1. Review of Discipline History
The discipline of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology was established in 1958, coinciding with the founding of Xuzhou Medical College. It comprises two sub-disciplines: Human Anatomy and Histoembryology. This discipline focuses on the form and structure of the human body and is a vital foundational field in medical education. In 2006, the discipline was approved as a Master's degree-granting program in Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, and in 2022, it was recognized as a doctoral degree-granting program.
2. Main Research Direction of the Discipline
At present, the main research directions of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology are: (1) the differentiation mechanism of stem cells; (2) degenerative encephalopathy and its prevention and treatment; (3) pathological mechanisms and treatment of endocrine and reproductive diseases; (4) clinical applied anatomical research.
3. Discipline Leader and Team Introduction
Currently, the discipline boasts a dedicated team of 38 full-time faculty members, including 5 professors, 8 associate professors, and 24 teachers holding doctoral degrees. The team also includes 1 doctoral supervisor and 12 master's supervisors. Notably, the discipline features 2 prominent backbone teachers from Jiangsu Province's "Qinglan Project," 1 special professor from Jiangsu Province, and 1 special professor from Xuzhou Medical University. Through continuous development, the discipline of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology has established a robust academic framework, fostering a strong foundation for postgraduate education and creating favorable conditions for conducting high-level scientific research.
4. Scientific Research Status
In recent years, the discipline has secured over 10 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and published more than 100 scientific research papers, including over 50 SCI-indexed articles. These publications have appeared in prestigious international journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA(PNAS), the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Journal of Ovarian Research, and Experimental Neurology. Additionally, the faculty has authored 5 monographs on central nervous system anatomy and lymphatic applied anatomy. The discipline also holds 2 authorized invention patents and 4 utility model patents.
5. Strength of the Disciplinary Research Platform
The discipline is equipped with major research facilities in molecular biology, cell biology, and neurobiology. Additionally, it benefits from the university's public experimental research center, which supports research in experimental zoology, histomorphology, molecular biology, cell culture, and electrophysiology. Key equipment includes transmission and scanning electron microscopes, flow cytometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, brain stereotaxic instruments, laser imaging systems, ultra-thin microtomes, intelligent laser scanning confocal microscopes, orthoscopes, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR systems, among other advanced instruments. These resources provide excellent hardware conditions for postgraduate training and effectively support talent development needs.
6. Situation of Discipline Talent Cultivation
The discipline of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology currently offers foundational courses at various professional levels, including for undergraduates, international students, and postgraduates. These courses cover subjects such as Human Systematic Anatomy, Regional Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Human Structure, Field Anatomy of the Central Nervous System, and Applied Anatomy of the Rat Brain. The faculty has compiled 7 textbooks and edited works including Human Systematic Anatomy, Regional Anatomy, Human Systematic Anatomy Experiment, Regional Anatomy Experiment, Human Histology and Embryology Experiment, Practical Histology and Embryology, and Rehabilitation Applied Anatomy.
The discipline members have earned recognition for their teaching excellence, including the First Prize in the Jiangsu University Teachers' Teaching Innovation Competition, the Second Prize in the Jiangsu Province Teaching Competition for Young Teachers, and the Second Prize in the National Medical College Micro-Course Competition. They have also received the Second and Third Prizes in the Jiangsu Micro-Class Teaching Competition. The discipline has published over 10 educational papers and secured 3 teaching reform projects. Graduate students from the discipline have been awarded 3 innovative projects from Jiangsu Province and one Outstanding Master's Thesis Award.
7. Disciplinary Social Services
The discipline is committed to "serving society, serving the university, and serving students" as its core mission, actively engaging in various community service initiatives. In collaboration with the Xuzhou Red Cross Society, the department has been dedicated to the reception and promotion of body donation programs at Xuzhou Medical University. Additionally, leveraging the university’s Life Science Museum, a key science base in Jiangsu Province, the discipline conducts educational outreach to students and the general public, fostering awareness and knowledge of life sciences.
8. Enrollment and Employment
This discipline welcomes graduates from clinical medicine and related fields, including rehabilitation therapy, nursing, and medical technology. Currently, the discipline trains a total of 38 graduate students. Graduates have been employed by prestigious universities, hospitals, research institutes, and biomedical companies. Some pursue further doctoral studies at top-tier universities. Our graduates are highly regarded by employers and make significant contributions in their respective fields.
