Professor Ian Frazer’s Eulogy Speech

Dr. Jian Zhou was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in China in 1957, and trained as a
doctor and a scientist in Wenzhou, in Henan, and in Beijing. In 1988 he left China to
pursue his career in medical research in England, in the United States, and in Australia.
I’ve been privileged to know Jian for 10 years. We met in Cambridge, England, when I
was on sabbatical in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge. Jian and
Xiao Yi were hard workers who were always in the lab, whatever time of day or night I
turned up to do my work. I was the intruder in their lab, borrowing lab space and reagents
from Lionel Crawford, as the lab I should have been using was over-full, and had no money
for reagents. Perhaps in consequence, Jian recognised in me an entrepreneurial streak with
which he empathised. I recognised in him the potential for a great friend and colleague.
Because we were both in a foreign country, and neither of us were thought to speak the
language very well. We got on well together, and I was truly delighted when he and Xiao
Yi accepted my invitation to come to Australia, to work in Brisbane, at the completion of
his contract in Cambridge. I might note that Jian rapidly became fluent in English, though
my students say I never have! Dr. Crawford had regrets at losing Jian to Australia, and the
Australian department of immigration were somewhat reluctant partners to my offer. In
consequence, it took almost two years to bring Jian and his family to Brisbane, but it was
worth it! Jian continued here what he had started in Cambridge under Lionel Crawford’s
guidance, and, with his flair for original science and hard work, he rapidly built an
international reputation in the field of papillomavirus virology. During the initial 4 years in
the centre, he carried out work with Xiao Yi which led to no less than 11 first author papers
in good quality journals, a considerable achievement, and one yet to be repeated in the
centre! He moved in 1995 to Chicago, to take up a position as Associate Professor at
Loyola University, where, in collaboration with Dr Lutz Gissmann and other colleagues he
furthered his work on papillomavirus structure and function, and continued to produce
papers at the same prodigious rate. However, the attractions of Brisbane proved too much.
Though Jian always maintained it was the cold Chicago winters that drove him back, I like
to think the science played a part also. Jian returned here in 1997 to the position of Senior
Research Fellow and head of the papillomavirus Virology unit. Unsurprisingly, he has
continued his publication rate unabated. He was recently made Principal Research Fellow,
a promotion which he richly deserved but which, as a result of his untimely death last week,
he himself was never aware of.

This encapsulates Jian’s career in science, which is well documented through his
publications, but these alone cannot give a picture of the man. I will remember Jian for
many things:
- I remember his love for his family.
- I remember his infectious enthusiasm for science and for life.
- I remember (how could I forget) his art of putting requests for resources to me in such
a way that they seemed like the only logical and natural thing for me to approve. He
always seemed to walk away from such meetings with exactly what he wanted, and I
was always left wondering just what I had agreed to this time.
- I remember his loyal friendship, and his sound advice.
- I remember his ready smile on all occasions, and a great sense of humour; even in the
face of adversity, when the NHMRC were repeatedly less forthcoming with money
 than he felt they ought to be, he could smile and make a joke out of it – and make us to
see the humour too.

But mostly I will remember him as a teacher, and as a builder of bridges. Jian was a great
clinician scientist, and built that most important of bridges from basic laboratory research to
the carrying out of clinical trials. While his research effort was clearly based on in the lab,
he quickly learned to look for the clinical utility in his many discoveries. His early research
on papillomavirus Virology resulted in the conception and production of the papillomavirus
like particle, which is currently under clinical trial, round the world, as a potential vaccine
to prevent cervical cancer. If Jian had contributed nothing else to the world, I am sure he
will be remembered for his work on papillomavirus vaccine, as these have the potential to
eradicate one of the commonest cancers of women in the world. But of course, that was
just the beginning of his contribution to medical research, and his more recent work has
addressed many aspects of modern medicine from vaccines against cancer and AIDS to
better means of gene therapy. For 10 years, Jian has led me, his colleagues, and his
students on a great adventure through the world of molecular virology. His tireless energy
was inspiring – it was almost as if he knew he had so much to do and so little time to do it
in. He achieved in 10 years of research what most of us would be happy to achieve in a
professional lifetime. It’s been a most exciting time, and I am sure Jian would agree, if he
were here, that there is no way we can let the momentum stop. Though it will be hard to
carry on in the absence – he was truly an inspiration – his colleagues in the centre will
ensure that the projects he started are seen through to fruition and, where possible, from
there into clinical practice.

Although Jian was clearly a citizen of the world, he always remembered where his roots lay.
He was active within the Chinese community in every place he lived and worked, building
bridges both within the Chinese communities, and between those communities and the
world at large. One of his colleagues will further address the aspect of Jian’s life, so I will
simply note that the bridge was another that Jian learnt how to build, built well, and kept in
good repair.

Jian was also a great builder of bridges to China – he established a link between our centre
and Wenzhou Medical University, his own alma mater, that has led to a successfully
completed conjoint clinical trial of a papillomavirus vaccine in China. It has also resulted
in an exchange program for medical students between Wenzhou Medical College and the
University of Queensland, and to a regular flow of scientific and medical visitors in both
directions. I had the great privilege to be shown a part of China by Jian last year. Jian was
the perfect host when I was in China with him – he was, (quite justifiably in my opinion as
a frequent but a rather reluctant flier) concerned about the quality and safety record of the
airlines we flew with. He was also concerned about how I would cope with the food – the
challenge for each of our hosts seemed to be to produce newer and more exotic foodstuffs
than their colleagues had managed – shark fat, sea slugs in jelly. Duck’s tongues – they
were all put in front of us. Jian would never tell me what I’d just eaten until after I’d eaten
it, which was probably just as well. I recall that on one occasion, after having helped me to
a plate of soup provided by the local tourist office who were our hosts for lunch, which
subsequently turned out to consist chiefly of frogs ovaries, Jian waited till I was finished
my portion before telling me what it was, and then admitted that of course he himself would
never consider eating such disgusting stuff!
He showed me the sights of Hongzhou, his home town, and introduced me to the cancer
centre there. We also visited the tea garden where Queen Elizabeth II had tea with Mao
Zhe Dong, and we agreed that while she might have enjoyed the views, the world famous
tea and the beautiful teahouse, we were each in no doubt that however much tea her Royal
Majesty might have consumed she would not have used the restrooms provided! I
fortunately had the privilege to show Jian some of Scotland, when we were there together –
I think the thing he remembered most was the plums in my mother in law’s garden, a liking
which he shares with my wife Caroline and myself. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone eat quite
so many plums as Jian managed in one sitting before, and he often subsequently asked
fondly after my mother in law, and especially after the plums!

Finally, Jian was a great builder of bridges to the wider scientific community, as evidenced
particularly by the very many letters expressing shock and regret at his untimely death that
have been received by the centre. Jian was the model collaborator, keen to share and to
help wherever possible, and at the time of his death he had active collaborations in 10
countries, and plans for as many more. Through his collaborations he made many friends
for himself and for the centre, and in that regard he was, and I hope will remain, an
inspiration to us all. While many of Jian’s scientific collaborators have sent letters of
condolence, I would particularly like to read one from Dr Lionel Crawford, whom I know
Jian held in particular esteem because of Lionel’s major role in allowing Jian to develop a
career in the western world.

Jian’s untimely death after short illness makes no sense at all to me. I, and the scientific
community, have been deprived of a great friend, a loyal colleague, and an outstanding
scientist. However, Jian leaves us behind a series of fond memories, particularly of his
dedication to science, his great sense of humour, and his love of his family, his friends, and
his colleagues. He also leaves us a legacy of bridge building, and I hope that was can all
learn from, and thus benefit and profit from, the legacy he has left us. Jian, we will carry
your work forward, and we will not forget you.

20 March 1999
Staff from Lions Human Immunology Lab, UQ, in 1991

Prof Lionel Crawford’s Message of Condolence to Xiaoyi Sun, 14 March 1999

 Ian Frazer 教授致的悼词

周健博士于一九五七年出生于中国杭州。他先后在温州、杭州、河南和北京的医学院学习，是一
位医生，亦是一位科学家。一九八八年，他离开中国，先后在英国、美国和澳大利亚的医学院里从事
他的专业——医学研究。我有幸结识周博士已有十年之久，是在我于英国剑桥大学病理学系担任客座
研究员的时候。周健和其夫人孙小依是两位最为勤奋的研究人员。无论白天黑夜，凡我去实验室时，
总会看到他俩在那里努力工作。实际上，我是他们实验室的一位打扰者，由于我的实验室过于拥挤，
没有空间供我做实验，加之经费紧张，缺乏购买药物试剂的资金，所以老是借用 Crawford 教授的实
验室和试剂。尽管我们都身居异域，那时的英语还都不够水平，但是我们相处得非常默契与融洽。周
健承认我是他所强调的那种善于经营的科学家，我则意识到他是一位潜在的好朋友和有实力的好同
事。
我由衷地感到高兴，周健和孙小依在完成与剑桥大学的合约之后，能接受我的邀请来布里斯班工
作。我同时发现，他来澳之际，英语已讲得非常流利，而我的学生则说我的英语进步不快。Crawford
教授很后悔放周健来澳大利亚。健能举家迁来，这是我一生中之最佳决策。在这里，他继续从事在剑
桥已起步了的工作。周健以他特有的科学敏感性和艰苦拼搏的工作热情，很快在乳头瘤病毒学研究领
域里获得了高度的国际声誉。在最初的四年里，周健和孙小依以第一作者的名义在国际高水平刊物上
发表了 11 篇论文，取得了可观的成就。直到现在，研究中心里尚未有人能获得如此之成就。
一九九五年，周健应聘去美国 Loyola 大学任副教授之职，阖家移居芝加哥。在那里他与 Lutz
Gissmann 博士及其他同事合作，进一步深入研究乳头瘤病毒的结构及其作用，并以同样的惊人速度发
表了许多高质量的论文。然而，布里斯班的魅力及这里良好的科研环境，驱使他告别寒冷的芝加哥回
澳工作。一九九七年，他被聘为高级研究员，并任乳头瘤病毒学研究室主任。毋庸置疑，他仍是一位
高产科学家。最近，他又被晋升为首席研究员，这是当之无愧的。遗憾的是，他自己还没有知道此一
喜讯而于上星期竟是如此意外地辞别了人世。
大量论文的发表，可以折射出周健毕生献身于科学的一个方面，但是还不能完整地描绘其他方面
的品质。许许多多的往事使我历历在目：
他对妻子和家庭真挚的爱；
他对科学、对生活富有感染力的热情；
当他在工作中向我提出某些建议或要求时，总是很具艺术性的，使之合乎逻辑和顺理成章，使我
不得不表示同意。有时，他对所提的事情似乎表现得轻描淡写的样子，而我却惊讶地发现，我已经同
意了他的要求；
他诚挚的友谊和出自肺腑的忠告；
他在所有的场合总是以微笑待人，极富幽默感。即使面临逆境，处事不如意时，亦不失儒士风
度。
更令我难忘的是，他不但是一位导师，更是一位技艺精湛的架桥人。周健是一位伟大的具有相当
临床经验的科学家，他在基础研究和临床实践之间架设了许多重要的桥梁。当他的科研努力有了一定
的眉目时，他会尽快的将这些发现运用到临床中去。在乳头瘤病毒学研究中，他首先提出了病毒样颗
粒的产生及其概念。目前，在世界范围内已将这一成果应用于临床实验。这是一种大有潜力的疫苗，
可预防宫颈癌的发生。我可以肯定地说，即使不考虑周健在其他方面的成果，仅就这一项对乳头瘤病
毒疫苗的贡献，人们亦将永远记着他，因为这一疫苗能预防全世界的妇女们最常见的癌症。其实，在
他对医学所做贡献的道路上，这仅仅是一个开端。近来，周健的工作已发展到应用疫苗来防治其他多
种癌症、爱滋病，还有基因治疗法等近代医学的诸多方面。
十年来，周健已带领大家（包括我、同事和学生们）在分子病毒学研究方面取得了飞速的进展。
他那永远不知疲倦的力量，鼓舞着他永远在有限的时间内做尽可能多的工作。因而，他在这十年内在
研究上取得的成就等同于一位专业科学家毕生所取得的成就。周健的这个十年真是一段极为令人振奋
鼓舞的黄金年华。有一点可以肯定的是，如果周健还在人世，他一定亦会同意我的看法，那就是没有
任何力量可以阻止这种汹涌前进的趋势。周健真是一位能够激励大家并能带领大家共同前进的人，没
有了他，无疑使这项由他开创的事业增加了许多困难。但是他的同事们保证要实现他的愿望，让这个
宏愿开花结果。
 虽然，周健无疑是一位世界村的村民，而他从未忘记他的根。在所有他工作和生活过的地方，周
健总是中国人社团中的一位活跃分子。他在社团之间架设桥梁，加强这些社团和世界上其他社团之间
的联系。我称誉他是一位优秀的架桥者，因为他不但懂得如何去架好一座桥，还善于去维护保养，使
桥梁运行通畅。周健的同事们也将会缅怀其生活中的这些方面，并致力于使之发扬光大。
周健也架设沟通中国的桥梁，并在我们研究中心与他的母校——温州医学院之间连接了一条强有
力的纽带，因此而非常成功地使乳头瘤疫苗在中国进行了临床实验。同时，还建立了一个在温州医学
院和昆士兰大学医学院之间进行学生与访问学者定期互访、实习的双向合作项目。
去年，我很荣幸地去了中国，周健给我介绍了中国的一些情况。他是一位殷勤好客的主人。他非
常关心我们所乘坐航线的服务质量和安全记录，也关心我如何去适应不同主人为我们准备的食物。热
情的主人竞相为我们准备我们过去从未尝到过的食物，诸如鲨鱼皮、鸭舌和海参等，在我们面前放了
满满的一桌。周健总是在我品尝食物之后告诉我有关这些食物如何如何。我回忆起，有一次午饭时，
餐厅给我上了一碗青蛙卵子做成的汤，事先我并不知道这是什么汤，品尝时只知其味无穷。周健亦不
告诉我，但等我吃完之后，才告诉我汤的成分和原料，同时告诉我他也从未吃过这种东西。
他带我去观赏杭州的湖光山色,这是他的家乡。又带我去参观那里的癌症研究中心。我们拜访了
一家伊丽莎白女王二世与毛泽东都曾在那儿品茗过的茶馆。我们可以想象到，当尊贵的女王与其随从
尽情地浏览周围景色，品尝世界名茶，欣赏精致的茶室，而喝进过量的茶水时，会不会懂得如何使用
当地的卫生间！我亦有幸陪同周健去参观我的故乡苏格兰的一些地方。他老是忘不了和我以及我的妻
子卡罗琳一起在我岳母的花园里品尝李子的情景。坦率地说，我从未看到有人像他那样能吃那么多的
李子。自此以后，每当我们吃起李子的时候，他总是不忘问候我岳母。
最后，我还想再重复一遍，周健是许多科学团体之间的热情而崇高的架桥人。对于周健的英年早
逝，我们中心收到了难以计数表示震惊和悼念的唁电，便是最好的证明。周健是科学家之间和谐合作
的楷模，无论何时何地，只要有可能，他一定会竭尽全力地帮助他人，并与他们一起分享得到成果后
的喜悦。在他辞世之际，已与十多个国家的科学家建立了合作关系，并计划进一步扩大这种合作。通
过这种合作，他自己以及为我们中心广泛结交了许多朋友。我希望，我们全体同仁仍应保持这种友好
精神，鼓励大家去结识更多的朋友。
在周健的许多合作者发来的唁电中，我特别要把其中 Lionel Crawford 博士的来信向大家宣读。众
所周知，Lionel 博士是周健最为敬重的人，在西方世界中，周健能在事业上获得发展是和 Lionel 博士
的帮助和支持分不开的。目前，Lionel 博士已经退休。

下面是他昨天刚刚寄来的信函：

亲爱的 Ian Frazer 教授：

承蒙告知关于举行周健追悼会的日期。我很想亲临现场参加周健的悼念活动，然而力不从心，只
好作罢。在此寄上这份唁文，请在最合适的时候，逐字逐句地宣读一下，希请鉴谅。

Lionel Crawford 教授的唁电

对于我来说，周健是一个很重要而又特殊的人物。他言语不多但十分聪明，他的创造才能和精湛
技能都是异乎寻常的。他喜欢动手做实验，从未在遇到的挫折面前退却过。我猜想，周健是因为经受
过中国文化大革命的考验，因此，对于后来在剑桥及其它地方碰到的任何问题都是不在话下了。令我
印象最深的是他温和的微笑和深情的友谊。与他在一起工作是一种愉快的享受，只是我们在一起工作
的时间太短了一些。
请向小依和子晞转达我们深切的哀悼。
Lionel Cranwford

周健的英年早逝而且是如此突然，实在使我不敢相信，难以接受。我以及整个科学界失去了一位
伟大的朋友、一位忠诚的同事、一位杰出的科学家。周健给我们留下的是一连串亲切的回忆与怀念，
特别是他对于科学的贡献，他风趣幽默的谈吐，以及他对家庭、对朋友、对同事真挚的爱。他为了沟
通各国科学团体之间的联系而架设的许多桥梁，更是一笔为我们留下的宝贵财富，我们将能借此交流
学习，并从中获得裨益。我们将继承你的工作，不断前进。
周健，我们永远怀念你！

1999 年 3 月 20 日
在周健博士告别仪式上的悼词
瞿佳i