From July 6th to 8th, 2023, the 13th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Alliance (APPLE) was held in Seoul, South Korea, with the participation of nearly 1000 experts and scholars in the field of liver cancer from around the world.
The current President and internationally renowned hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon, Dr. Norihiro Kokudo, announced during the general assembly of APPLE members that Dr. Jian Zhou from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China, has been elected as the President-elect of APPLE through a vote by the APPLE Executive Council. Dr. Zhou expressed his gratitude upon his election, stating that he will uphold tradition, foster innovation, and strive to achieve breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.
This marks the first time a mainland Chinese scholar has received this honor in the history of APPLE, symbolizing international recognition of China’s influence in the field of liver cancer and signifying China’s commitment to contributing more of its strength and wisdom to advance the international standards of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Under the leadership of Dr. Zhou and the APPLE Executive Council, APPLE will continue to serve as a platform for international scholars to exchange ideas and collaborate, striving to achieve outstanding results and provide more possibilities for curing liver cancer patients worldwide, ultimately making a greater contribution to the global community’s health.
Left: Dr. Norihiro Kokudo; Right: Dr. Jian Zhou
Dr. Zhou is a member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Vice President of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and Director of Hepatic Surgery. He also serves as the President of Xuhui District Central Hospital. Dr. Zhou is a recipient of the National Distinguished Youth Fund, a participant in national talent programs, a national key expert, and a member of the Shanghai Science and Technology Elite.
With over three decades of dedicated work in the field of liver cancer research, Dr. Zhou has pioneered new techniques for liver cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. These innovations have significantly improved the overall survival rates of liver cancer patients, placing these rates at the forefront internationally. He has successfully performed groundbreaking surgeries, including the world’s first “related liver + discarded liver” dual-source liver transplant and Asia’s first ALPPS procedure for treating advanced-stage liver cancer patients. Dr. Zhou has been honored with national awards for scientific and technological progress on five occasions.
Recognizing Dr. Zhou’s numerous breakthroughs in the clinical and fundamental research of liver cancer, he was elected as the President-elect of APPLE in 2023, becoming the first mainland Chinese to hold this position. He stands as one of the leading figures in the international field of liver cancer.
