Li Zhenpian: Bacteriologist and Virologist

Li Zhenpian was born in the Leshan Township of Xiangxiang County (now Wanbao Town in Louxing District of Loudi City, Hunan Province) on Oct. 16th, 1898. In 1918, he was admitted into Hsiang-Ya School of Medicine (now Xiangya School of Medicine of Central South University). After graduation, he acted as a junior researcher in the Department of Bacteriology of Peking Union Medical College. In 1926, under the instruction of department head Prof. Carl Ten Broeck，he researched on the vaccine to prevent hog cholera. In 1929, Li was recommended to receive further education in America. After the breakout of Japanese invasion of China in 1931, he abandoned his high-paying job and resolutely returned to join the anti-Japanese patriots. He was successively appointed as professor and dean of Peking Union Medical College, Shanghai Medical College, Nanjing Medical College of Army and National Central University. In February of 1949, he went to America again and engaged in medical research anew. In 1955, he was given the citizenship of the United States.

Former Chairman Mao Zedong and late Premier Zhou Enlai met with Li Zhenpian.

Li Zhenpian realized outstanding achievements in virology and related fields. In 1930, he and Tom Rivers succeeded in the development of the Lee-Rivers method of viral vaccine cultivation, blazing a new path for the production of viral vaccine. What is more, he and Heaberle invented the Lee-Heaberle spinal injection method, based on the invention of injecting serum into the spinal cords of mice. Furthermore, he and Sheffer developed the Lee-Sheffer vaccine (IS-C) to prevent poliomyelitis. After his great success in this field, he put his hands to the researches on the etiology of cancer.

After his retirement in 1968, he on to publish two books: Chinese Herbs and Anticancer Medicine in China, which greatly enhanced the communication between Chinese and Western medical circles.

Li Zhenpian was a patriot and a well-known social activist who committed himself to intensifying the contacts between Chinese and American medical circles. He organized the Sino-America Medical Science Center and a nation-wide association for American Chinese, and remained active in medical, political and cultural fields in order to promote friendships and understandings between the two nations.

He died of an illness on December 16th, 1984, at the age of 86.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn

Photo source: Hunan Library