Prof. Jin-Feng Hu , School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taizhou University, Zhejiang 318000, PR China ,China
Dr. Jin-Feng Hu is a globally recognized natural products chemist and currently serves as the Dean and Principal Investigator at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taizhou University, Zhejiang, China. With over three decades of academic and research experience, Dr. Hu has dedicated his career to discovering and developing bioactive natural products, particularly from rare and endangered plant species endemic to China. His contributions span innovative phytochemistry, drug discovery, and chemical biology. He has previously held prestigious academic positions at Fudan University and East China Normal University. Dr. Hu’s collaborations span continents, including Germany and the USA, contributing to an impressive international research profile. His work is widely published in high-impact journals and highly cited, underscoring the scientific relevance and translational potential of his discoveries.
Publication Profile:
Scopus
✅ Strengths for the Award:
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Prolific Contributions to Natural Products Chemistry
Dr. Hu has made significant breakthroughs in phytochemical research, particularly focusing on rare and endangered Chinese plants, contributing both to drug discovery and biodiversity conservation.
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Global Research Experience
His training and postdoctoral fellowships in leading institutions across China, Germany, and the USA (including the Hans-Knoell-Institute and the Scripps Research Institute) add to his international reputation and collaborative strength.
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Academic Leadership & Institutional Impact
As a former department chair at Fudan University and current Dean at Taizhou University, Dr. Hu has not only led cutting-edge research but also shaped the academic direction of major pharmaceutical programs.
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High-Impact Publications
Multiple first or last-author papers published in leading journals such as Phytochemistry, Organic Chemistry Frontiers, Bioorganic Chemistry, and Molecules—with a focus on pharmacologically relevant compounds.
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Innovative Research Themes
Focused on drug resistance, inflammation, and metabolic diseases, using unique molecules like bis-diterpene heterodimers and sesquiterpenes, often with novel skeletons—this shows originality and translational potential.
⚙️ Areas for Improvement:
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Wider Public Recognition
While he is highly respected in academic and pharmaceutical chemistry circles, broader science communication or participation in international awards/societies could boost global visibility.
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Commercialization & Patents
Encouraging the translation of discoveries into patents or clinical trials would further highlight the real-world impact of his research.
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International Grant Funding
Expansion into multinational funding sources (e.g., NIH, EU Horizon) would solidify global research integration and amplify the scale of his discoveries.
🎓 Education:
Dr. Hu earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Organic Chemistry from Lanzhou University (1986–1996). He pursued advanced training and postdoctoral research in Natural Products Chemistry at the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, followed by a prestigious BMBF Fellowship at the Hans-Knoell-Institute (HKI) in Germany. Dr. Hu then continued his postdoctoral work in the United States—first at the University of Mississippi focusing on natural products chemistry and later at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation/The Scripps Research Institute, in the laboratory of renowned chemist Prof. Peter G. Schultz. His academic journey across leading institutions in China, Germany, and the US provided a robust foundation in interdisciplinary sciences and global perspectives in medicinal chemistry.
🧪 Experience:
Dr. Hu currently serves as Full Professor, Principal Investigator, and Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Taizhou University (2021–present). Before this, he was Chair of the Department of Natural Products Chemistry at Fudan University (2011–2021), and prior to that, Deputy Director of the MOE Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics at East China Normal University (2006–2011). In each position, he has led cutting-edge research in natural products, coordinated multi-institutional collaborations, mentored numerous young scientists, and managed institutional development. His lab integrates phytochemistry, structural biology, and drug discovery platforms, focusing particularly on therapeutic leads for antimicrobial resistance, cancer, and metabolic diseases. With a career that reflects both academic excellence and applied innovation, Dr. Hu has significantly contributed to China’s leadership in pharmaceutical science.
🏆 Awards and Honors:
Dr. Hu has received multiple national and international honors, including fellowships, research grants, and awards recognizing his excellence in natural products chemistry. He was a BMBF Research Fellow in Germany, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Novartis Genomics Institute and The Scripps Research Institute in the US, and has been a recipient of several Chinese National Natural Science Foundation awards. His leadership roles at prestigious institutions like Fudan University and East China Normal University reflect the esteem he holds within the academic community. Moreover, his publications are widely cited, and his research frequently garners attention for its innovation and societal relevance, especially in the context of preserving biodiversity and discovering drugs from endangered species. These achievements make him an outstanding candidate for a Distinguished Scientist Award.
🔬 Research Focus:
Dr. Hu’s research is centered on the discovery and development of novel bioactive compounds from rare and endangered plants endemic to China. His work emphasizes the interface of phytochemistry, chemical biology, and drug discovery, employing integrative analytical techniques like NMR, LC-MS, and bioassays. A major focus is the identification of natural inhibitors of key metabolic enzymes such as ATP-citrate lyase and ACC1, with applications in metabolic disorders and cancer. His studies also target drug-resistant bacterial infections, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. By studying plants that are ecologically valuable yet scientifically underexplored, Dr. Hu not only contributes to new therapeutic leads but also aids in conservation biology and chemotaxonomy. His approach of combining traditional Chinese medicinal knowledge with modern molecular science marks him as a trailblazer in natural products-based drug discovery.
📚 Publication Top Notes:
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🌲 Spiroamentotaxols A−D from Amentotaxus yunnanensis and their bioactivities – Organic Chemistry Frontiers (2025)
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🍃 Fortunefuroic acids from Keteleeria fortunei via integrated dereplication approach – Phytochemistry (2025)
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🌿 Benzofurans from Parrotia subaequalis with antimicrobial activity – Phytochemistry (2025)
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🌸 Bis-iridoid glycosides and triterpenoids from Kolkwitzia amabilis targeting ACC1 and ACL – Molecules (2024)
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🍂 Platanosides from Platanus acerifolia against drug-resistant infections – Bioorganic Chemistry (2024)
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🌼 Natural products from Heptacodium miconioides and their classification significance – Phytochemistry (2024)
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🌲 Tsugaforrestiacids A–O from Tsuga forrestii with ATP-citrate lyase inhibition – Phytochemistry (2024)
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🌲 Terpenoids from Pseudotsuga forrestii as DRAK2 inhibitors – Journal of Molecular Structure (2024)
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🍁 Anti-inflammatory flavonoids from Platanus acerifolia leaves – Phytochemistry Letters (2024)
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🌴 Fortunefuroic acid J from Keteleeria hainanensis with dual inhibitory effects – Chemistry & Biodiversity (2024)
🔚 Conclusion:
Dr. Jin-Feng Hu is an exceptionally qualified candidate for the Distinguished Scientist Award. His trailblazing research in natural products chemistry, strategic leadership in academic institutions, and commitment to preserving biodiversity through medicinal innovation position him as a thought leader in his field. His work not only expands the scientific frontier of phytochemical drug discovery but also addresses urgent global health concerns such as antibiotic resistance and metabolic disease. Recognizing Dr. Hu with this award would honor a career devoted to science, mentorship, and societal benefit, while also empowering his continued excellence in the years to come.