On Janauary 9th, academician Wu Mengchao, aged 84, hepatologist, Tongji alumni and honorary professor, and Ye Duzheng, aged 90, an atmospheric physicist, were awarded theNational Supreme Scientific and Technological Prize (NSSTA) 2005, along with five million RMB of bonus.

Premier Wen Jiabao announced the decision to issue the award to prominent scientists at China's Fourth National Conference on Science and Technology, which opened here Monday morning. And China President Hu Jintao conferred the certificates and bonuses to the two winners.

Wu Mengchao, 84, graduated from the medical school in Tongji University in 1949. As the pioneer in liver and gallbladder surgery in China, he worked out the anatomy of the Chinese liver in the 1950s. He performed the first surgery to help treat liver disease in 1968 and served as vice president and deputy director of Society of Surgery of Chinese Medical Association, vice president of Sino-German Medical Association, president of Sino-Japanese Society of Surgery of Digestive Tract and member of International Association of Surgery. During his 40 years of medical practice, Wu has conducted more than 8,000 cancer removing operations, with the survival rate at 38.1 per cent. As the founder of China's liver and gall surgery, Wu received such prizes as Medical Science Award of Chen Jia-Geng, Medical Sciences Award by Ho Leung and Ho Lee Foundation, and titled model medical specialist by Central Military Commission.