Prof. Monte Westerfield made a presentation during his visit to the institute.

At the seminar chaired by IHB Prof. Zhu Zuoyan, also CAS academician, Prof. Westerfield discussed issues of mutual interest with IHB scholars. He clarified several confused issues concerning with the study of zebrafish. He also proposed some feasible schemes to the planned Zebrafish Resource Center of IHB and had an in-depth discussion with IHB scholars on the possible cooperation and exchanges between both resource centers in the near future.  

Prof. Westerfield made a presentation entitled "Molecular mechanisms of Usher Syndrome” in the afternoon, introducing the latest progress achieved in the research of Usher Syndrome by using the zebrafish model. Usher Syndrome is the main cause that leads to deafblindness. Based on the

IHB Prof. Zhu Zuoyan presented a gift to Prof. Westerfield after the presentation.

Prof. Westerfield is a pioneer and leading scientist in the field of zebrafish research. The Zebrafish Book, compiled by him, has become the guide manual for the laboratory use of zebrafish. Prof. Westerfield paid a visit to IHB in 2004 to attend the International Workshop on Fish Genetics and Development. The current visit is his second trip to China and is very important for the establishment of Zebrafish Resource Center of IHB.