On the morning of June 2, 2022, Wang Jian, Chairman and Co-founder of BGI, was invited to attend the 9th "Mangrove Forum” at the invitation of SZBL with the speech entitled "Innovative Technology: Integration of Major Scientific Engineering and Major Industry under Grand Goal; Innovation Tenacity: Self Genome/Cell Spatiotemporal Group and Healthy Life”. Academician Wu Yun-Dong, Executive Vice Director of SZBL, presided over the conference, Hu Xiaojun, Secretary of SZBL Party Committee, and Wu Feng, Secretary of SZBL Disciplinary Committee, also attended the conference. More than 100 researchers and representatives from other universities, institutions and industries attended the conference with online/offline communication.
Based on the history and industrial layout of BGI as well as his own experience, Wang Jian introduced the research and industrial layout in different fields such as BGI Genomics, MGI, etc. He claimed in his speech that with regard to the multi-omics development from genomics to proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics, from genetic testing, early disease screening and treatment to identification and construction of epidemic prevention frontline for unknown organisms, the human genome project has brought a profound impact in the field of life and health as humans have gradually started to understand the "secret of life”. With more than 20 years of profound cultivation based on innovative technology, BGI has achieved many great improvements from the participation in the 1% human genome project to the hall of science, from the publication of papers to the inclusion in textbooks and even the service for the public (1% human genome). He also specially talked about the BGI’s domestic and international cooperations in multiple fields such as genomic sequencing automation system and global layout, COVID-19 PCR test and prevention, stem cell research, genome and longevity crop research, four poles (Antarctic, Arctic, Mount Everest, Abyss) exploration and research, brain science research, etc.
At the end of the conference, Acadamician Wu Yun-Dong, Executive Vice Director of Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, said that the Laboratory would strengthen the cooperation with BGI to give full play to their respective advantages. Next, both sides would conduct in-depth exchanges on specific research projects and negotiate the form of following cooperations.
As the high-level academic exchange platform of Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, the "Mangrove Forum" is expected to generate the collision of ideas through the experts sharing in different fields to promote exchanges and cooperation in multiple fields. A total of nine events have been successfully held so far and many well-known scientists and entrepreneurs from various fields have been invited such as Peking University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Jinan University, Sichuan University, CHIPSCREEN, BGI, etc .
Wang Jian
Co-founder and Chairman of BGI Group
Wang Jian, the chairman of BGI Group, graduated from Hunan Hospital (now Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University) in 1979, and received his master's degree in integrated Chinese and Western medicine from Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (now Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) in 1986. From 1988 to 1994, Mr. Wang has conducted postdoctoral research at Texas University, the University of Iowa and the University of Washington. In 1991, Mr. Wang started the Seattle Chinese Biomedical Association, and established BGI Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. when he returned to China in 1994. Since the initiation of the Human Genome Project, Mr. Wang has proactively facilitated the participation of China in this historic research. In 1999, he founded BGI with the other three scientists in order to complete the research task of the Human Genome Project appointed to China. From 2003 to 2007, he served as deputy director of the Institute of Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2007, Mr. Wang and his team relocated the headquarter of BGI in Shenzhen and continued to promote the development of the related college, research institutes and industry.
