Surgery Godfather-Chapter 1459 - 1086: Unworldly_2

"Currently, Japan is at the forefront of Virus Therapy, but it took them a full twenty years to go from research to application, and the results are not ideal. Their product can only be used as an adjunct, such as to shrink the tumor before surgery to facilitate the procedure. Moreover, our approach is completely different from theirs. They only use viruses as markers to attract the immune system to attack the tumor. Essentially, this is still considered immunotherapy."

"Our virus therapy truly exploits the virus for penetration, marking, and hunting, relying on the virus to perform all these functions. Thus, some steps have to be approached in reverse; for instance, the invisibility cloak feature of the α47 gene—we are not eliminating this feature, but enhancing it."

"At present, the United States is leading in cell therapy, with CAR-T cell therapy being the most mature in application and best in commercial operation. Compared to virus therapy, cell therapy has already achieved curative effects on certain tumors, so it’s not an unfamiliar concept. Our laboratory is also working on CAR-T cell therapy, so I won’t elaborate on cell therapy."

"Before long, we will surpass them. Our current foundational research is already ahead of them. These new projects that we have started are sure to be at the forefront." Yang Ping said without modesty, for there is no need for him to be modest in this regard.

"There is a fundamental problem with my approach to virus therapy. No matter how it’s improved, it cannot eliminate its inherent drawback: as a foreign entity, it is subject to attack by the immune system. On the other hand, cell therapy does not have this flaw. If we use the oncolytic approach, in fact, it lacks potency; Japanese researchers have worked on it for twenty years with limited success." Tang Shun still believes that cell therapy has more potential.

Professor Zhang Zhiwei disagreed: "Cell therapy also has a significant weakness regarding its effects on solid tumors. It’s difficult for cells to penetrate from the blood vessels through the vascular walls and then through one barrier after another to reach the interior of the tumor. Viruses can easily enter solid tumors. Regarding the immune system’s attack on viruses, it’s possible to perform evasion tactics. Didn’t Professor Lu just mention that the α47 gene carried by Type 1 herpes simplex virus is an invisibility gene? I think adenovirus or other viruses may also possess such genes. We can enhance this function using recombinant technology. Even if other viruses do not have such genes, we can implant them. It’s not a difficult task."

Discussions at the academic meetings of Yang Ping’s team are always straightforward, with no need for pleasantries, increasing communication efficiency and avoiding ineffective loss.

"It doesn’t matter; we don’t need to argue about who has a better future. Let the future judge that. We need to research all possible paths. In the process of research, we may learn from each other, making up for each other’s deficiencies. Also, we should embark on a third path, implanting some of the genes from immune cells into carrier viruses like adenovirus, potentially combining advantages. Of course, this is just an idea of mine, but don’t worry. Everyone, don’t feel stressed. Research does not guarantee success or results. Relax and explore. If a path doesn’t work, we adjust. If it does, we continue." Yang Ping made his views clear, assuring everyone not to worry as the availability of research funds is plentiful with no favoritism.

"Each of our projects is independent but also part of a larger project. So, during the research process, we should share data, enlighten each other, and learn from each other. More communication is needed between different fields— breakthroughs might occur during these interactions, and no one can predict the future, so we can only ’cross the river by feeling the stones.’"

With ample research funds, Yang Ping wants to create a relaxed and free research environment for everyone, not burdened by utilitarian motives.

"Professor Yang, I’d like to know how much funding you plan to allocate for our research project. It would help me have a clear idea because the team needs to expand, new equipment needs to be added, and the scale of the laboratory has to grow," Lin Lan asked directly about the funding because the current team and laboratory conditions are insufficient for these research projects. Moreover, if expansion is required, it’s not a small sum of money. The research fund for the next ten years would not suffice for this single project.

"Yes, I would also like to know so I can plan my next steps," said Professor Zhang Zhiwei, who was very interested in the matter.

Lin Lan and Professor Zhang Zhiwei are professors from Nandu Medical University. Although familiar with Yang Ping, they were not very clear about the details of his research fund, only knowing of its existence, but not its actual capability.

Now that Yang Ping has laid out such a large framework, both professors are eager to join his big team. However, they’ve assessed that the required investment would not be small.

Tang Shun and Lu Xiaolu are insiders at Sanbo Hospital, with a clear understanding of Yang Ping’s research fund’s capabilities, especially Tang Shun, who is a top "salesman" for the research fund, having raised a lot of money for it. For example, the stem cell therapy project has already gathered several hundred million US dollars in funding, and the amount is still increasing.

Yang Ping looked around and paused—normally, he wasn’t too concerned about money and couldn’t state a specific number. All he could say was, "There’s enough!"

Enough, that answer is rather vague, it’s practically no answer at all.

At this moment, Tang Shun picked up the conversation: "Professor Yang usually doesn’t pay attention to the money in the research fund account, so he’s not sensitive about money. He definitely can’t give an exact figure. Once you’ve completed the budget, he can ensure that signatures and payments will be done. If we must talk about a planned funding amount, let me disclose the bottom line to everyone: for this major project, our current initial investment of 1 billion is no problem."

billion?

Indeed, this is a rich and powerful move. I’ve heard that Professor Yang’s side is not short on money; the legend is true. Usually, he’s so low-key, but he can actually pull out ten billion for research funding at once.

Lin Lan, Professor Zhang Zhiwei, and a few of their assistants were stunned when they heard this number. They had never heard of such a large amount of funding given at once. 10 billion; a few research groups, each could get two to three billion without a problem. This was already a hugely significant figure.

"I have an idea now, let’s start the work and draw up the budget as soon as possible," Lin Lan said with unusual excitement. Finally, there was no need to pinch pennies.

Now, Professor Zhang Zhiwei’s hands were trembling with excitement. By this token, his research group could secure two to three billion; and that too in the initial phase. Two to three billion in funds.

"Only 1 billion? With so many research groups, why so little? Wasn’t it 50 billion?" Yang Ping was somewhat dissatisfied with the number and immediately asked Tang Shun why the funds had shrunk. Usually, he was very generous, so why be stingy now? There was no need to hide wealth in such an occasion.

Tang Shun realized he had made a mistake after being grilled by Yang Ping. He used to study abroad and was accustomed to talking about US dollars.

"Professor, it’s US dollars. I meant 1 billion US dollars, not RMB," Tang Shun quickly clarified.

US dollars? 1 billion?

Lin Lan’s eyes, already big, now widened even further as she looked at Yang Ping, waiting for his confirmation. This couldn’t be a joke. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

Professor Zhang Zhiwei’s hand, holding a teacup, trembled, spilling tea all over the desktop. My goodness, what kind of tycoon is this? This isn’t just taking off; any equipment desired can be obtained, any talent wanted can be straightforwardly recruited.

"Professor Yang? Don’t scare me, are you serious?" Professor Zhang Zhiwei hurriedly pulled out a pack of napkins, threw them onto the spilled tea on the desktop, and spoke while dabbing it up.

"That’s right, our research funds often come in batches, and sometimes the cash available in the account isn’t that much, so this is what we have for the first phase. More funds will be allocated later based on progress and needs," Yang Ping confirmed the figure reported by Tang Shun.

Professor Zhang Zhiwei now felt like one who has never seen the world.