Oncology professor gives up $435,283 salary in the US to return home after 40 years

After 40 years of working in the US, the world's leading expert in the field of cancer research - Professor Phung Can Sinh recently decided to return to his homeland.

Before returning to China, Phung Can Sinh was an honorary professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - one of the leading medical education and research institutions in the US.

In 2023, he received a salary and benefits of 435,283 USD/year (about 11.4 billion VND). However, he decided to leave this position to join Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) and take on the role of Director of the Institute of Cancer Research, according to the South China Morning Post.

“I am officially joining the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. Of course, I will not retain my position at the University of California, San Diego. My position ends on July 31, 2025,” he said.

Phung Can Sinh is a world- leading expert in cancer research, focusing on the mechanisms of liver cancer recurrence and immunotherapy.

His most important contribution was the discovery of a new enzyme called SHP2, which can affect protein stability and regulate the activity of other enzymes. This discovery has helped scientists better understand how cells grow, reproduce, and differentiate, including cancer cells.

Professor Phung's return is a positive sign for the ambition to raise the level of cancer research in China. (Photo: SCMP)

Recently, his research team also discovered that SHP2 combines with PTEN - a tumor suppressor enzyme that helps prevent liver cancer. When both of these enzymes are deficient, the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH) and liver cancer increases. This discovery opens up a new treatment direction, independent of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Notably, earlier this year, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UCSD. Professor Phung's decision to return to China comes at a time when many American universities are facing public budget cuts, directly affecting research and teaching activities.

Although UCSD was not completely “frozen” like the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), it was also heavily affected. In April 2025, UCSD President Pradeep Khosla sent a letter to faculty, saying that it was not possible to predict the exact extent of the damage, but initial estimates showed that the school could lose between $75 million (about 1.97 trillion VND) and more than $500 million (about 13.1 trillion VND) per year.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) is a research facility established by Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City with the aim of building leading science and technology innovation centers. Professor Feng’s joining SZBL and assuming the role of Director of the Cancer Research Institute is an important step in the development of Chinese medicine, especially in the field of cancer research and treatment.

An inspiring scientific journey

Phung Can Sinh was born in 1961 in Gia Thien district, Zhejiang province (East China). In 1978, he passed the entrance exam to Hangzhou University. Initially, under the influence of famous mathematician Tran Canh Nham, he was interested in mathematics but eventually chose biology.

After completing the required courses, two electives, Tumor Biology and Immunology, changed his life. “After studying these two courses, I developed a strong passion for tumor immunology, especially cancer immunotherapy,” he shared.

Graduated from Hangzhou University, he received a master's degree in Immunology from the Naval Medical University of the People's Liberation Army of China in 1984. He then went to the United States to study and in 1990 received a doctorate in Molecular Biology from Indiana University in Bloomington.

The discovery of SHP2 was published in Science magazine in 1993, quickly making him known to the international scientific community, thereby affirming his academic position in the field of tumor immunology.

Since 1994, he has taught and researched at many prestigious medical educational institutions in the US, becoming a full professor at UCSD since 2009.

Chinese media commented that Professor Phung's return is not only a source of pride for the country's medical sector but also a source of inspiration for young scientists. With his experience and vision, he promises to bring important advances in cancer research and treatment, contributing to improving the quality of public health care in the country of a billion people.

(Source: Vietnamnet)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/professor-of-cancer-professor-salary-435-283-usd-in-my-de-ve-nuoc-sau-40-nam-ar959892.html