Li Song, an academician of China Academy of Engineering： Founding a solid shield of medicine dares to be a pioneer in science and technology.

　　Photo by Liu Zhengyun (Xinhua News Agency)

　　Not long ago, an online article about the flu burst into a circle of friends. Many people lamented: "A small flu is so harmful!"

　　Although influenza virus has high variability, rapid spread and strong harm, this epidemic did not cause panic, because we have medicine in our hands — — From capsules and granules to injections, from the world’s first technology to the establishment of the world’s largest production line, China has become one of the countries with the richest anti-influenza drugs and the strongest clinical treatment support ability in the world. It has the independent prevention and control ability to deal with any scale of influenza, and has long since got rid of the dilemma that prevention and control drugs can’t be bought, can’t afford it and can’t be bought at a critical moment.

　　When it comes to national emergency rescue and major epidemic prevention and control, we can’t help but mention a little-known research institute — — Overcoming various technical difficulties and achieving major scientific research achievements among the world’s advanced ranks, they can often win at such a critical moment — — This is a pharmaceutical research institute of the Military Medical Research Institute of the Academy of Military Sciences, which is known as "the vanguard of protection and the iron army of epidemic prevention".

　　It is this institute that has successively graduated from seven academicians of the two academies, owned a "double-qualified" laboratory designated by an international organization and seven national and military key laboratories, won more than 190 high-level scientific and technological achievement awards represented by the national special prize for scientific and technological progress and the first and second prizes, obtained 74 new drug certificates and granted more than 500 patents, successively awarded an honorary title to a research laboratory, and five teams won the collective first and second prizes.

　　In the spring of 2003, when the SARS virus was raging, the team led by Li Song, a researcher at the Institute, locked the epidemic virus as the main research direction and soon achieved results. They predicted that the next sudden major epidemic was likely to be influenza, and then they raised funds to carry out drug pre-research.

　　"No one is forcing us to do these things. It is better to engage in other topics, send some articles, and evaluate the titles and ranks." Some young researchers in the team questioned. Li Song replied: "We are lucky to have the opportunity to do something truly meaningful for the country and the people!"

　　By 2009, when H1N1 struck again, Li Song’s team once again created a miracle: the drug production capacity was increased by 30 times, and the national reserve task of 26 million people was completed in only 135 days, saving the country 5.7 billion yuan in procurement funds.

　　Can achieve such results, relying on a "cold bench" spirit. In the field of anti-drug struggle, Li Jin, a researcher at the institute, has been sitting on the "cold bench" for 20 years. Work normally ends at 10: 30 at night, and the progress of scientific research is reported regularly. All major discoveries must be verified repeatedly … … These unwritten rules have been adhered to in Li Jin’s research group for 20 years. This is an ordinary 20 years, except for the laboratory or the laboratory; This has been a hard journey for 20 years, and every progress has been difficult.

　　Hard work pays off, and good news keeps coming: Li Jin was hired as the chief scientist of the first national 973 project in the field of drug rehabilitation in China; His research group discovered a new opioid function regulation system and proved for the first time that this system has a clear inhibitory effect on opioid addiction and relapse; A new Chinese medicine for preventing opioid relapse — — Duanjin Jiedu Capsule has ideal detoxification and relapse prevention effects, and it is not addictive. Recently, it has obtained the national clinical approval & HELIP; …

　　In the pharmaceutical synthesis laboratory, the reporter saw such a scene: on the computer screen, a mass of green substance appeared, with a yellow depression in the middle, and a row of irregular branches slowly approached and embedded in it.

　　"This is a virtual drug screening experiment conducted by researchers using trillions of cluster computer systems." Xiao Junhai, deputy director of the institute, said that this platform can screen 500,000 molecules every day, which is thousands of times more efficient than traditional screening methods. The workload in the past six months can now be completed in a few days. He introduced that a good platform for production, learning and research is a big "magnetic field" for them to attract talents.

　　"In addition to yearning for military status, I value the scientific research environment here, the innovative atmosphere that is not troubled by fame and fortune, and I am willing to work here without paying money!" Duan Xiaotao, a doctor studying in the United States, would rather give up his high salary than come to the institute for scientific research.

　　At present, the institute has three academicians of the two academies, 30 of whom have been selected into the national major talent projects such as the 100-million-person talent project and the national 10,000-person plan, and 15 of them have won the military outstanding talent award or been selected into the military major talent projects such as the innovative talent project.

　　What is rare is that such a team that chooses the best among the best has a heart that is willing to contribute and indifferent to fame and fortune. As we all know, drug research and development and production are extremely profitable in the market, and patent fees alone are very considerable. However, when a new type of antibiotic came on the market, the experts of the institute strongly urged enterprises not to mass-produce for economic benefits, so as not to lose the last line of defense against superbugs. Li Song has a "three noes" principle — — Do not love power, fame or wealth.

　　In times of crisis, they dare to rush ahead. After the "8.12" explosion accident in Tianjin Port in 2015, Wang Yongan, a protection expert of the Institute, took the lead in entering the explosion core area and completed a "most beautiful retrograde". Wearing heavy protective clothing and working continuously in high temperature, he almost collapsed. After careful investigation, he put forward "don’t enter unless you prevent it, don’t enter unless you train it, handle it across regions, and protect it at different levels", which became the action criterion to guide the rescue.

　　Wang Yongan’s feat in such a critical moment is not uncommon in this institute. One year, the institute undertook the production task of an emergency drug. Due to the dangerous production process, the manufacturer suddenly changed his mind and withdrew all the workers on the eve of construction. Under urgent circumstances, Jiao Kefang, Xie Yunde and others stationed in pharmaceutical factories resolutely undertook all production tasks. Put buckets of raw materials into the reaction kettle by hand and take turns to be on duty 24 hours a day … … After more than 40 days, they delivered the qualified drugs to the troops on time.

　　"There are many touching stories behind every scientific research achievement." Director Su Ruibin was deeply touched.

　　Behind the story is the continuous struggle and selfless dedication of generations of researchers in the institute.

　　(Shao Longfei and Zhuang Yingna participated in the writing)