On the afternoon of March 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM, an academic exchange event co-organized by the Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Dawning College was successfully held in Room 601 of the MERAK Building at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT). Professor Lee Chuen Neng, Founding Director of the Department of Surgery at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, ABU RAUFF Professor, Emeritus Consultant in Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at NUH Heart Centre, and Clinical Director of the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) at NUS, was invited as the keynote speaker. Delivering a lecture titled“Aim High, Work Hard, but Prepare to Fail”, he provided SUAT students with an engaging and thought-provoking session blending academic rigor and inspiration. The event was hosted by Professor Lian Qizhou from the Faculty of Synthetic Biology.

Professor Zhang Xian-En, Dean of Faculty of Synthetic Biology of SUAT, delivered the opening address, warmly welcoming Professor Lee on behalf of the faculty and students. He highlighted Professor Lee’s status as a globally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and medical innovation leader, noting that his pioneering achievements and clinical translation experience offer significant insights for the development of interdisciplinary synthetic biology. Dean Zhang emphasized thatProfessor Lee’s visit is a key component of the Faculty’s annual academic activities, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of collaborative innovation and lay a solid foundation for future partnerships and impactful outcomes.

“Do the best we can with the facilities and manpower we have, without waiting for the perfect moment.”This is the credo Professor Lee has lived by. In 1985, with a nascent team, he pioneered four subspecialties in cardiothoracic surgery across NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Hospital, and National University Health System, breaking disciplinary barriers with limited resources. Four decades later, he shifted focus to nanomedicine, leading his team to tackle global challenges like liver disease and Alzheimer’s with molecular precision.

“Our life is a journey of learning.”During his interaction with SUAT students, Professor Lee shared his life philosophy and global travels under the theme “travel as learning”. His journeys not only sparked interdisciplinary inspiration but also forged deep friendships with scholars worldwide—friends who later became key collaborators in advancing cardiothoracic surgical techniques and international nanomedicine projects.

Professor Lee illustrated through personal experiences that travel is an “unwritten book” for broadening cognitive horizons, and actively connecting with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds builds a vibrant academic network. For instance, his iHealthtech liver disease nanotherapy project integrates nanotechnology, clinical medicine, and biomedicine.“Stay curious until you reach the crematorium”,he urged young students, encouraging them to embrace the unknown with an open mind, making every journey a dual pursuit of knowledge and character development.

During the interactive session, students actively posed questions on topics such as “work-life balance”, “future career planning”, and “making life choices”. Professor Lee responded with insights drawn from his own experiences, fostering a lively and engaging atmosphere.

In closing, Professor Lian expressed heartfelt gratitude for Professor Lee’s visit. He noted that Professor Lee’s extensive clinical expertise and innovative perspective provided a profound exploration of medical frontiers and interdisciplinary integration, broadening academic horizons and deepening the understanding of scientific spirit and medical mission among faculty and students.

This exchange event is one of the key initiatives by the Faculty of Synthetic Biology and Dawning College to advance international talent cultivation and deepen interdisciplinary education. Moving forward, the Faculty will continue to invite globally renowned scholars for academic dialogues, building high-quality international exchange platforms to nurture students into innovative and globally competitive scientific talent.