On 30 January, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory convened its 2025 Annual Summary and Commendation Conference under the theme ‘Reaching for the Heavens and Grounding in Reality: Building Dreams in the East’. Attendees included laboratory leadership, all Principal Investigators, representatives from research institutes/centres and administration units, alongside student delegates. The event comprehensively reviewed the past year's progress and achievements in scientific research, technology transfer, and education, establishing exemplary benchmarks while recognising teams and individuals for outstanding contributions across various fields.
Director Nieng Yan stated that looking back on 2025, the laboratory pursued its aspiration of ‘Reaching for the Heavens and Grounding in Reality’ by deepening efforts on both tracks of fundamental research and industrial translation. This approach propelled the life sciences and health sector to thrive and surge forward upon a solid foundation.
We are precisely matching industrial and clinical needs through ‘Industry Posing Problems, Scientists Providing Solutions.’ An evaluation and incentive system for scientific achievements was established, ensuring dedicated researchers receive support, pioneers at the frontier gain recognition, and collaborative teams share in the glory. Throughout the year, we undertook over 100 vertical and horizontal projects, securing our inaugural Class B Innovative Research Group grant from the National Natural Science Foundation. Breakthroughs such as chromatin structural analysis and targeted membrane protein degradation techniques shone in top-tier international journals. Our next-generation computational chemistry software surpassed international counterparts in application scope and became open-source, while advanced molecular imaging equipment achieved a breakthrough in ‘Low-Cost + High-Performance’ Capabilities. Each advancement radiates the pioneering spirit of cutting-edge research.
We pioneered an ‘Organized Translation’ pathway, establishing a ‘Translational Research Platform + End-To-End Project Management + Proof-Of-Concept Fund’ ecosystem. This facilitated the commercialisation of eight patents for multi-cancer diagnostic models in Shenzhen, while the world's first non-viral vector gene therapy delivered breakthrough protease-based treatments for rare diseases. Six self-incubated technology enterprises secured over 260 million yuan in venture capital. The Bay Charm has gathered over 30 start-ups with a combined valuation exceeding 4 billion yuan, with three companies successfully completing two rounds of financing. The New Drug R&D Concept Validation Centre received provincial and municipal approvals. We have undertaken over 160 collaborative research projects with domestic and international research institutes, medical institutions, and enterprises, deeply advancing industry-academia-research integration. Each successful translation ignites a beacon of hope for life.
We strive to cultivate a ‘Worry-Free Research’ environment by establishing a ‘One-Stop’ service system, attracting world-leading academic leaders and outstanding young talents. We strengthen institute development by granting directors autonomous management rights to unleash team ingenuity. Implementing a Senior PI Mentor Scheme, we empower young scientists to emerge through mentorship from senior researchers. We have completed the inaugural principal investigator (PI) tenure review and mid-term evaluations for 24 PIs, formulating and disseminating the ‘Shenzhen Bay Talent Evaluation Standards.’ This ensures talent development aligns with laboratory growth, fostering a full-time, youthful, international, and interdisciplinary innovation cohort.
The year 2026 marks the commencement of the 15th Five-Year Plan and a pivotal starting point for the laboratory's new developmental phase. The laboratory will continue to shoulder its scientific responsibilities with both visionary ambition and practical grounding, ensuring a strong start to this new journey. It will inject vigorous momentum into cultivating new productive forces and fortifying the foundations of self-reliance and strength in science and technology!
Looking back over the past year, countless staff members have rolled up their sleeves and worked diligently, steadfastly charting their course amidst the shifting tides of the times. They have fulfilled their mission through action and demonstrated their commitment through dedication.
During the awards ceremony, recipients of the 2025 SZBL Director's Award, Outstanding Individuals, Outstanding Teams, Excellent Employees, Outstanding Teams, Large Instrument Utilisation Efficiency Awards, Core Facilities Outstanding Individuals, Outstanding Crews, Safety Excellence Awards, Archival Excellence Awards, and Trade Union Excellence Awards took to the stage in succession, capturing moments of honour.
With unceasing dedication, we embark on new journeys; scientific research pursues light, showcasing brilliance. At the staff gala organised by the Laboratory Trade Union, researchers shed their lab coats to showcase a diverse and vibrant brilliance on stage.
2025 SZBL Director's Award Recipients:
Zhanfeng Hou, Institute of Chemical Biology
Xin Yu, Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Guojun Ye, Institute of Molecular Physiology
Qiuyu Wang, Institute of Systems and Physical Biology
Award Recipient Address
Guojun Ye, Institute of Molecular Physiology
Esteemed colleagues and fellow students, good afternoon. It is a profound honour to receive this Director's Award. This distinction represents immense recognition and encouragement for me. It belongs not only to me personally, but to my mentors who have provided meticulous guidance throughout my research journey, and to every colleague who has worked alongside me. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Shenzhen Bay Laboratory for providing an exceptional research platform. I am deeply indebted to the faculty members who offered invaluable guidance and selfless assistance throughout my experiments and studies. My sincere thanks also go to all collaborating professors for their steadfast support in advancing our projects. Finally, I wish the Laboratory continued prosperity and renewed excellence in the coming year. May all faculty and students enjoy good health, successful research endeavours, and happiness with their families!
Chao Zeng , Office of Logistics and Infrastructure
This honour would not have been possible without the collective efforts of our entire team, the meticulous guidance of our leadership, and the steadfast support of all involved. Last year, our primary undertaking was the relocation of the laboratory, serving four research institutes and nearly 400 researchers. Upholding our principle of ‘research without worry,’ we collaborated seamlessly across departments to efficiently and scientifically transfer hundreds of laboratory animals, and thousands of pieces of equipment to the new premises. This effort also established a replicable, systematic relocation support framework, a achievement born of collective dedication. Moving forward, we shall remain humble while continuously elevating our service standards. We are committed to delivering enhanced support and contributing our modest efforts towards the integrated development of both institutions.
Shahzina Kanwal, Institute of Molecular Physiology
I feel truly privileged and honored to stand here today as a representative of the foreign community working at SZBL. Diversity is something beautiful, and SZBL is a place where people from different backgrounds can come together for one purpose --excellent science.
My research journey here has been wonderful, thanks to the great support from my host lab, our lab head Dr. Sho Goh, and my colleagues, especially Clare and Lynne. The leadership at SZBL is kind, supportive, and genuinely cares about creating a positive environment for researchers.
I sincerely hope that in the future, more and more international researchers will choose SZBL as their host institute and flourish in this excellent research environment.
