Mourning for renowned pharmacologist Professor Geng-Tao Liu

Core Tip

At 22:08 h on February 27, 2010, Professor Geng-Tao Liu, a renowned pharmacologist affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a doctoral tutor, and a member of World Journal of Gastroenterology (WJG) Editorial Board, passed away at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, at the age of 77 years (Figure 1).

Professor Liu was born in 1932 in Shuangfeng, Hunan Province. He graduated from Hunan Medical College in 1956 and then started his research career in the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. He was elected a member of the 6-8th Council of Chinese Pharmacological Society.

During his research career, Professor Liu successfully developed two novel anti-hepatitis drugs: dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate and bicyclol. He also made great contributions to the understanding of the pharmacology of Schisandra, Ganoderma lucidum, and Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Professor Liu successfully developed Ganoderma Spore Powder Injection that has been used in China for over 30 years to treat a variety of neuromuscular ailments. To evaluate the pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum, Professor Liu created two unique animal models: one for dermatomyositis and the other for elevated serum aldolase, which provide a basis for a scientific explanation of the therapeutic effects of Ganoderma lucidum against dermatomyositis. He also found that several schizandrins, particularly schisanhenol, have potent antioxidant activity.

Professor Liu published over 200 papers and was granted multiple patents. He is the editor-in-chief of “Contemporary Pharmacology” and the editor of “Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Herbs and Drug Innovation”. He was a member of the editorial board of 12 domestic and foreign academic journals. He was awarded nine scientific or technological prizes in China, such as “National Invention Award”, “Scientific and Technological Progress Award of the Ministry of Health”, and “Beijing Municipal Scientific and Technological Progress Award”. Professor Liu also won the titles of “National Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions”, “Capital May 1st Labor Medal”, and “Beijing Municipal Outstanding Teacher”. Having tutored more than 40 postgraduates, Professor Liu enjoyed a great reputation in the field of pharmacology.

Professor Liu took time out of his busy schedule to review six WJG articles and made a great contribution to WJG. Now, he has left us forever! We are deeply saddened by his passing and will turn our grief into strength to continue our efforts to establish WJG as one of the leading journals. Professor Liu, may you rest in peace.