On the morning of April 16, Mr. Yang Shuang from BGI Genomics and Jiang Hui from MGI led a group of company representatives to visit the Minhang Base of the National Facility for Translational Medicine (Shanghai). Prof. Zhang Xianming of SJTU greeted the guests and hosted an exchange meeting between experts from both sides. 

Zhang Zhaoguo, Director of the Instrumental Analysis Center, guided the representatives of BGI to visit the Electron Microscopy Imaging Center, the NMR Center, and the Testing Platform of the Instrumental Analysis Center. At the meeting, Zhang Xianming introduced the construction objectives and plan of the Translational Medicine Technology Platform, which aims to support research and the development of key technologies and diagnostic methods in terms of innovative drugs, medical materials, biomedical manufacturing, biomedical information, etc.

Feng Yan, Executive Vice Dean of School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of SJTU, introduced the main research areas and achievements of the Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism in Biotechnology and hoped to develop a partnership in the fields of enzyme sample acquisition. Prof. Cao Chengxi of the School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering introduced the technological breakthroughs and achievements in cryoscience, artificial heart, and capsule robots to assist in diagnosis and treatment. Prof. Shen Yumei of the Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine presented the patents they have achieved in synthetic sequencing. Zhao Mingzhu, Head of Sequencing Platform of the Instrumental Analysis Center, then introduced the service capability of the sequencing platform of SJTU, which mainly provides services for genomics professors and users in the Yangtze River Delta.

After that, Jiang Hui gave a brief introduction to BGI Genomics, in which he mentioned that BGI has been adhering to the concept of “taking the lead in life sciences and technology through innovation” and has launched several cross-discipline projects, focusing on the R&D, production and sales of instruments, reagents, and consumables in life sciences and medical health.

The two sides had an in-depth discussion on translational medicine research and innovation, smart medicine, and other related topics, and expressed the wish of developing cooperation in gene sequencing platform construction and precision medicine.