General

The Fourth Zijuan Young Scholars Forum Concludes Successfully

On June 6, 2025, the 4th Zijuan Young Scholars Forum was held in A203, ZJE Building, International Campus of Zhejiang University. The forum was organized by the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE), the Centre for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology, Zhejiang University, with the support of the the Peak Discipline Project of the School of Basic Medical Sciences of Zhejiang University. Nearly 80 faculty and students gathered to explore the theme "The Dual Narrative of the Life Code: The Plasticity of Stem Cells VS the lnevitability of Evolution". Dr. Di Chen, Dean’s Assistant of ZJE, and Dr. Haoxuan Liu from the Centre for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology delivered opening speeches to welcome participants.Six faculty and students from ZJE and the Centre for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology co-chaired the academic reporting session, ensuring smooth and in-depth exchanges.Seven faculty and students from the Centre for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology and nine from ZJE presented reports on cutting-edge topics, including genomic insights into dietary diversity in human populations, the impact of infection and diet on organ cell dynamics, the mysteries of extracellular vesicles, comprehensive mutation maps of yeast mutant strains, avian diversity research combining genomics and ecology, somatic mutation prediction frameworks in normal and cancerous tissues, evolution of multiple sperm types and sex chromosomes in fruit flies, mechanisms of male-biased germline mutations in mice, studies on bone-fiber interface guiding unidirectional mineralization in suture development, protein-based magnetic soft robots for active drug delivery, and the role of p bodies in human primordial germ cell development.The Zijuan Young Scholars Forum is a branded academic activity established by ZJE to promote exchanges between ZJE and other Zhejiang University research institutions, fostering the growth of young life and medical talents and strengthening ties between young faculty and students. Previously, ZJE faculty and students engaged in in-depth academic exchanges with theSchool of Basic Medical Sciences of Zhejiang University, Liangzhu Laboratory, and Life Science Institute of Zhejiang University. Through the Zijuan Young Scholars Forum, ZJE faculty members have better integrated into the development of medicine and life sciences at Zhejiang University, and also contributed to the high-quality development of the university's related fields.

2025-06-13

[Biomed-X Seminar No. 136] Professor Yongyong Shi from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology Shared Molecular Insights into Schizophrenia

On May 23, 2025, the 136th Biomed-X Research Seminar of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) was successfully held in the Room 2A-203. Invited by Dr. Jian Liu, Prof. Yongyong Shi, Acting Director & Senior Principal Investigator of Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (Institute of Neuroscience), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Dean & Distinguished Professor of Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, delivered an academic report titled “Molecular Insights into Schizophrenia: Mechanisms and Implications”. Professor Shi has long been dedicated to the study of molecular mechanisms of mental disorders and has achieved a series of breakthrough results in the field of schizophrenia genetics.Professor Shi first reviewed the key research findings of his team. In 2011, his team published a study in Nature Genetics, identifying two new schizophrenia susceptibility loci in the Chinese Han population. In 2017, they published another study in Nature Genetics, discovering 30 new schizophrenia susceptibility loci through large-scale analysis of 36,180 individuals, increasing the total number of genome-wide significant loci to 113. Professor Shi explained that schizophrenia is a highly heritable disease, with heritability ranging from 70% to 85%, and is characterized by a significant polygenic component. Despite the identification of 113 genome-wide significant loci, these loci only explain about 3.5% of the disease susceptibility, highlighting the highly complex genetic architecture of schizophrenia. Professor Shi also outlined the future directions for research into the molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia, noting that with the continuous increase in sample size and the deepening of multi-ancestry population studies, we can hope to more accurately locate causal variants and identify effector genes, providing a theoretical basis for precision treatment of mental disorders.During the event, faculty and students actively engaged in discussions, demonstrating their open-minded approach to academic exploration and critical thinking about research questions. Prof. Shi patiently and thoroughly answered every question, deepening the understanding and insights of participants in this field.As the 136th session of the Biomed-X Seminar series, this report underscores the institute's commitment to fostering high-level academic exchanges through its academic brand building efforts. The institute will continue to provide a platform for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge scientific discussions.

2025-06-03

ZJE team participated in Zhejiang University School of Medicine Sports Meet and won the first place in the undergraduate group

On 10th May, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Sports Meet was successfully held in the East Playground of Zijingang Campus. Our undergraduates won the first place in the undergraduate group with a total score of 145 points, the faculty group finished the competition brilliantly and won the third prize for the total group score, and both teams were awarded the Moral and Ethical Prize (the only team in the competition). With 5 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals, they interpreted the profound meaning of ‘Amazing Medicine, Competitive Style’Champions:Undergraduate Mixed Caterpillar Race Undergraduate Women's 100m: Liu Wenting Undergraduate Men's Shot Put: Zhou You Undergraduate Men's Discus Throw: Zhou You Undergraduate Men's Javelin: He Yiyang Runners-up:Undergraduate Men's 100m: Yang Haoran Undergraduate Men's 1500m: Zhang Yufeng Undergraduate Women's 800m: Jiang YunchangUndergraduate Women's Discus Throw: Zhou Jingxue Undergraduate Men's Discus Throw: Chen YiwenThird Place:Undergraduate Women's 1500m: Zhu JiayingUndergraduate Men's High Jump: Yang Haoran Undergraduate Women's Javelin: Zhou Jingxue Faculty Youth Group Men's Javelin: Zhang Jie

2025-05-16

ZJE Connects: Global Talent & Alumni Gathering in Singapore

The Global Talent and Alumni Gathering of Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) was successfully held in Singapore on April 24, 2025. The event attracted over 20 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from leading institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).Mavin Ye, Vice Dean of ZJE, systematically presented an overview of Zhejiang University, its International Campus, and ZJE’s competitive advantages. He provided detailed explanations of high-level talent recruitment policies and had in-depth discussions on topics including student development, benefits packages, and career advancement opportunities.15 ZJE alumni currently pursuing studies at NUS and NTU participated in the alumni engagement session. The delegation, led by Mavin Ye, shared updates with alumni regarding ZJE’s latest developments and the progress in establishing the alumni chapter. This event strengthened the communication and connection between Singapore-based alumni and ZJE. The global accomplishments of ZJE graduates serve as powerful validation of the institute’s educational mission and values.

2025-05-09

[Biomed-X Seminar No. 134] Professor Shi-Qing Cai from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology Shared the Secrets of Aging

On April 29, 2025, the 134th Biomed-X Research Seminar of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) was successfully held in the Room 2A-203. Invited by Prof. Di Chen, Prof. Shi-Qing Cai from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), delivered an academic report titled "Neural Basis of Healthy Aging". The report was hosted by ZJE postdoc Zang Xiao.Prof. Cai explored the molecular mechanisms of healthy aging and ion channel regulation. He noted that “longevity” doesn’t equate to “youthfulness”, and healthy aging is both a scientific and social issue. Using C. elegans as a model, his team found global wild-type C. elegans show significant behavioral aging differences due to the SNP of the neuropeptide RGBA-1 and receptor NPR-28 gene. In C. elegans aging, the decline of neurotransmitter systems (serotonin/dopamine) is linked to reduced BAS-1 expression. Genetic screening identified BAZ-2/BAZ2B and SET-6/EHMT1 as epigenetic factors affecting aging across species by regulating mitochondrial function. Notably, BAZ2B is overexpressed in MASH, offering a new therapeutic target.During the event, faculty and students actively engaged in discussions, demonstrating their open-minded approach to academic exploration and critical thinking about research questions. Prof. Cai patiently and thoroughly answered every question, deepening the understanding and insights of participants in this field.As the 134th session of the Biomed-X Seminar series, this report underscores the institute's commitment to fostering high-level academic exchanges through its academic brand building efforts. The institute will continue to provide a platform for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge scientific discussions.

2025-05-08

Imaris Software Powers Image Workstation, Revolutionizing Scientific Research Imaging

On April 22, the Image Workstation of the ZJE Core Facility was officially put into use, and Imaris, a 3D visualization image analysis software commonly used in the field of life sciences, was introduced. As an important scientific research facility, this workstation has powerful computing capabilities and can efficiently process complex image data. Combined with the Imaris software, it provides strong support for researchers to carry out multi-dimensional image processing work.On the day of its inauguration, the ZJE Core Facility held an Imaris software operation training session, attracting more than 40 faculty members and students. The training was led by professional engineers from Andor Oxford Instruments and covered core functions such as 3D visualization, image analysis, and data management. The learning atmosphere was strong. Participants mastered the key applications of the software through operations and achieved remarkable results. Professor Hong Zhi, the director of the ZJE Core Facility Committee, attended the event for communication and delivered a speech. She emphasized that the inauguration of the Image Workstation provides better computing and image processing conditions for the college's scientific research work and helps to promote scientific research progress.Since its inception in 2021, the ZJE Core Facility has provided strong technical support for the school's scientific research. It has served nearly 50 research groups and units both inside and outside the school, with a cumulative service time of over 100,000 hours. It has also organized various Chinese and English training sessions and special-topic training for more than 3,500 person-times, and supported the publication of more than 300 research papers. The addition of this Image Workstation further enhances the platform's service capabilities and creates more possibilities for scientific research work.In the future, the ZJE Core Facility plans to introduce more advanced equipment and technologies, carry out high-quality training activities, and continuously provide comprehensive support for the scientific research work of faculty members and students, helping to steadily improve the scientific research level of ZJE.Text: Zhu LePictures: Li Yuan

2025-04-30

ZJE Mentorship Team Building Experience Sharing Successfully Held

On April 15th, ZJE convened a mentorship team building experience sharing session with the objective of further promoting the Five Goods mentorship culture. This initiative is designed to cultivate a harmonious mentoring environment and facilitate the joint development of faculty and students. The event featured a presentation by Professor Zhengping Xu, the member of the Five Goods Mentorship Team Promotion Group, who shared his valuable insights.Professor Xu delivered a talk titled Inheriting Tradition, Innovating Together, in which he recounted his experiences in establishing a harmonious and distinctive mentorship team. He underscored the significance of personalized student training and the pivotal role of graduate advisors in nurturing students' academic and personal growth. Addressing the challenges faced by young PIs, Professor Xu highlighted the necessity of role adaptation and effective team management, urging young faculty members to enhance communication within their teams.The session ignited a spirited exchange of ideas, with faculty members actively sharing their perspectives and experiences on student supervision and team development.In the concluding remarks, ZJE Vice Dean Zhiguo Ye provided a comprehensive summary of the seminar. He reaffirmed ZJE's commitment to continuously advancing the construction of a harmonious mentorship culture, with the ultimate goal of creating an optimal environment for the collective advancement and scientific achievements of both faculty and students.

2025-04-29

[Biomed-X Seminar No. 133] Academic Reports by Prof. Thomas B. Kornberg and Prof. Chengting Zhang

On April 23, 2025, the 133rd Biomed-X Research Seminar of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) was successfully held in the Room 2A-203. Invited by Dr. Di Chen, Prof. Thomas B. Kornberg, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a renowned Molecular Biologist, and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and Prof. Chengting Zhang from Kunming University of Science and Technology, delivered academic reports titled "Signaling at cell-cell contacts in development and disease" and "Cytoneme-mediated ligand/receptor complex transport in development" respectively.Prof. Thomas B. Kornberg, a cytoneme research pioneer, explained how cytonemes enable cell-to-cell signaling. His lab, using fruit flies, analyzed how cytonemes in wing imaginal discs regulate intercellular communication for cell differentiation, challenging the traditional signal diffusion model.Prof. Chengting Zhang presented her lab's work on cytonemes in embryonic development. In zebrafish embryos, cytonemes can transport the Wnt5a/Ror2 complex, upending the idea that signal-receiving cells must have surface receptors. She also shared findings on how cytonemes may contribute to amniotic cavity development in human embryos by transporting FGF receptors between Trophoblast and Epiblast cells.During the event, faculty and students actively engaged in discussions, demonstrating their open-minded approach to academic exploration and critical thinking about research questions. Prof. Kornberg and Prof. Zhang patiently and thoroughly answered every question, deepening the understanding and insights of participants in this field.As the 133rd session of the Biomed-X Seminar series, this report underscores the institute's commitment to fostering high-level academic exchanges through its academic brand building efforts. The institute will continue to provide a platform for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge scientific discussions.

2025-04-28

ZJE Biomedical-X Salon (No. 2) Concludes Successfully

On March 26, 2025, the second “Biomedical-X Salon” of Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) was successfully held in the Room 2A-203. Themed “Regenerative Vitality,” the Salon invited four leading domestic scholars in the field of Biomedical Science to engage in an in-depth discussion on cutting-edge topics such as Regenerative Medicine and Interdisciplinary Life Science Research, offering participants a splendid academic feast.ZJE Vice Dean Shuhong Xu opened the salon and served as the host, emphasizing, "The Biomedical-X Salon aims to create a cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional dialogue platform to bridge basic research and clinical translation." Dr. Yinhua Jin co-hosted the event.During the keynote sessions, the four experts shared their insights on frontier research in Biomedicine. Prof. Jian Zhu from Peking University explored the critical role of stem cell microenvironments in tissue regeneration, offering new perspectives for regenerative medicine. Prof. Chengtian Zhao from Ocean University of China presented research on biomimetic medicine inspired by unique regenerative mechanisms in marine organisms, highlighting its potential applications in medicine. Prof. Weijun Pan from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discussed the mechanisms of nutritional interventions in cell regeneration and anti-aging. Prof. Chengran Xu from Peking University utilized single-cell sequencing and organoid technologies to uncover the rules governing cell fate determination during development and regeneration, providing novel technical and theoretical foundations for related fields.As an important platform for interdisciplinary exchange, the Biomedical-X Salon fostered academic collaboration and idea-sharing among researchers. Through expert presentations and interactive discussions, attendees gained insights into the latest developments in biomedicine and explored potential research collaborations, laying a solid foundation for future partnerships.The salon’s success underscores the critical role of academic exchange in advancing disciplinary development. By creating an open and inclusive platform, ZJE has strengthened collaborations with top domestic and international academic institutions. Looking ahead, ZJE will continue to explore scientific frontiers, contribute to the innovative development of life sciences and medicine, and cultivate biomedicine talent with global perspectives and innovative capabilities.

2025-04-07

[Biomed-X Seminar No. 127] Professors Dónal O’Carroll and Ramesh Pillai Visited and Delivered Academic Seminars

On the afternoon of March 19, 2025, the 127th Biomed-X Seminar of Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute was successfully held at Room A203, ZJE Building. Invited by Dr. Liu Wanlu and Dr. Chen Di, Dónal O'Carroll, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from the University of Edinburgh, and Professor Ramesh Pillai from the University of Geneva gave seminars titled “Safeguarding germline immortality” and “RNA modifications in gene regulation,” respectively.Professor Dónal O'Carroll introduced his laboratory's pioneering work on the piRNA pathway, including the mechanism of transposon silencing mediated by the mammalian piRNA pathway. The piRNA pathway is a unique small RNA pathway that specifically silences transposons in the germline and is indispensable for germ cell formation and species propagation. Professor O'Carroll's laboratory first reported a “two-step validation” model for the precise mediation of de novo DNA methylation silencing of transposons by the piRNA pathway in the mammalian germline. He also introduced a collaborative project with Dr. Liu Wanlu's research group, focusing on the evolutionary origin of the mammalian piRNA pathway. Using salamanders as a model organism, he first reported that the mammalian piRNA pathway may have originated from a tetrapod ancestor.Professor Ramesh Pillai introduced his laboratory's cutting-edge work on RNA modifications. Pillai’s lab was the first to discover a unique m6A modification within mRNA introns that regulates the alternative splicing of lariat mRNAs and demonstrated that this process is highly correlated with nutrition and metabolism. Professor Pillai also highlighted his lab's pioneering work on mRNA 5' cap modifications, reporting on the molecular mechanisms of atypical mRNA 5' cap modifications, such as Ap4A, which trigger the interferon pathway for innate immunity.During the event, faculty and students actively engaged in discussions, demonstrating their open-minded approach to academic exploration and critical thinking about research questions. Two Professors patiently and thoroughly answered every question, deepening the understanding and insights of participants in this field.As the 127th session of the Biomed-X Seminar series, this report underscores the institute's commitment to fostering high-level academic exchanges through its academic brand building efforts. The institute will continue to provide a platform for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge scientific discussions.

2025-03-25

[Biomed-X Seminar No. 126] Professor Suling Liu from Fudan University shared How Breast Cancer Stem Cells Promote Drug Resistance and Metastasis in Breast Cancer

2025-03-11