On March 10, 2026, the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation(SMART), Shenzhen Bay Laboratory(SZBL), and West China Hospital of Sichuan University jointly hosted an academic symposium on “Prevention and Treatment of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders,” during which a strategic cooperation signing ceremony was held. The event brought together experts in basic medical research and clinical practice for in-depth discussions on the prevention and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, guided by clinical needs. Attendees included Nieng Yan, Founding President of SMART and Director ofSZBL; Huan Tu, Vice President of SMART and Deputy Director of SZBL; Fengming Luo, President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University; Bowen Ke, Vice President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University; and more than 70 scientists, clinical experts, and key research personnel.
The symposium focused on core areas, anchored in clinical needs, adopted innovative discussion formats, and emphasized a pragmatic approach. During the thematic discussion sessions, attending clinical experts delivered presentations closely aligned with the themes, raising “real questions” and “real needs” from a clinical diagnosis and treatment perspective.
The thematic sessions focused on research areas such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, epilepsy, anesthesia, and pain. More than 20 experts from West China Hospital, SMART, and SZBL delivered keynote presentations in succession, offering in-depth insights from both clinical practice and scientific research perspectives.
During the keynote session, President Nieng Yan delivered a cutting-edge presentation titled “CryoSeek: A Structure-First Paradigm for Biological Discovery,” offering new insights for disease mechanism research and drug development. Nearly 1,000 attendees participated, including Vice President Ling Ye of Sichuan University, medical staff from West China Hospital, key research personnel, and faculty and students. During the symposium, West China Hospital of Sichuan University and SMART formally signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Adhering to the principles of complementary strengths, resource sharing, and mutual benefit, the two parties established a long-term, in-depth strategic partnership. They will focus on collaboration in basic research, clinical research, and translational applications in the fields of mental disorders, oncology, major chronic diseases, and rare diseases, aiming to achieve full-chain collaborative innovation from basic research to clinical application.
The three parties will use this event as an opportunity to accelerate the establishment of joint laboratories, advance key research initiatives, promote applied translation, and foster joint talent development. They will continue to refine mechanisms for integrating basic and clinical research, build a cross-regional network for collaborative innovation in medical research, and use scientific and technological innovation to solve more clinical challenges, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of China's biopharmaceutical industry.
