On June 29, 2026, the Scientific Committee Meeting of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) China Regional Research Center was held in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province. The meeting brought together top scientists from the biomedical field, representatives from relevant regulatory authorities, and partner institutions, all contributing insights and suggestions for the Center’s high-quality development.

Top Experts Gather to Chart the Future of RRC

The Scientific Committee meeting featured a distinguished panel of experts. Dr. Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General, chaired the session. Prominent international scientists in attendance included Professor Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco, Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the University of Virginia and Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and Professor Alessandro Marcello, Head of the Molecular Virology Laboratory at ICGEB Italy. Domestic leading scholars also participated; Professor Jin Li, President of Fudan University and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor Xia Yankai, Vice President of Nanjing Medical University (delegated by Professor Shen Hongbing, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, Director of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering); and Professor Xu Tao, Director of the Bioland Laboratory and Executive Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Laboratory, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences (joining online). Non-voting attendees included representatives from the China National Center for Biotechnology Development, Fudan University, the Taizhou Medical Industry Park Management Office, and the ICGEB China Regional Research Center.

Reviewing Achievements, Planning Phase II Blueprint

During the meeting, Dr. Yang Yili, Director of the ICGEB China Regional Research Center, reported on the Center’s achievements over the past three years, along with the goals, plans, priorities, and overall research strategy for its second-phase development. Subsequently, the principal investigators of each research group presented their respective scientific progress. After listening attentively, the Scientific Committee members engaged in lively questioning and interactive discussions on the academic merit of the projects, pathways for translating results into applications, and key areas for the second phase, offering numerous constructive suggestions for the Center’s future direction. Following this, the Committee held a closed-door meeting and then convened a concluding session with the Center Director and responsible officials from the China National Center for Biotechnology Development and China Medical City, where conclusions and recommendations were formulated and will be submitted to the Management Committee.

On-Site Visit and Exchange: Embarking on a New Chapter

In the afternoon, the Scientific Committee members visited the Regional Research Center, reviewed academic posters, and held in-depth exchanges with the research staff.

The convening of this Scientific Committee meeting comes at a critical juncture as the ICGEB China Regional Research Center enters its second-phase development. The Center will continue to focus on key areas such as vaccines, bio-therapeutics, and diagnostic technologies, with an emphasis on technology transfer, translation of research outcomes, and industrialization. It will also foster two-way exchanges and scientific cooperation between China Medical City and ICGEB member states. Looking ahead, the Center will intensify efforts to attract world-class talent, actively engage in international collaborative projects, and further enhance its global scientific influence, thereby supporting China Medical City in building a world-class biomedical innovation hub.

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