DIA, (founded as the Drug Information Association), the largest global, neutral, multidisciplinary forum for life science professionals in global healthcare product development, announced today the elevation of two key leaders on its China Regional Advisory Council. Dr. Zili Li, MD, MPH, has been appointed to the role of council chairman and Professor Shun Lu, MD, to the role of vice chairman; both will serve a two-year term.

“With these appointments, we look forward to continuing the organization’s thought leadership and the momentum of our knowledge platforms in Asia and beyond,” said Dr. Tong-Yan Wang, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Greater China, DIA. “It is hoped that under their leadership, DIA will make every effort to foster new drug development and innovation in China.”

Dr. Li, who currently serves as Vice President and head of AP R&D at Janssen Pharmaceutical Company, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, possesses more than 20 years of combined US FDA and industry experience in drug development and regulation. In addition to roles at FDA’s Office of New Drugs and Office of Generic Drugs, Li previously held a variety of roles at Merck & Co., served as Head of China R&D at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Beijing Office, and has received special recognition awards for his efforts in the promotion of science-based regulatory decision-making in China.

Professor Lu currently serves as head of the oncology department at Shanghai Crest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University. A world class oncologist with more than 30 years of experience in chest cancer treatment, Lu is the leading expert in lung cancer research, having served as the leading PI for more than 14 multi-center Phase III oncology clinical trials and participated as the key contributor in 50 additional global and regional clinical trials. As an advisory board member for the Center for Drug Evaluation at NMPA, Lu has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and serves as deputy editor-in-chief for Journal of Thoracic Oncology and Lung Cancer and editor for The Oncologist, in addition to numerous medical board roles.

“The momentum that our members and volunteers help foster is crucial to DIA’s mission of bringing effective cures to patients faster, no matter where in the world they may be,” said Barbara Lopez Kunz, DIA Global Chief Executive. “Particularly in China, from our Capability Builder initiative and global learning solutions, to our longstanding supportive role in ICH guideline adoption—but really, throughout the world—DIA and our Regional Advisory Councils are committed to the impactful expansion of shared life science knowledge for all of humanity’s benefit.”