Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) solemnly held its 2024 Town Hall Meeting for Summary and Awards on January 23rd, 2025. The event was hosted by Director Nieng Yan and attended by laboratory leadership, all Principal Investigators (PIs), heads of institutes, centers, and departments, as well as representatives of awarded researchers, technicians, students, and administrative staff.
In her address, Nieng Yan reflected on the past year's achievements, emphasizing that SZBL has embedded reform into its operational framework and embraced innovation as its driving force. The Laboratory is pioneering novel mechanisms for research institutions, facilitating a seamless and positive cycle among education, technological advancement, and talent cultivation. SZBL is committed to refining the biomedical innovation pipeline from foundational studies to translational applications and clinical practice, building an integrated ecosystem of medicine, education, research, and industry. This internal transformation aims for enhanced rigor, excellence, and resilience, positioning SZBL to navigate global, contemporary, and historical shifts, steadfastly pursuing its vision: to establish Shenzhen as a premier hub for biomedicine and to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a leading global biomedical innovation center.
Empowering Talent for Future Success
Currently, SZBL has a workforce of 1,191 employees, including 1,074 full-time staff, with 340 new hires in 2024. It has more than 100 Principal Investigator (PI) teams, 43 Shenzhen Bay Scholars, and 158 postdoctoral fellows. In 2024, SZBL was recognized as a Shenzhen "Excellent Postdoctoral Program" provider. Furthermore, SZBL has 611 registered students and, in collaboration with Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART), successfully completed the inaugural high-quality student enrollment for the SMART Program, pioneering a new paradigm for cultivating exceptional, innovative talents.
Research Funding Surges to Catalyze Breakthroughs
The Laboratory reported a significant increase in research funding in 2024, securing 107 competitive grants of government sponsored research, with over 80% originating from provincial or higher-level funding bodies in China. The total funding amount surpassed CNY 155 million, representing a 68% increase compared to the previous year. In addition, SZBL published 490 research papers and achieved a leading position in the Nature Index among peer research institutions nationwide.
Selected Highlights of Foundational Research Achievements:
• Next-Generation Computational Chemistry Software: Qbics
• Novel RNA Large Language Model
• Precision Oncology Biomarkers and Diagnostic Models
• China's First Protease Drug for Rare Pseudomyxoma Peritonei: Research and Development
• Clinical Management Solutions for Mitochondrial Encephalopathy: Guidance, Diagnosis, and Drug Discovery
• Pan-Cancer B Cell Single-Cell Expression Atlas: Construction and Application
• Novel Biomimetic Cell Membrane Nanotechnology for Drug Preparation
• Nucleosome State Encodes DNA Replication Timing and 3D Genome Architecture
• Multicolor Protein Labeling Technology: New Advances
Accelerating Translational Momentum
The Laboratory is actively exploring innovative validation paradigms, rapidly advancing the validation of novel targets and mechanisms, and strategically positioning itself for industrial translation. In a significant recognition of these efforts, SZBL has been granted approval to establish the Guangdong Concept Validation Center. This prestigious designation from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology marks SZBL as the first and only provincial-level Proof of Concept (POC) platform dedicated to new drug development. Furthermore, the Guangming Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (Bay Charm), co-established with Guangming District, has incubated 19 biotech startups representing emerging quality productive forces within its first year of operation. Notably, 100% of these startups are founded by scientists and physicians in the biomedical field. Collectively, these incubated companies have secured nearly CNY 100 million in financing post-incubation, demonstrating the vibrant ecosystem fostered by SZBL.
Exemplary Achievements in Translational Research:
• Deciphering Novel Non-coding Functional Elements; Collaboration Underway with Leading Global Biopharmaceutical Firms
• In-house Development of Early Alzheimer's Disease Screening Technology and Assays
• Novel Class 1.1 Therapy for Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Developed in Partnership with a top-tier Beijing hospital specializing in cardiovascular medicine
• High-Performance PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Research Progressing; Spin-off Completes Series A Financing
• Next-Generation Western Blot Imaging System and Reagents: Third-Generation Engineering Prototype Developed
• Innovative 3D Random-Access Microscope
Enhanced Platform Efficiency and Service
Since the reforms, the technical service capabilities of SZBL’s Core Facilities have significantly improved. There has been a continuous surge in independent users accessing the facilities, a gradual increase in the utilization rate of instruments and equipment, and a steady climb in platform testing revenue. For two consecutive years, SZBL has been honored with the "Excellent" award in the Shenzhen Municipal Government's Assessment and Evaluation of Open Sharing Services for Large-scale Research Instruments.
Deepening Party Construction
SZBL is pioneering innovative approaches to Party construction, centered around serving scientists proactively. The Laboratory is solidifying its ideological foundation through rigorous Party discipline education and fostering a stronger sense of purpose among members. Furthermore, SZBL is enhancing mass organizations and hosting distinctive activities, effectively leveraging their role as a bridge and link, connecting the Party with the broader laboratory community.
During the commendation ceremony, the SZBL leaders presented awards for the 2024 Director's Scholarship, Outstanding Employees, Advanced Individuals, Advanced Teams, Advanced Individuals in Public Technology Centers, Advanced Instrument Teams, Excellent Individuals in Safety, Excellent Laboratories, and Property Management. These awards recognized their outstanding contributions to the Laboratory's development and research endeavors, as well as their exceptional performance throughout the past year.
Award Recipient Speeches
Yue Cai, Assistant Investigator of Tengfei Guo Research Team
Looking back on the past year, our efforts have paid off, and we have achieved some progress. This progress is inseparable from the meticulous guidance and encouragement of Professor Guo. I would like to thank all the members of the Guo Lab; your dedication behind the scenes should also be recognized. Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to all functional departments of SZBL for their strong support, which allows us researchers to focus more on our work.
Yanzhuang Wang, Director of Graduate Programs Working Committee; Senior Principal Investigator
In 2024, our high-caliber SMART PhD Program reached a new stage. The enrollment scale continued to expand, and the number of doctoral student slots increased rapidly, providing a solid foundation for nurturing talents through research. While domestic student recruitment steadily advanced, we also achieved a breakthrough in international student enrollment, marking the first international students in the program. In terms of system development, we have simultaneously abolished outdated practices and established new frameworks, promoting reforms in the enrollment and selection model. Regarding curriculum development, a system has been initially established, with continuous improvements in process management and quality assurance. I sincerely thank all faculty members for their strong support of graduate programs, injecting continuous impetus into cultivating new-era research talents with solid academic foundations, innovative thinking, and a global perspective.
Hui Yuan, Executive Director of CORE (Center of Outreach, Research & Education)
This honor belongs to our 140 science popularization volunteers, including 10 students. In the past year, we have held 140 popular science lectures, and the Public Welfare Exhibition of Scientific Microimaging Photography has been showcased in 26 schools and communities, reaching 40,000 members of the public. We have received funding from the government and society, hoping to continue this momentum in the future, invite more people to join us, jointly sow the seeds of science for young people, and propel science popularization work to new heights.
Secretary Xiaojun Hu, in his concluding address, emphasized that Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, as a research institution, consistently strives for the ethos of being "ambitious in aspiration and grounded in practice". This principle is not merely an ambitious goal, but the very wellspring of our relentless drive. Beyond aspirational visions, we must foster an indomitable will, unbreakable solidarity, and deep-seated unity, empowering us to march in perfect unison, advancing shoulder to shoulder. With unwavering confidence, we believe that as long as we combine our strengths and wisdom, we will surely blaze a trail of brilliance and vastness in scientific and technological innovation, and etch an even more glorious chapter into the annals of the Laboratory.
