The history of the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS), Peking University (PKU) began with the establishment of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences of Beijing Medical College on September 14, 1954, though its academic roots can be traced back to 1913. Following the name change from Beijing Medical College to Beijing Medical University (BJMU) in May 1985, the department was officially renamed to School of Basic Medical Sciences. In April 2000, BJMU merged with PKU, and the school formally became the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, marking a new chapter in its distinguished legacy.

With a century-long tradition of excellence, SBMS has nurtured generations of distinguished scholars, including Erhe Tang, Zongsheng Zhou, Wenzhao Ma, Songming Xu, Zongyang Lin, Jianqing Bao, Shilu Hong, Junqi Shen, Ji Lin, Zhengang Lin, Yuquan Zang, Sizhi Liu, Zhijun Wang, E Wang, Zhenzhou Long, Bingquan Wu, Tanjun Tong, Weifeng Chen, Shaoguang Fan, Bin Liu, and many others. These pioneers have played a pivotal role in advancing basic medical education and research, shaping China’s modern medicine through their innovative contributions into what it is today.

Over the decades, SBMS has developed a comprehensive and rigorous academic programs, which attracts world-class faculty members across diverse medical disciplines. The school now comprises 13 departments, 2 institutes, 1 teaching laboratory, and 1 medical experiments laboratory, supported by cutting-edge research facilities, including 1 National Key Laboratory, 2 Ministry of Education Key Laboratories, 2 National Health Commission Key Laboratories, 1 National Innovation Center, 1 New Cornerstone Laboratory, and multiple joint research centers with pharmaceutical companies. In 2017, PKU’s Basic Medical Sciences discipline was selected among the first cohort of China’s "Double First-Class" Initiative, affirming its leadership in medical education. Today, the school houses over 360 faculty members, including 60 full professors, 110 associate professors, and more than 150 principal investigators (PIs), among whom are 6 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) or Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and 80+ recipients of prestigious national scholarships and awards.

Committed to holistic education and pedagogical innovation, SBMS adheres to the guiding principle of "emphasizing competence, promoting innovation, strengthening practice." The school has been a trailblazer in medical education, launching China’s first undergraduate program in Basic Medical Sciences in 1977 and establishing the nation’s inaugural eight-year doctoral program in the discipline in 2001. Recognized early as a "National Training Base for Research and Teaching Talents in Basic Sciences" (1996), SBMS further solidified its reputation by being designated a National First-Class Undergraduate Program (2019), incorporated into the Ministry of Education’s "Strong Foundation Plan" (2020), and approved as one of the first "Training Plan 2.0 for Top Students in Basic Disciplines" bases (2021). The school offers 4 primary doctoral disciplines (Basic Medical Sciences, Biology, Integrative Medicine, and Pharmacy), 16 secondary disciplines, and postdoctoral training programs in Basic Medical Sciences and Biology. Over the past five years, SBMS has produced over 1,000 outstanding graduates, with more than 100 receiving national or Beijing municipal awards for exceptional doctoral dissertations. Embracing Peking University Health Science Center’s spirit of "integrity," the school integrates professional mentorship, career development, and social responsibility into its educational mission, encouraging students to engage in nationwide social practice programs that foster a deep understanding of medical challenges in the real world and a commitment to China’s national rejuvenation.

SBMS is at the forefront of clinical problem-driven research, emphasizing translational medicine and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through dual appointments with affiliated hospitals and "Basic Medical Sciences + X" academic initiatives, the school has cultivated high-caliber research frameworks in five key areas: cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, stem cells and regenerative medicine, oncology, immunology and microbiology, and neuroscience. With the support of research funding exceeding 100 million RMB annually, SBMS have published groundbreaking discoveries in top-tier journals such as  Nature, Science, Cell, NEJM, etc. Our translational breakthroughs—including tumor imaging agents, novel vaccines, stem cell therapies, and diagnostic reagents—have earned international reputation and numerous scientific awards, reinforcing SBMS’s role as a hub of medical innovation.

After 70 years of growth and development, the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, stands as a preeminent institution in medical education, research, and talent development. Building on its century-long legacy, the school will continue its dedication to the pursuit of scientific truth and innovation, contributing to the future of healthcare in China, and striving for global leadership in basic medical sciences.