Tai-Ping Fan
Distinguished Professor of Northwest University, Xi’an, China
Capitalizing on his experience in the pharmacology of chronic inflammation, Dr Fan aims to transform the art of traditional medicine into a rigorous evidence-based science of healthcare and wellness. With an interdisciplinary approach, he and his collaborators have investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis. From clinically effective herbs (e.g. Panax ginseng, Angelica sinensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Acorus tatarinowii), they are using 'omics approach to discover and optimize active compounds for the prevention and treatment of diseases where there is excessive (e.g. cancer, diabetic retinopathy) or inadequate angiogenesis (e.g. myocardial infarct, chronic wounds).
As Distinguished Professor of Northwest University (Xi’an, China), he has added bioinformatics and synthetic biology to discover and optimize natural products aiming to elucidate their targets and develop novel chemical drugs and/or botanical drugs.
Founding Editor-in-Chief of ANGIOGENESIS (1997-2005); Co-editor of The New Angiotherapy (2002). Commissioned by Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, he reviewed the development of drugs from medicinal plants, touching on the principle of Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi (君臣佐使) as a key step in modern drug discovery. This review also formed the basis of his plenary lecture at the 15th World Congress of Pharmacology, Beijing, 2006. Guest Project Editor of a 3-part AAAS/Science Special Supplement on “The Art and Science of Traditional Medicine” (2014-2015) This unique collection of perspectives focuses on recent advances and future developments in the standardization, safety, R&D and regulation of materia medica used in traditional medicine from different ethnic origins (2013-2015). Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences (2020-present)
Deputy Coordinator of an FP7 European Coordination Action - Good Practice in TCM Research in the Post-genomic Era (GP-TCM), to inform the best practice and harmonise research of the safety and efficacy of TCM. Specifically, he focuses on the global regulation of botanical drugs and herbal products, aiming to provide solutions for developing herbal medicines that meet the market-entry standard (2009-2012). Secretary-General (2012-2014), President-Elect (2015-2016), President (2017-2018), Treasurer (2019-present) of The Good Practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association (www.gp-tcm.org). Senior Vice President (Europe) of the American Botanical Drug Association (2020-present).