The appointment was announced during the 6th Global Vision Week of the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in Nanjing (19-23 of October 2026), an international forum bringing together leading clinicians, scientists, innovators, and healthcare partners from around the world to shape the future of medicine and healthcare innovation.
Prof. Hélder A. Santos has built an internationally recognized research program at the interface of biomaterials, nanomedicine, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and translational healthcare innovation. His work has contributed to advancing next-generation therapies and technologies designed to improve patient outcomes across a range of major diseases. His leadership roles and international academic appointments reflect a career dedicated not only to scientific excellence, but also to building bridges between institutions, disciplines, and countries.
The Honorary Professorship further strengthens the strategic partnership between BBT, UMCG, the University of Groningen, and one of China's leading academic medical centers, the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The recognition highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing complex healthcare challenges that transcend national borders.
“This appointment is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the collaborative spirit that drives scientific discovery, and I am deeply grateful to Prof. Zhenyu Yin for inducting me for this appointment”, said Prof. Santos.
“Many of the most impactful advances in healthcare emerge when clinicians, engineers, scientists, and innovators work together across institutions and countries. I look forward to deepening our collaboration with Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Nanjing University, creating new opportunities for research, education, talent exchange, and the translation of scientific discoveries into solutions that benefit patients worldwide”, Prof. Santos concluded.
A key part of the ceremony included recognition of the strong and growing collaboration with Prof. Zhenyu Yin and colleagues at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Nanjing University. The appointment serves as a platform for expanding joint research initiatives, promoting researcher mobility, strengthening educational exchanges, and accelerating the development of innovative biomedical technologies with real-world clinical impact.
For the BBT department, this distinction reinforces its position as a globally connected center of excellence in biomedical engineering and translational health technologies. The department has made internationalization, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal impact core pillars of its mission, and this recognition exemplifies the value of those efforts.
“The future of healthcare will be built through international partnerships, shared expertise, and a common commitment to innovation”, said Prof. Santos, and he added, “I am delighted to see this outstanding recognition and very much look forward to the new opportunities and collaborations that will emerge from this important partnership”.
The Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology warmly congratulates Prof. Hélder A. Santos on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to the continued advancement of scientific discovery, healthcare innovation, and global collaboration through this new Honorary Professorship.
