On November 1-2, 2025, the International Academic Symposium on Decoding the Mysteries of Life was held in Guangming District, Shenzhen. The conference was jointly initiated and organized by Professor Sun Xiaohong, Professor Charles Lieber (SMART, TSIGS), Professor Fu Xiangdong (Westlake University), and Professor Wang Xiaodong (NIBS, TIMBR).

As global life science research continues to advance, humanity is witnessing unprecedented breakthroughs in understanding brain function, cellular regulatory mechanisms, and disease pathogenesis. Centered on “Decoding the Mysteries of Life,” this symposium gathered leading scholars worldwide in neuroscience, cell biology, imaging technology, and related fields. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics including cell fate and death, circadian rhythms and brain states, neurodevelopment and plasticity, and brain imaging techniques, collectively advancing innovation and breakthroughs in life sciences. The conference aims to establish a high-level academic platform, inviting leading scientists from around the world to share their latest research findings, spark innovative thinking, and provide opportunities for young scholars to showcase their work and engage in exchange.

This symposium is not only an academic gathering but also a journey of intellectual collision and inspirational discovery. Spanning multiple cutting-edge directions in life sciences—from cellular death mechanisms to brain-computer interfaces, and from neurodevelopment to AI-assisted cellular decoding—the conference showcased scientists' relentless exploration in “decoding life's mysteries.” We anticipate that, inspired by their predecessors, more young scientists will continue pushing the boundaries of science, contributing their wisdom and strength to human health and the advancement of life sciences.