The first annual retreat of Chinese Institutes for Medical Research (CIMR), Beijing was successfully held in Beijing from August 19-20, 2024.

This event marked the first major academic gathering since CIMR's official establishment and operational launch in November 2023. Over 420 participants, including faculty and students from CIMR, leaders and key researchers from organized research projects, Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) grant teams, and research incubation programs supported by CIMR at Capital Medical University (CMU) and its affiliated hospitals, students from CMU's Jieping Class and outstanding trainees from a summer school representing 31 top universities across China, attended the conference.

The conference featured a distinguished lineup of domestic and international experts and principal investigators (PIs) from CIMR. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the current state and trends in medical disciplines to the sharing of new technologies, experience exchanges, and clinical case analyses. The aim was to share the latest research findings in the medical field, exchange cutting-edge application experiences, and provide new insights and inspirations for future academic innovation and research directions.

Opening Remarks by Secretary Wenliang Hu

CMU Party Secretary Wenliang Hu delivered the opening remarks. He commended the significant achievements made by CIMR since its establishment and expressed gratitude to all members for their dedication and wisdom. Secretary Hu highlighted that CIMR is one of the three key components of CMU's new campus and serves as an important platform for high-quality development and a vital carrier for Beijing's international science and technology innovation center. He emphasized the hope that CIMR will fully leverage its role as a new type of R&D institution, fulfill its mission, and strive to become a world-class medical science innovation platform, contributing to the advancement of life sciences and health care in both the nation and Beijing.

Remarks by Professor Lin Mei

CIMR Director, Professor Lin Mei, addressed the audience, expressing his vision for CIMR to attract world-class scientists and conduct both free exploration and clinically oriented research. He also emphasized the importance of nurturing outstanding talent and promoting the deep integration of medical education, research, and industry.

Professor Mei provided an update on CIMR's current status: To date, CIMR has recruited 22 full-time PIs and established a dual-appointment mechanism with CMU and its affiliated hospitals. CIMR has funded 25 organized research projects, 21 outstanding young talent support projects, and 29 research incubation projects. Additionally, CIMR has attracted highly talented graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

He concluded his remarks by expressing sincere gratitude to all levels of leadership and the broader community for their support:

"We have come together for a common goal. It can't be achieved alone, but together by leveraging our strength."

Following the enthusiastic opening remarks, the two-day academic feast commenced.

Academic Highlights

Guo-Min Li: Mechanism of DNA mismatch repair

Shao-Cong Sun: Molecular basis of T cell-mediated anticancer immunity

Zhiqiang Yan: Are TMC1/2 the hair cell mechanotransduction channels (hearing receptor)?

Liming Wang: The neural regulation of energy and nutrient homeostasis in flies and mice

Xunming Ji: Clinical and translational research driven by new findings in patients

Zihou Deng: Exploration of macrophages as therapeutic targets in cancer

Hao Cui: Structural heart disease detection by improved inception convolution network-enabled pulse wave

Huixia Ren: Pancreatic islet, a minority of regulators and a majority of followers

Yuval Rinkevich: Organ dependency on its surrounding (fascia) connective tissue

Zhenchang Wang: CT/MR imaging instruments: current situation and thinking

Yajun Liu: Key technology development and clinical translation for AI-based Next-Gen Interactive Robotic System for endoscopic spine surgery-optimal design of miniature parallel mechanisms

Yaou Liu: Development of brain charts and individualized diagnosis for major brain diseases

Mingyuan Liu: A novel deep learning-enhanced photoacoustic computed tomography device for early non-invasive diagnosis of peripheral vascular diseases

Di Wu: Develop an ischemic stroke model in rhesus monkeys and translational studies

Yu Chen: Role of epigenetic alterations in bladder cancer

Ping Chi: Harnessing innate immunity in sarcoma

Hong-Hu Zhu: Acute promyelocytic leukemia: last piece of puzzle

Deguang Liang: Phospholipid metabolism in cell life and death

Lin Mei: Dynamic control of GABAergic transmission by ErbB4 tyrosine kinase

Guoliang Chai: Genetic diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases

Kaibin Shi: Inflammatory neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis and stroke

Qiaochu Wang: Ionic homeostasis of intracellular organelles and rare diseases

Yinan Zhao: Development of precision diagnostic technologies and products for major brain diseases

Zibing Jin: Patient iPSC-derived retinal organoids for disease modeling

Yong Hai: Study on skill learning related to laminectomy in spinal surgery robots

Chuan-Yuan Li: Double-stranded RNA triggered innate cellular immunity and tumor immunotherapy

Wenhui He: B-cell-based in vivo protein evolution

Xu Tan: Genetics, mechanism and therapy for a Mendelian syndrome and how it might help with hair loss

Yaping Huang: Emerging roles of J-domain heat shock proteins in human diseases

Best Poster Awards

During the conference, CIMR organized an academic poster exhibition. After rigorous evaluation by experts, seven posters were selected for the "Best Poster Award," presented by Professor Lin Mei.