In the early days of 2020, amid the unfolding mystery of a viral outbreak in central China, a significant figure in the field of virology, Zhang Yongzhen, emerged as a pivotal player. He bravely shared crucial data with the global scientific community, disclosing the genome of the virus responsible for Covid-19. This act was instrumental in the worldwide effort to understand and combat the pandemic, aiding researchers in identifying the pathogen and developing vaccines.
Zhang’s integrity earned him praise from scientists worldwide. However, in the years since, his career in China has been marked by unprecedented challenges. Recently, another obstacle arose, as his research lab at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center was abruptly closed for renovations. Zhang, 59, resorted to sleeping outside his lab in protest, according to his posts on social media.
After a series of negotiations, a tentative agreement was reached for Zhang’s team to resume their work at the lab, including research related to tracing the origins of Covid-19. However, this incident is just one in a series of setbacks Zhang has faced since 2020, according to a colleague familiar with his situation.
Zhang’s own students detailed the difficulties their mentor has encountered since his employment transition to the Shanghai center in 2020. They alleged that the center failed to recognize Zhang’s employment formally, depriving him of social security and medical benefits. Moreover, they claimed that a five-year cooperation agreement with Zhang was prematurely terminated.
The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center defended its actions, citing safety concerns for the lab closures and asserting that it provided alternative spaces for Zhang’s team to continue their work. However, Zhang dismissed these explanations as “nonsense,” emphasizing the impact on the research of more than a dozen students.
In a statement, Zhang vowed to address the issues with the center regarding the relocation of the lab and ensuring the well-being of his students. He also expressed his intention to resolve matters related to his agreements with the center.
Despite the challenges faced by Zhang and his team, there is no direct connection between the lab closure and Zhang’s pivotal role in sharing the coronavirus genome sequence in 2020.
Efforts to reach the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center for comment were unsuccessful.
