August 31, 2009 - Andre Nel, M.D., Ph.D. received an Honorary Professorship from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing. Dr. Nel, a professor of medicine, pediatrics and public health and chief of the division of nanomedicine at UCLA, was presented with a medal in honor of his nomination as "Visiting Professor for Senior International Scientists of The Chinese Academy of Sciences" during an official ceremony held in the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) at CAS. The medal was presented by Dr. Xiaoming Jiang, Professor & Associate Director of IHEP. 

Dr. Andre Nel and Dr. Xiaoming Jiang

Dr. Paul S. Weiss, newly appointed director of the California NanoSystems Institute and Fred Kavli Chair of Nanosystems Sciences, attended the ceremony and gave a presentation introducing the CNSI and read a message of congratulations from the UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. Dr. Nel gave a lecture, entitled, "Nanotoxicology as a predictive science" which included an overview of the recently established Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN). 

Drs. Nel and Weiss attended a dinner hosted by the Chinese Academy of Science Executive President, Professor Chunli Bai, who presented a certificate to Dr. Nel to commemorate his nomination. The two went on to attend the ChinaNano2009 conference during which Dr. Nel gave a keynote lecture and Dr. Weiss gave a plenary talk.

Andre Nel is in the process of setting up a strategic agreement between CEIN and his counterpart in CAS, Dr Yuliang Zhao, who is Director of the CAS Key Lab for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China. He is also assisting Paul Weiss in setting up a strategic relations agreement with CAS at large.

　"We are delighted to see the ties between UCLA and the CAS strengthening. We are particularly proud that Prof. Andre Nel, a leader in nanobiotechnology at UCLA and worldwide is being honored with a CAS Visiting Professorship for Distinguished Scientists," said Gene Block, UCLA Chancellor.

"As head of international programs at UCLA, we are happy to see these strong and growing personal and professional connections between UCLA and the CAS," said Nicholas Entrikin, Vice Provost, International Studies. "We look forward to Prof. Nel's new position catalyzing further ties. Congratulations!" 

( From: http://www1.cnsi.ucla.edu/news/item?item_id=964217)

Chinese Academy of Sciences President, Professor Chunli Bai presents certificate to Andre Nel

Professor Xian-En Zhang, Director General, Basic Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, China,
Paul Weiss, CNSI Director, Professor Chunli Bai, President of CAS, and Andre Nel

Dr. Xiaoming Jiang, Director of Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) presents medal to Andre Nel

Dr. Andre Nel(UCLA), Dr. Paul Wang, Director of the Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Howard University,
Dr. Paul Weiss(UCLA) and Dr. Yuliang Zhao, Director of the CAS Key Lab for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and
 Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS),
and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China.