From October 10 to 12, 2025, the "15th Annual Conference of Chinese Stem Cells" was successfully held in Chongqing, hosted by the Stem Cell Biology Branch of the Chinese Society of Cell Biology, co-organized by the International Stem Cell Organization (ISCF) and the Asian Alliance for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (AASCRM), and hosted by Jinfeng Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, and the Sichuan Stem Cell Technology and Cell Therapy Association. With the theme of "Stem Cell Research and Transformation - Hundreds of Companies Competing", nearly 3,000 experts and scholars from well-known universities, scientific research institutes, medical institutions and biopharmaceutical companies in China and Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia gathered together to communicate and explore cooperation around basic stem cell research progress, clinical translation and application, industrial development and upgrading and other topics.

This annual meeting is a high-level, high-quality academic feast with a gathering of talents and fruitful results.

The opening ceremony of the annual meeting was held grandly at the Chongqing Science Hall, hosted by Xu Hui, deputy director of Jinfeng Laboratory. Ma Zhen, deputy mayor of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, pointed out in his speech that Chongqing is accelerating the construction of a biomedical industry ecosystem. The holding of this annual conference is not only a recognition of Chongqing's scientific research strength, but also will inject new momentum into local stem cell research and industrial transformation.

Bian Xiuwu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chairman of the conference, said in his welcome speech that my country's stem cell research has achieved a leap from basic exploration to clinical application in the past decade, and the overall level has been among the best in the world. He hopes to use this annual conference as an opportunity to achieve new leaps in promoting in-depth academic development, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and deepening the integration of industry, academia, and research.

Ji Weizhi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and honorary chairman of the conference, pointed out that the development of stem cell research is inseparable from the two core spirits of "persistence" and "effort". Facing the increasingly fierce competition at home and abroad, scientific research colleagues and young scholars must increase their sense of urgency and jointly promote greater breakthroughs in the field of stem cells with the spirit of "seizing the day".

Zhou Qi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and honorary chairman of the conference, emphasized from a global perspective: "Stem cell research is one of the frontiers of life sciences. China needs to continue to make breakthroughs in basic research and clinical translation in order to maintain the vitality of 'a hundred rivals competing' in international competition."

This year's annual meeting was full of highlights and achievements, and set five "firsts", which is an important milestone.

First, for the first time, an industry conference was convened and the “Chongqing Consensus” was released. The annual meeting was accompanied by the "Second Jinfeng Stem Cell Forum and Stem Cell Translational Research and Industry Development Conference", and held two sub-forums, "Stem Cell Clinical Research and Application Progress" and "Stem Cell Research Transformation Road and Ecological Construction", to conduct in-depth sharing and exchanges around topics such as stem cell new drug research and development, exosome therapy, nerve regeneration, legal supervision, investment trends and other topics. At the meeting, the "Jinfeng Stem Cell Quality Control and Evaluation Center" and the "Jinfeng-Zhaoyan Joint Laboratory" were unveiled, the establishment of the "Stem Cell Quality Standards and Application Innovation Complex" was launched, and the "Joint Initiative on Promoting High-Quality Development in the Field of Stem Cells in my country" was signed, consciously standardizing and advocating scientific ethics, ethical principles and clinical application specifications in the field of stem cells, and providing important guidance for promoting the healthy development of the stem cell industry.

The second is the first independent stem cell science popularization activity. The annual conference has more than 1,000 square meters of science popularization booths, covering the "Gateway to Cognition", "Road to Exploration", "Work Display" and "Window of the Future". It uses pictures, texts, videos, books and other forms to create a scientific corridor from cognition to the future. It systematically displays the basic concepts, exploration process and application prospects of stem cells, and opens a fantastic journey for the public to understand stem cell science and explore the source code of life. At the same time, the "Science and China - Thousands of Academicians·Thousands of Science Popularization" activities were carried out in Chongqing. Ji Weizhi, Li Jinsong, Gu Ning, Shi Yufang, Yang Yongguang, Zeng Fanyi, Li Wei, Wang Jichang, Hao Jie and other academicians and experts visited institutions, universities, middle schools and primary schools to give 9 science popularization lectures, with an audience of more than 6,000 people, exploring new paths and new models to improve the scientific quality of the people.

The third is the first systematic review of the development history of China's stem cell industry. The annual meeting specially planned a series of review activities of "China's Ten Years of Stem Cell Achievements" to review the ten-year progress of my country's stem cell field from "following to leading", to showcase the outstanding achievements of Chinese scientists in the field of stem cell research, to promote the spirit of scientists' dedicated research and collaborative innovation, and to encourage participating delegates, especially young scholars, to inherit the spirit of scientists and bravely climb the peak of science and technology.

Fourth, the “Chinese Stem Cell People” exhibition was held for the first time. The "Exhibition of Chinese Life Scholars - Exhibition of Chinese Stem Cell People" was held at the annual meeting, which featured photos of more than 1,000 academicians, experts and scholars in the fields of life sciences and medicine. Through detailed graphic materials and touching stories, it pays tribute to the scientific researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the development of my country's stem cell industry, and vividly interprets their spirit of pursuing truth and courageously shouldering their mission.

Fifth, the virtual image "Variable Little Meng" was launched for the first time. This image is inspired by stem cell prototypes and leads the public into the world of stem cell science in a vivid and friendly anthropomorphic form. As a digital science popularization ambassador launched at the annual conference, "Various Little Meng" will continue to participate in science communication in the future, enhance the appeal and influence of academic exchanges, and make useful attempts to expand science popularization paths and innovate communication models, and has been widely praised by participating experts and the public.

In addition, the conference has a special "international forum" - the Asian Alliance for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (AASCRM) Forum, where top experts from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and other countries focus on the cutting-edge progress in the field of stem cell research, share the latest research results and practical experience, build a dialogue bridge for academic exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region, and promote cooperation, exchanges and resource sharing in cross-field stem cell research.

This annual meeting consolidates the foundation, gathers momentum and empowers, and jointly creates a new pattern of stem cell research and transformation.

During the annual meeting, the main venue and branch venues of the conference were unprecedentedly grand. Nearly 3,000 guests gathered together, 8 outstanding scientists in the field gave special lectures, 89 speakers gave exciting academic lectures, and 64 companies promoted integration and innovation. Eight sub-venues were set up, including "Stem Cells and Development", "Stem Cells and Regeneration", "Stem Cells and Disease Models", "Stem Cell Applications and Industry", "Stem Cell Frontier Crossover", "Cancer Stem Cells", and "Youth Forum" and "International Forum". They conducted exchanges and discussions on core topics such as stem cell basic research progress, clinical translation and application, and industrial development and upgrading. It provided multiple perspectives and development ideas for basic stem cell research and clinical translation, and jointly promoted the development and progress of China's stem cell industry.

This annual meeting came to an end on October 12. The closing ceremony was hosted by Professor Xiang Peng, Secretary General of the Stem Cell Biology Branch of the Chinese Society for Cell Biology. Professor Zeng Fanyi, Vice President of the Stem Cell Biology Branch of the Chinese Society of Cell Biology, and Professor Xie Xin, Academic Director, issued poster recommendation certificates to 20 students. Vice President Professor Jin Ying selected 3 lucky exhibitors.

At the closing ceremony, Secretary-General Professor Xiang Peng announced that the 16th Annual China Stem Cell Conference would be held in Wuhan, Hubei and held a cup handover ceremony. Researcher Hu Baoyang, vice president of the Stem Cell Biology Branch of the Chinese Society of Cell Biology, and Xu Hui, deputy director of Jinfeng Laboratory, the representative of the organizer of this year, handed over the China Stem Cell Annual Conference Cup to Professor Chen Hong of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the representative of the organizer of the next annual meeting. Afterwards, Professor Chen Hong spoke on behalf of the organizer, saying that she would prepare for the next annual conference with an open attitude, professional knowledge, and cooperative spirit to ensure that the conference would be exciting, professional, and successful.

Finally, Academician Bian Xiuwu delivered a closing speech. Academician Bian thanked Jinfeng Laboratory, the organizer of this year, for all the preparatory work. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the speakers for their wonderful sharing and the conference volunteers for their hard work in ensuring the smooth holding of the conference. It is emphasized that only by continuously making breakthroughs in basic research and clinical transformation can "stem cell people" maintain their vigorous vitality in the international competition. The 15th China Stem Cell Annual Conference concluded successfully in Chongqing.

With its high-level academic organization, multi-dimensional communication platform and forward-looking industry leadership, this annual conference fully demonstrates the innovative strength and development potential of China's stem cell technology. The successful holding of the conference has injected new vitality into promoting innovative development in the field of stem cells in my country. In 2026, let us meet in Wuhan, the river city, and write a new chapter in stem cell research on the shores of East Lake.