Professor Jin Meilin from Huazhong Agricultural University was recently honored with the title of March 8 Red-banner Pacesetter of 2024 by the All-China Women's Federation.

Professor Jin receives the title of March 8 Red-banner Pacesetter of 2024. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
For over 40 years, Professor Jin has been dedicated to addressing critical national demands in combating significant zoonotic diseases such as influenza and streptococcal diseases in pigs, as well as emerging and epidemic disease prevention and control. Her invaluable contributions have significantly advanced the development of China's animal biological products industry and enhanced veterinary public health safety.
In November 2023, Professor Jin's exceptional expertise and dedication were recognized when she was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, becoming the sole female academician representing Hubei province.
Confronting the recurrent challenges posed by animal influenza outbreaks, Professor Jin has spearheaded in-depth research on the intricate interaction mechanisms between influenza viruses and their hosts. She has pioneered a range of fast, accurate, and cost-effective detection technologies and formulated China's pioneering swine influenza vaccine.
Facing the global threat of severe streptococcal and actinobacillus suis diseases in pigs, she has developed a comprehensive series of vaccines and addressed the complex technical hurdles associated with controlling multiple pathogen co-infections.
Furthermore, her commitment to fostering a robust "production, study, research, and application" technological innovation framework has been instrumental. Through her research on edible vaccines and the strategic use of AI in identifying natural products and novel drug targets, she has pioneered six groundbreaking disease prevention and control products.