International Forum on Biomaterials, Biomedicine, and Interdisciplinary Sciences 2023 & The 2nd Dongqian Lake Biomedical Summit Convenes in Ningbo
October 30-31, Ningbo – The International Forum on Biomaterials, Biomedicine, and Interdisciplinary Sciences 2023 & The 2nd Dongqian Lake Biomedical Summit was successfully held in Ningbo. The forum was hosted by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Ningbo Talent Leadership Group Office.
The conference boasted distinguished honorary chairs: Academician Xue Qunji of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Chairman of the NIMTE Academic Committee, and Professor Cui Ping, Director of the Yongjiang Laboratory. The conference chair was Professor Wu Aiguo, Deputy Director of the NIMTE Academic Committee, and the executive chair was Professor Li Juan of NIMTE. Centering on the theme of interdisciplinary integration between biomedicine, materials science, and medical sciences, the forum aimed to provide a high-level platform for domestic and international experts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, academic innovation, and the exchange of ideas, thereby promoting the integrated development of fundamental and applied biomedical research.
A Gathering of Eminent Scholars
The forum featured an assembly of leading minds, including 13 academicians who were invited attendees. Among them were Professor Dan Larhammar, Member of the Nobel Committee and former President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Professor Harald Stenmark of the University of Oslo, a Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, and Professor Shi Yigong, President of Westlake University. 11 of these academicians delivered keynote presentations. The event was also graced by the presence of Mr. Xi Ming, Member of the Ningbo Municipal Government Leading Party Members' Group; Mr. Fei Xiaochen, Director of the Ningbo Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; and Professor Zheng Jianjun, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chief Physician of Ningbo No. 2 Hospital. Over 400 renowned experts, scholars, and industry representatives from the fields of biomedicine and related interdisciplinary areas gathered for this occasion.
A brief opening ceremony was held on the morning of October 30, presided over by Professor Wu Aiguo. Addresses were delivered by Professor Wang Liping, Deputy Director (currently presiding over the institute's work) of NIMTE, and Mr. Xi Ming.
Wang Liping: Strategizing "New Materials + Biomedical Engineering" to Build an Internationally Renowned Innovative Research Base
Professor Wang Liping stated that as a key research base and technology provider in the field of new materials, NIMTE is committed to serving public health and contributing to a global community of health by strategically prioritizing the "New Materials + Biomedical Engineering" sector. He emphasized that NIMTE will actively collaborate with domestic and international research institutions, continuously introduce and integrate advanced foreign technologies for innovation, and steadily enhance the technological level and product value-added of regional industries. The ultimate goal is to establish NIMTE as a first-class domestic and internationally renowned innovative research base in biomedical engineering.
Xi Ming: Vigorously Developing the Healthcare Industry for a Shared Future in Biomedicine
Mr. Xi Ming highlighted that Ningbo is one of the first 38 pilot cities for national healthy cities in China. In recent years, Ningbo has been vigorously developing its healthcare industry, having already established considerable industrial strength. He outlined that Ningbo will comprehensively implement a biopharmaceutical industry innovation and enhancement project, continuously strengthen the autonomous controllability of industrial and supply chains, and strive to build a biomedical innovation center and industrial hub. He expressed his hope that the attending academicians and experts would provide more guidance and support for Ningbo's development and sincerely welcomed more high-end research institutions, teams, and talents from home and abroad to invest and initiate businesses in Ningbo, to jointly create a brighter future in the field of biomedicine.
Keynote Lectures: Leading the Scientific Frontier
On the mornings of October 30 and 31, a series of high-quality academic presentations were delivered by renowned academicians:
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Prof. Dan Larhammar presented on "Challenges and Opportunities of the Proteome Universe: Implications for Brain and Memory Research," discussing how gene duplication events in vertebrate evolution contributed to brain complexity and opened avenues for new therapeutic targets.
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Prof. Dong Shaojun presented "Beyond Photosynthesis: H2O/H2O2/O2 Self-Cycle for Direct and Sustainable Solar-Fuel-Electricity Conversion," introducing a bio-hybrid photoelectrochemical cell for integrated solar energy conversion and storage.
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Prof. Tan Weihong presented "Functional Nucleic Acids: From DNA Bases to Clinic," detailing his pioneering work on aptamers and their application in cell membrane protein research and single-cell proteomics.
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Prof. Yang Xiurong presented "Real-Time, Label-Free Study of Biomolecular Interactions by Dual-Polarization Interferometry (DPI)," explaining DPI's utility in studying quantitative interactions, conformational changes, and kinetics.
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Prof. Xu Guoliang presented "Roles of Enzymatic DNA Oxidation in Development and Disease," sharing insights into a novel DNA base modification and the role of Tet dioxygenases in mammalian epigenetics.
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Prof. Li Chenzhong presented "Bioelectronics for Physical Therapy and POCTs," discussing the integration of biomolecules and electronics for high-resolution, real-time sensing and diagnostics.
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Prof. Yan Xiyun presented "A New Generation of Biocatalyst—Nanozymes," reviewing the development and expanding applications of enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials since their discovery in 2007.
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Prof. Harald Stenmark presented "Lysosome Repair: Mechanisms and Opportunities for Nanomedicine," exploring molecular mechanisms protecting lysosomal membrane integrity and their implications for cancer therapy.
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Prof. Shi Yigong presented "Mechanism of pre-mRNA Splicing by the Spliceosome," highlighting his team's seminal work on atomic structures of the spliceosome and the molecular mechanisms of its functional cycle.
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Prof. Wang Jin presented "Quantifying the Landscape and Flux Underlying Cell Network Dynamics," introducing a framework using potential landscape and flux to understand cell fate decisions and oscillations.
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Prof. Yang Jian presented "Emerging Frontiers of Citrate-Based Biomaterials in Regenerative Engineering," showcasing the versatility of citrate-based biomaterials in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and bioimaging.
This Forum and Summit was one of the main events of the 2023 Zhejiang Ningbo Talent, Technology & Innovation Week. It successfully established a high-level platform for academic exchange, which is poised to propel the development of biomedicine and interdisciplinary sciences both within China and internationally. It also serves to help Ningbo gather top-tier talent and embrace high-tech innovations, thereby shaping new drivers of development through scientific and technological advancement and contributing significantly to the Ningbo effort in writing a new chapter for Zhejiang in realizing Chinese modernization.