Zeng Yi (virologist) facts for kids

Zeng Yi (Chinese: 曾毅; pinyin: Zēng Yì; March 8, 1929 – July 13, 2020) was a famous Chinese scientist who studied virology. Virology is the study of viruses and the diseases they cause. He worked as a professor at Beijing University of Technology. He was also a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Who Was Zeng Yi?

Zeng Yi was born on March 8, 1929, in a place called Wujingfu Township. This area is in Jiexi County, Guangdong, China. His father was a small merchant. Zeng Yi went to Wujingfu Middle School.

Zeng Yi's Education and Early Career

In 1943, he started attending Dongshan High School. After finishing his studies at Shanghai Medical College in 1952, he began working. He joined the Department of Microbiology at Guangzhou Zhongshan Medical College.

In 1956, Zeng Yi moved to Beijing. He transferred to the Virus Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology. This lab was part of the Beijing Central Institute of Health.

International Research and Leadership Roles

In 1974, Zeng Yi traveled to the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He worked there as a visiting research fellow. He returned to China in 1975. That same year, he joined two important groups: the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine.

Zeng Yi took on many leadership roles. In 1981, he became the deputy director of the Institute of Virology. This institute was part of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. By December 1983, he became the director. He was promoted again in 1984 to vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. In 1992, he became the president.

From 1986 to 1987, he was a visiting research fellow in France. He worked at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. In October 2002, he helped start a new college. He became the first dean of the College of Life Science and Bioengineering at Beijing University of Technology.

Zeng Yi passed away in Beijing on July 13, 2020. He was 91 years old.

What Were Zeng Yi's Main Discoveries?

Zeng Yi made very important contributions to science. Since 1984, he focused his research on HIV and AIDS. HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS, a serious health condition.

In 1987, he successfully isolated the first HIV-1 strain. This was a major breakthrough. He also created a fast way to diagnose HIV. This method helped doctors quickly find out if someone had the virus. His work was crucial in understanding and fighting AIDS.

Awards and Recognition

Zeng Yi received many honors and awards for his scientific work. These awards show how important his contributions were to medicine and public health.

• 1993 Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 1993 Foreign Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
• 2003 Foreign Academician of the French Academy of Medical Sciences
• 2006 Award on Outstanding Contribution on AIDS Prevention and Control from BritishBarry & Martin's Trust
• 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Health from School of Medicine, University of Maryland
• 2013 Second Class of Chinese Medical Science Prize