Professor Chen was committed to improving the well-being of patients with SLE.
His team has made many breakthroughs published in high-profile journals. These studies have opened a window to understanding the complicated biological functions resulting from the novel genetic and epigenetic factors underlying SLE and provide great potential for developing novel treatments for lupus patients. The international and national communities have recognized Professor Chen’s outstanding and pioneering works in the field of rheumatology. He was honored as Master by the ACR, as well as the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), and received many prestigious awards from the Chinese government.
Dr. Chen also was an active leader and highly regarded colleague in the international rheumatology community. He served as president of APLAR from 2000 to 2002. To boost international communication and cooperation, he successfully hosted the 8th International Congress on SLE and the 11th International Workshop on Autoantibodies and Autoimmunity (IWAA) in Shanghai. All of these meetings were extremely well attended, highly evaluated and served to foster international cooperation among rheumatologists.
Pioneer & Friend
Professor Chen was an outstanding teacher, role model and loyal friend—beloved at Renji Hospital and throughout China and the world. His trainees have become leaders of rheumatology all over China. In many ways, he was the father of modern Chinese rheumatology, training a vibrant cadre of talented rheumatologists committed to excellent patient care based on scientific principles. When he began his work more than 40 years ago, there was minimal rheumatology care in China, but together with his many trainees and international colleagues and his commitment to evidence-based rheumatology, a vigorous specialty has developed, one committed to the principles he espoused.
Everyone who encountered Professor Chen misses him immensely. He was a man of strength, courage, deep wisdom, strong principles and great compassion. He will be remembered as a visionary giant and master of the international rheumatology community, but more importantly as a supportive and sagacious mentor and a warm friend to all who had the pleasure of meeting him. His spirit will live on through the inspiration he has bequeathed to the next generation of rheumatologists to improve the lives of our patients.
Nan Shen, MD, PhD, is a professor of medicine and director of the Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, chief of the Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China, and co-director of the China–Australia Centre for Personalised Immunology.
Peter E. Lipsky, MD, was the seventh editor in chief of The Journal of Immunology, serving from 1992–97. He is the co-founder, CEO and CMO of AMPEL BioSolutions. The American Association of Immunologists honored him with its Distinguished Service Award in 1998.