Liver cirrhosis is a common clinical disease with a heavy global burden. Portal hypertension is the core pathophysiological change of liver cirrhosis. Esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding caused by portal hypertension is an acute and critical disease, with an incidence rate of more than 50% and a mortality rate of more than 20%. It is the main cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. This program is tailored to train early-career researchers and students in cutting-edge portal hypertension research. It aims to equip participants with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills, preparing them for advanced academic or industry careers in biomedical science. The target group includes graduate students and postdoctoral researchers passionate about cirrhosis, portal hypertension and clinical researches.

Weekly mentorship meetings with Dr. Chen and a multidisciplinary research team

Access to advanced laboratory facilities, including flow cytometry, protein metabolism platform and 10x Genomics Chromium single cell sequencing platforms.

Real-time involvement in clinical trials and translational research projects.

Opportunities to participate academic conferences and present research posters or papers at conferences.

Critical thinking, analytical, and practical inquiry skills utilizing the latest approaches in healthcare and medical research.

Skills in critical appraisal, research design, and understanding of the entire medical research process.

Understand the pathological mechanisms and clinical management of portal hypertension and complications

Develop proficiency in cutting-edge laboratory techniques, such as single-cell sequencing

Gain experience in clinical trial design and analysis

Cultivate skills in scientific writing and grant preparation

Portal hypertension with a focus on:

Precise prevention and treatment system for cirrhotic portal hypertension 

Exploring biomarkers for portal hypertension

Investigating the portal vein microenvironment in cirrhosis

Include project titles and short descriptions.

1. Establishment and application of precise prevention and treatment system for cirrhotic portal hypertension

2. Clinical research and demonstration application of endoscopic ultrasound-guided precise devascularization of esophagogastric varices 

Undergraduate students：

Candidates should be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in biology, biomedicine, bioinformatics, clinical medicine, or a related field. Prior coursework in molecular biology or immunology is preferred. Basic proficiency in English is required.

Graduate students：

Candidates must be enrolled in a Master’s, M.D. or Ph.D. program in biomedicine, bioinformatics, clinical medicine, or a related field. Familiarity with research methodologies and laboratory techniques is required. Fluency in English or Chinese is mandatory.

Researcher fellows：

Applicants should have an advanced degree (M.Sc. M.D. Ph.D. or equivalent) in a biomedical discipline with some prior research experience. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to work independently and contribute to team projects. Proficiency in English is essential.

Doctors：

Candidates must hold an M.D. degree with clinical experience, preferably in endoscopy or internal medicine. Research experience is not mandatory but is a strong advantage. Applicants must be fluent in English.

Postdocs ：

Postdoctoral fellows should have a Ph.D. in biomedicine, immunology, or an M.D. with clinical training in medicine, or the equivalent of education, training and experience. Candidates should be fluent in English.

Duration: 8 weeks

Daily Training Schedule (Example):

Monday:

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Lecture on Basics of portal hypertension

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Wet lab training: Treatment of complications of PH

Tuesday:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Workshop on bioinformatics tools for biomarker discovery

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Journal club: Discussing recent papers in PH and complications

Wednesday:

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Data analysis for clinical trial results

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: One-on-one mentorship meetings

Program Training Schedule:

1. Introduction & Welcome

Time Duration: (1 day)

Activities:

Workshop overview and objectives

Introduction of facilitators/tutors

2. Foundational Session

Time Duration: ( 1 week)

Topics:

Key concepts and theories related to the research focus

Literature review or background studies

Format: Lecture, interactive Q&A, or multimedia presentations

3. Practical/Hands-On Session

Time Duration: (3 weeks)

Activities:

Demonstrations of research tools or methods (e.g. lab equipment, software)

Practice exercises where participants replicate a research technique

Guided small-group activities for solving a case or analyzing data

4. Focused Research Topics

Time Duration: (3 weeks)

Topics:

Specialized areas of the research focus (e.g. recent trends, challenges, or advanced techniques)

Format: Interactive lectures, panel discussions, or guest speakers

5. Collaborative Session

Time Duration: (1 week)

Activities:

Group projects or brainstorming sessions

Problem-solving exercises or simulations

6. Wrap-Up & Reflection

Time Duration: (2 days)

Activities:

Participant presentations or discussion of key takeaways

Feedback session (e.g. online survey or live Q&A)

Specify assessment methods (e.g. written tests, practical assessments, report submissions) and whether certificates are provided.

Assessment Methods:

Submission of a final research report summarizing lab work and findings

Practical assessments during wet lab sessions

Certificates provided upon successful completion of the program

Explain how participants can provide feedback about the training experience.

Feedback for Participants:

Participants can submit anonymous feedback via an online form at the end of the program. One-on-one feedback sessions will also be scheduled midway through the program.

The program is free of charge.

Program Coordinator: Peng Li

Email: lipeng0328@zju.edu.cn

Phone: +86 188 6811 5828