From Economics to Medical Technology: How Dong Fan of Jafron Became an Expert with Special Government Allowances from the State Council

In a world where innovation knows no boundaries, a few brave souls dare to leap across industries, creating entirely new paths in the process. Dong Fan, the visionary founder of Jafron Biomedical, is one such individual. Armed with a degree in trade economics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Dong Fan could have followed a traditional career path. Instead, he chose to pioneer a new frontier in medical technology, specifically in the areas of blood purification and hemoadsorption.

Dong Fan’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. He’s been recognized as a pioneer in his field, earning the prestigious title of an expert with special government allowances from the State Council. This honor isn’t just about personal achievement; it reflects the global impact of the groundbreaking technology he has led.

Benefit the world! Hemoadsorption: A Technology That Saves Lives Worldwide

Earning the title of a "Special Government Allowance Expert" from the State Council is no small feat. The selection process is rigorous, aimed at individuals who have made significant contributions to scientific research and technological advancements that benefit both society and the economy. Dong Fan’s work in Hemoadsorption technology has certainly met these criteria. For over 20 years, his technology has been in use across more than 8,000 hospitals in 90 countries, with nearly 5 million clinical applications each year. Creating countless miracles in saving lives—Jafron's Hemoadsorption technology has made an indelible impact around the globe. In China, a centenarian Red Army soldier, critically ill due to acute liver failure, was given a new lease on life. In Switzerland, a 28-day-old newborn with congenital heart disease was saved from the brink of death. In Turkey, amidst the devastation of an earthquake, a severely ill refugee received life-saving treatment. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a patient suffering from complications related to dialysis was brought back from the edge. Even athletes, once confined to wheelchairs due to severe pneumonia, have returned to the playing field, their strength and vitality restored.

Dong Fan was awarded the State Council Special Government Allowance Expert in China

During the global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, Jafron's technology emerged as a critical tool in the fight against severe pneumonia, playing a pivotal role in patient recovery. It became so integral to treatment that it was included in the COVID-19 guidelines of 11 countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The technology's success in these diverse and challenging scenarios exemplifies Chinese originality at its best—an innovation that not only meets domestic needs but also serves as a rare example of a homegrown solution benefiting the world.

Moreover, its applications extend beyond these cases, offering hope to patients with various life-threatening conditions, including acute poisoning, autoimmune disorders, and liver diseases. Jafron's commitment to ongoing research and development ensures that this technology continues to evolve, making strides in global healthcare and solidifying its place as a cornerstone of modern medicine

From Nuclear Science to Medical Innovation

Interestingly, Dong Fan’s journey into medical technology started with something entirely different: ion exchange resin technology. Originally used for purifying heavy water in nuclear fuel production, Dong Fan saw its potential in medicine. Teaming up with Professor Yu Yaoting from Nankai University, a leader in molecular biology, they repurposed this technology for blood purification. Their work laid the groundwork for what would become Jafron’s Hemoadsorption technology, now widely used to treat chronic and critical illnesses like kidney and liver diseases.

The Road to Breakthroughs

In 1999, Dong Fan and his team at Jafron developed the world’s first resin hemoadsorption cartridge, marking a significant milestone in medical technology. But the road wasn’t easy. At one point, Jafron’s parent company considered divesting, and Dong Fan had to lead his team through some tough times. But with perseverance, they succeeded. They developed a resin material that could safely and effectively remove toxins from the blood without harming vital components like blood cells and platelets.

This breakthrough not only filled a gap in global medical technology but also provided a cost-effective treatment option that was particularly well-suited to China’s needs. Ten years after Dong Fan and his team embarked on their bold journey, a groundbreaking achievement thrust Hemoadsorption technology into the spotlight. In 2009, Jafron’s "Innovative High-Performance Medical Adsorption Resin for Blood Purification" won the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, the highest honor in China’s scientific community. This recognition was no small feat; it was the culmination of years of relentless innovation and unwavering commitment.

The award highlighted the revolutionary impact of using resin as a medical hemoadsorption material. By effectively cleansing a patient's blood of toxins within just a few hours, this technology has been a literal lifesaver, particularly for patients with conditions like lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, and acute hepatitis. The industry quickly took notice, and Jafron's name became synonymous with cutting-edge medical advancements.

But the journey to this success was anything but easy. In 2002, Jafron’s predecessor faced divestment by its parent company. At that critical juncture, Dong Fan, then a factory director, took a decisive leap of faith. Rallying 60 employees, he led the team in a daring move to start a business based on shareholding, setting "whole blood adsorption" as the company’s new direction. At the time, the prevailing technology was "plasma adsorption," which required separating plasma from the patient’s blood—a costly procedure with significant risks, including disease transmission. In contrast, "resin whole blood hemoadsorption" was an uncharted territory, with no existing academic or practical precedents to follow.

Undeterred, Dong Fan committed to a path of independent innovation, assembling an elite team of polymer professionals who collaborated closely with scientists, engineers, and medical experts. The development process was intense and relentless. The team immersed themselves in reading scientific literature, engaging in discussions, and conducting experiments around the clock. All-night work sessions became routine, with team members often catching brief naps in the lab before diving back into their research.

Their perseverance paid off. They conquered numerous technological challenges, including ultra-high cross-linking and encapsulation techniques, eventually creating innovative resin materials with "superior biocompatibility" and "high-efficiency adsorption performance." These materials could accurately target and remove toxins from the blood without harming beneficial components like blood cells and platelets. This breakthrough resulted in a whole blood hemoadsorption treatment model that was both safe and effective—a monumental achievement that not only filled a critical gap in international medical technology but also offered a solution more tailored to China's healthcare needs.

By 2009, over 100,000 patients in China were benefiting from this technology each year. The National Science and Technology Progress Award was a testament to the impact of Jafron's innovation, and it marked a turning point for the company, solidifying its place as a leader in the global medical field.

The technical team led by Dong Fan worked with Professor Yu Yaoting of Nankai University

Relentless Innovation: Pushing the Boundaries of Hemoadsorption

Hemoadsorption is not just a singular technology—it is a versatile platform capable of developing tailored treatment solutions for various diseases. Since their initial success, Jafron has never slowed down. Over the past decade, the company has expanded its R&D team from just a handful of innovators to more than 500 dedicated professionals. This team has continuously explored new applications for Hemoadsorption technology, resulting in a series of advanced treatment modes such as the "combined artificial kidney," "DPMAS artificial liver," and "adsorption-type extracorporeal circulation."

These innovations have led to major breakthroughs, including advancements in surface activation, pore size adjustment, and enhanced biocompatibility. Jafron has also improved the specificity of selective adsorption, allowing for the "customized" removal of pathogenic toxins from the blood. The company's commitment to research has yielded a new generation of adsorption technology products, now widely used across eight major medical fields, including poisoning, critical illness, kidney disease, liver disease, and autoimmune disorders.

As of now, Jafron boasts six major categories of hemoadsorption cartridges and holds 345 patents, with their technology bringing hope and healing to millions of patients around the world.

The significance of Jafron's achievements was showcased at the 2023 International Hemoadsorption Summit, held in China. The event attracted over 200 medical experts from nearly 30 countries, including Italy, the United Kingdom, and France, who gathered in the Greater Bay Area to share clinical experiences and discuss the future of Hemoadsorption technology. The summit was a celebration of "Chinese wisdom, shared by the world," as domestic and international experts alike praised the remarkable progress of China's Hemoadsorption technology, which, after decades of development, is now shining brightly on the global stage.

Group photo of experts from various countries at the 2023 International Hemoadsorption Summit

Dong Fan's success in cross-industry is not a simple career change, but a microcosm of the wave of innovation and entrepreneurship, and a model of China's rise in the world. The development history of Jafron has witnessed the rise of an industry, which has benefited the world with its unique innovative spirit and excellent product quality, and contributed Chinese wisdom to the global medical and health industry.