Fan Chunhai’s team developed a new method to induce nano-scale precise mineralization by DNA self-assembly structure, which improved the mechanical properties of DNA nano-structure while maintaining its exquisite design, and opened a new door for the construction and analysis of bionic nano-channels. This research achievement was published in the journal Nature, which achieved the first breakthrough in this field by researchers in China.

During the epidemic in COVID-19, due to the lack of Covid-19 RNA reference materials, the performance of nucleic acid detection kits could not be evaluated, and the competitiveness of high-quality domestic kits could not be strongly proved. Faced with this situation, with the deep participation and support of Fan Chunhai’s team, Shanghai Jiaotong University and Shanghai Institute of Metrology and Testing Technology jointly set up a research team and started the research and development project of Covid-19 RNA reference materials. After more than 40 days of repeated trials and improvements, two kinds of "novel coronavirus standard materials for RNA transcription in vitro" were successfully developed. These Covid-19 reference materials, like a "biological standard ruler", can help people to evaluate the indicators of the virus nucleic acid detection kit and help the detection laboratory to confirm the results, thus further reducing the probability of "false negative".

Facing the students from different majors in the team, Fan Chunhai advocates teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and effective guidance. "Students are not managed, but grow up freely under appropriate guidance. My task is to tap students’ interest in scientific research, help them establish correct values and lofty aspirations, and become firm supporters of students."

The road of scientific research has always been bumpy. The life of researchers is more like an ascetic monk to many people, but in their hearts, they are happy because of their love for science. In Fan Chunhai’s view, this happiness is not equal to comfort. He encourages students: "To do scientific research, we should be brave enough to go out of our comfort zone and challenge new things."

"Teamwork and independent thinking are equally important. I hope that every student can choose his own topic under the background of team research, and actively explore various possibilities without relying on authority." Despite his busy work, Fan Chunhai will try his best to take time to communicate with the students face to face, not sitting in danger, but full of relaxation and pleasure.

Fan Chunhai always tries his best to support and encourage students’ decisions and every attempt. Under his training, two students have been supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and four postdoctoral students have been selected for the "Super Postdoctoral Program" in Shanghai in 2020.

Communication and cooperation promoted Fan Chunhai’s scientific research work, and also made him know Li Xinxin, chairman of the Shanghai Branch Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences of the Jiu San Society. The warmth of the Jiu San Society and the spirit of patriotism, democracy and science attracted him. In 2014, he joined the Jiu San Society.

After joining the club, Fan Chunhai successively served as deputy director and director of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Jiu San Society. Although his scientific research work is still busy, he will still find time to engage in popular science work. "Popular science work is actually a kind of inheritance. Whether it is exploring the unknown world or promoting the country’s scientific and technological development, it needs the efforts of generations. However, the concept of scientific research is not exactly the same as that of textbook education in primary and secondary schools. Our popular science work is not a simple strengthening of textbook knowledge, but a broader vision for children. "

In his mind, interests are hierarchical. The interests of primary and secondary school students are often in textbook knowledge and the use of known world knowledge, while real scientific talents need to keep their interest in exploring the unknown world. Spreading the seeds of science in children’s little hearts will not only keep them interested in exploring the unknown world, but also make the city form an atmosphere of obeying and respecting science, which is also the future light of the construction of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center.

Looking back on his own growth experience, Fan Chunhai said with emotion: the cultivation of quality is more important, and the knowledge learned by the school is constantly updated, and the quality cultivated by the school will accompany people all their lives, and good quality will push people forward.

Good quality also made Fan Chunhai on his way to school recognized by teachers. "I am very relieved about what I have told him. No matter whether I get satisfactory results or lessons from failure after completion, he will definitely reply to me and have a serious discussion with me." Professor Li Genxi said of his students, "He is patient in learning and can hold his breath. Once his goal is set, he will be firm and forge ahead. His success is no accident."

In the interview, Fan Chunhai rarely talked about specific difficulties, because he believed that difficulties always existed, and problems could be solved as long as he worked hard and was good at learning and observing. In the communication with his students, Fan Chunhai has always conveyed a belief: optimistic and unyielding. "The development of science is not a full stop, but a comma. The success of scientific research depends on whether you have the courage to face failure and the determination to be more frustrated on the road of exploration. I hope that all students can work hard for the scientific dream of mankind."

It has been nearly thirty years since I entered the university and contacted the interdisciplinary subject of biochemistry. Along the way, Fan Chunhai has grown from an ignorant teenager to an internationally renowned scientist: he was selected as a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), American Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), international society of electrochemistry (ISE) and royal society of chemistry (RSC), and concurrently served as the deputy editor of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Journal of American Chemical Society. Co-chairman of the editorial board of ChemPlusChem, royal society of chemistry, has been selected as a "global highly cited scientist" continuously since 2014. In 2019, he was elected as an academician of China Academy of Sciences, and won the ho leung ho lee foundation Science and Technology Innovation Award, the American Chemical Society’s Lecture Award for Progress in Measurement Science and the 12th Tan Jiazhen Life Science Innovation Award, and in 2020, he was awarded the title of "National Advanced Worker".

Faced with many honors, Fan Chunhai said calmly: "It is curiosity, responsibility and initial heart that lead me to climb to the peak on the road of science." In the future, he said that he will continue to keep his initial heart and forge ahead, lead students to "look up at the stars, be down-to-earth, persevere and make contributions for a long time", constantly explore the frontiers of science, and make due efforts to promote the scientific and technological progress of the country and society.

Fan Chunhai’s goal is to promote his basic research work to clinical application and protect human health. After joining the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Fan Chunhai built the laboratory of "Framework Nucleic Acid Design and Nano-medical Diagnosis and Treatment" based on the newly completed national major scientific and technological infrastructure of translational medicine, and devoted himself to transforming and applying the developed new methods of nucleic acid analysis and detection to clinic. In particular, he received the full support of Academician Tan Weihong, Dean of the Institute of Molecular Medicine of Shanghai Jiaotong University, and actively carried out clinical cooperation in Renji Hospital, trying to apply biosensors to the detection of practical clinical samples such as prostate cancer, and exploring the possibility of developing low-cost medical detection.

"The road is long and Xiu Yuan is awkward, and I will search up and down." Fan Chunhai is still moving forward on the road of seeking. In 2019, in order to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the publication, "Nature? The magazine Nature Chemistry specially invited more than 50 internationally renowned scholars to write a monograph on "The Road to Chemistry". As one of them, Fan Chunhai raised a challenging question in the field of chemistry: "An exciting frontier of the discipline is to understand how artificially designed nucleic acid structures are assembled and function in living cells and animals. Creating new tools to control the assembly process of natural and artificial nucleic acid molecules in living cells will probably bring revolutionary changes to the field of nucleic acid chemistry, thus promoting the development of nano-diagnosis and treatment and precision medicine. In the longer term, another promising research direction is to explore and develop DNA or RNA robots with artificial intelligence and work in animals and humans. " (Huang yun)