China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan has won the University of Edinburgh's first-ever "Being Edinburgh" award, the university said in a statement on Thursday.

"The relevance of Zhong's achievements and his ongoing work as part of the Chinese response to COVID-19 resonated with our community, especially alumni living and working in China, and students whose families and friends were caught up in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic," read the statement.

Born in 1936, Zhong was one of the most important figures in fighting the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003. As head of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, he offered to admit all the critical SARS cases in Guangdong Province into his institute. When the COVID-19 broke out, the 84-year-old man chose to work on the front line to help save millions of lives in and outside China.

He has attended dozens of press and video conferences since the outbreak, sharing the latest updates from Wuhan and Guangzhou, the hardest-hit regions in China, and valuable experience with experts around the world.

Zhong not only showed academic and professional excellence, but also dedication and integrity, said Grace Guan, the university's regional director for East Asia.

He moved to the UK for further training at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and the University of Edinburgh Medical School between 1979 and 1981. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School with a Medicine Degree in 1981.

"During this time of international crisis, the Being Edinburgh Award allows us to highlight positive news in our global alumni community. Dr. Zhong is an inspiration to students, staff and alumni alike, and embodies important values that the University aims to uphold: drive, passion, and sustained hard work. His win is well-deserved, and we wish him the best of luck in his research on COVID-19," said Niamh Martin-McGarrigle, a linguistics and French student and member of the Being Edinburgh selection committee.

According to the university, the Being Edinburgh award was created by the Alumni Relations team at the University as a response to conversations with students, alumni and staff about how to increase knowledge and appreciation of Edinburgh's diverse community of former students.

It aims to highlight the lives and achievements of Edinburgh alumni who are not universally well-known, but whose stories should be shared and celebrated.

Among this year's nomination list are social justice activist and author Barbara Becnel and music researcher and ethnographer, Tom Western. The award was chosen by the selection committee from more than 100 nominated alumni.