The 8th China Proteomics Conference Successfully Held

The 8th Chinese Proteomics Conference was held at the Chongqing International Convention and Exhibition Center from September 7 to 10, 2013. The theme of the conference was “Human Proteome Project: For a Healthier Humanity.” The conference was hosted by the Proteomics Division of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and co‑organized by the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, the State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, and the Beijing Proteome Research Center. Nearly 1,000 participants attended this grand event, including leading scholars, academicians, experts, and technical engineers from over 120 research institutes, universities, and instrument manufacturers across China and around the world. They gathered to discuss and promote the research and development of proteomics, and to enhance international exchange and collaboration. This conference, distinguished by its high academic level, large scale, and broad influence, represented a significant academic event in the field of proteomics in China.

The opening ceremony was held on the morning of September 8. The conference chair, Academician He Fuchu, first delivered the opening address on behalf of the organizing committee. He reflected on the fifteen years since proteomics was introduced to China in 1998, a period that coincided with the development and transformation of Chongqing, and eloquently explained the reasons for choosing Chongqing as the venue and the dual benefits the conference hoped to achieve. He also offered a promising outlook for the future of proteomics. Vice Mayor Wu Gang of Chongqing, Deputy Director Sun Yansong of the Science and Technology Department of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, and President Lei Han of Chongqing Medical University each delivered speeches on behalf of the major co‑organizers. Other distinguished guests present at the opening ceremony included: Zhang Xian’en, former Director of the Basic Research Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology and researcher at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhang Ling, Vice Chairwoman of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Professor Maxey Chung, Secretary‑General of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) and professor at the National University of Singapore; Professor Gilbert Omenn, President of the Human Proteome Project (HPP) and professor at the University of Michigan; Vice President Xie Peng of Chongqing Medical University; and Director Yang Xiaoming of the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences. The opening ceremony was presided over by the co‑chair of the conference, Professor Yang Pengyuan of Fudan University.

At the invitation of the conference, 20 distinguished domestic and international experts delivered outstanding plenary lectures, including: Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Professor Craig C. Mello of the University of Massachusetts Medical School; Professor Pierre Legrain, President of HUPO; Professor Maxey Chung, Secretary‑General of HUPO; Professor Gilbert Omenn, member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and professor at the University of Michigan; Zhang Xian’en, former Director of the Basic Research Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology and researcher at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Academician Rao Zihe of Tsinghua University; and Academician Zhang Yukui of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition, 84 domestic and international experts presented parallel session reports covering eight thematic areas: “Disease Biomarkers and Pharmaceutical Proteomics,” “Bioinformatics,” “Novel Technologies in Proteomics,” “Functional Proteomics,” “Model Organism Proteomics,” “Proteomics and Systems Biology,” “Chromosomal Proteomics,” and “Young Scientists Forum.” These sessions provided extensive and in‑depth exchanges with colleagues both domestically and internationally. The conference received a total of 340 submitted abstracts and featured 236 poster presentations. Awards were conferred as follows: 2 Academic Contribution Awards, 20 Outstanding Poster Awards, 8 Outstanding Young Scholar Awards, and 4 Outstanding Training Instructor Awards. Concurrent with the conference, over 40 biomedical companies from China and abroad took the opportunity to showcase their latest instruments, equipment, and technologies in proteomics‑related fields.

Prior to the opening ceremony, a specialized proteomics technology training session was organized to introduce young researchers to recent advances, research strategies, and technical methods in various areas of proteomics. At noon on September 9, the second meeting of the third term of the Proteomics Division of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was convened. The meeting approved the work summary report presented by Secretary‑General Xu Ping, and deliberations were held on the election of additional committee members, revision of the society’s constitution, development planning, and the work plan for the next two years. It was decided that the 9th Chinese Proteomics Conference would be held in Xiamen in 2015. During the conference period, a series of important ancillary meetings were also held, including the 3rd Sino‑European Workshop on Functional Glycoproteomics and a recruitment fair for the Phoenix Project. The conference concluded successfully on the afternoon of October 10.

This conference provided an excellent opportunity for experts and scholars in the field of proteomics, both domestic and international, to interact, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration. It also offered a valuable learning platform for the training and development of young academic leaders in proteomics. It will undoubtedly serve as a strong impetus for the advancement of proteomics and its related fields in China.

Proteomics Division
Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
October 10, 2013