After the Collapse of Synthetic Biology, Brain Science Emerges as the Next Hot Frontier

What is the most complex system in nature? The brain and the universe.

The universe contains billions of galaxies, while the human brain comprises tens of thousands of neurons coexisting with molecules and cells. These elements interconnect and interact to regulate human behavior and shape human thought. Regrettably, however, the structural and functional mysteries of the human connectome remain unsolved to this day.

Exploring the unknown is human nature. Vast uncharted territories remain in brain science, attracting countless researchers eager to lift its veil. Meanwhile, existing achievements in brain science are beginning to make their mark in the marketplace: brain science not only offers diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for certain clinically “incurable” diseases but also drives technological iteration through brain simulation.

Synthetic biology was once hailed as the “science of the future,” riding at the forefront of innovation. As capital markets have contracted overall, this “science of the future” has also encountered a cold spell. By comparison,The Brain Science Sector Remains Hot。

The Origins of Brain Science Can Be Traced Back to the Time of Aristotle.

As early as in ancient Rome, philosophers proposed the concept of “vital essence” and explained that “vital essence resides in the head, governing human thought and movement.”This also represents the earliest prototype of brain science.However, advances in brain science are inextricably linked to progress in scientific and technological methods. For the several centuries following the proposal of the concept of “Jing-Qi” (Essence-Qi), brain science remained in a rudimentary stage. It was not until the advent of electricity that brain science gradually transitioned from “conceptual speculation” to rigorous empirical research.

The past two centuries have witnessed a peak in the development of neuroscience. As of 2022, 24 Nobel Prizes had been awarded in the field of neuroscience, outlining the “modern history” of its development:The Era of Discovering the Basic Structure of the Nervous System, the Era of Neuronal Information Transmission, and the Era of Cerebral Perception and Cognition.

When discussing the discovery of the basic structure of the nervous system, it is impossible to overlook the “founding fathers” of brain science, Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramón y Cajal. In 1906, for theirSingle-Neuron Staining Techniqueand won the Nobel Prize.

On the surface, this research appears to have no direct connection to brain science. In reality, however, without this technology, future researchers would be unable to directly observe the diverse activities of various neural cells, thereby precluding a wide range of neuronal studies. Thus, this research can be considered as laying the groundwork forBrain science has laid the foundation。

Having elucidated the basic architecture of cranial nerves, researchers have focused on how information is transmitted between neurons.

1936, the squid was undoubtedly a “lucky star” for neuroscience researchers. That year, Henry Hallett Dale and Otto Loewi discovered the direction and mechanism of neural transmission by observing the nerve fibers of squids, ultimately concluding thatIntersynaptic Chemical Signal TransmissionofRegularityWon the Nobel Prize.

Subsequently, researchers began to explore the treatment of diseases through brain science. In 1949, Walter Rudolf Hess uncovered the secrets of regional control in the brain through anatomical studies. This research directly promoted the clinical application of brain science. In the following years, people gradually discoveredThe Brain and Vision, Olfaction, Hearing, Movement, and Spatial Navigationrelationships. These studies have undoubtedly garnered the favor of the Nobel Prize. Even the 2022 Nobel laureates, David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, were awarded the prize for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.

As breakthroughs continue to emerge in the basic research of brain science, another branch of neuroscience has quietly begun to take root. That isBrain-inspired research.

Brain-inspired research is an emerging field that has risen to prominence in recent years. As the name suggests, it encompasses a series of studies aimed at simulating the brain. This field not only drives a new wave of intelligent technology revolution but also holds the promise of transforming current computing and processing systems. Furthermore, it feeds back into fundamental brain research, deepening our understanding of the brain. Due to these advantages, it has become a significant new trend in the international academic community in recent years and an indispensable component of brain science research.

Since researchers began to unravel the basic architecture of the human brain, translating neuroscience into practical applications has become a shared goal among scientists.

In recent years, brain science-related enterprises, such as those developing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for neurological disorders and researching neuromorphic computers, have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

According to CB Insights data, the global market size of the brain health sector in 2020 was$6.2 billion, and will surpass $10 billion in 2024, becomingThe next industry poised to bring disruptive impact to human society.

In the global brain science industry, Chinese brain science companies have demonstrated exceptionally active fundraising activities, ranking second worldwide. The rapid development of China’s brain science sector also reflects progress in basic scientific research. The 2021 Global Brain Science Development Report noted that while China’s brain science research is advancing rapidly, it still lags significantly behind developed countries in areas such as academic publications and patent applications.This gap is now gradually narrowing.

According to statistics, among the nearly 10,000 most recently published papers in the field of neuroscience in 2022, China’s total publication volumeSecond Globally, three of the top five institutions are from China. In addition, there has been a new breakthrough in paper quality, whether it is hospitals or research institutions,Among the top five in total impact factor rankings, China's presence is evident.

2022 Publication Trends in Brain Science Research (Data Source: SciCat)

Over the past year, brain science research in China has experienced leapfrog growth, which is undoubtedly closely linked to policy guidance. From 2011 to 2022, a span of more than ten years, China has released a total ofOver 30 titlesPolicies and regulations supporting the development of brain science,Nearly RMB 10 Billion Allocated, and local policies are countless. The 14th Five-Year Plan also specifically included “brain science and brain-like research” in its scope. It is precisely because of years of accumulation that China’s brain science has ushered in an explosion in 2022.

Research institutes are the cradle of innovative research, and achievements on the scientific research front naturally rely on laboratories. As of 2023, China had a total of22 Provinces and Cities, 45 Research InstitutesConducted research on brain science, totaling58 Brain Science Laboratories。

Overview of Neuroscience Laboratories in China (Please feel free to point out any omissions)

Brain science research is not only shining in clinical practice but also in the industry. Tracing back to the source, among these nearly sixty brain science laboratories, there may be future dark horses.Where will it be born?

Establishing a laboratory requires substantial financial and material resources; therefore, both the site selection and the institution spearheading its establishment are the result of careful deliberation. This offers insights into the current state and future prospects of brain science research in China.

1. Geographic Distribution: Concentrated in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu

Geographically, Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu are key hubs for brain science research institutes (laboratories).This aligns with the history of brain science development in China.

In 1999, Academician Mu-Ming Poo organized and established China’s first specialized institute for brain science—Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and served as its director. This opened the door to systematic neuroscience research in China.

Subsequently, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) collaborated with and organized universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University to establish institutes for brain science, thereby advancing brain science research within higher education institutions. As the province with the highest concentration of universities in China, Jiangsu has naturally become a major hub for brain science research.

In addition to historical factors, policy orientation is also a key factor in site selection. The "China Brain Project" is regarded as one of the most robust policy initiatives supporting brain science research. The first major move following the launch of the "China Brain Project" was the establishment of the "Northern Brain and Southern Brain Centers," namelyBeijing Institute for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired IntelligenceandShanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology。

Since their establishment, the two research centers have aimed to become world-class institutions in brain science and brain-inspired research. Consequently, the government has equipped them with top-tier talent and advanced equipment resources. The concentration of numerous brain science experts in Shanghai and Beijing is also attracting brain science-related enterprises eager to secure a share of the technological “pie.”

Driven by the dual forces of policy and market, these two laboratories have further encouraged numerous major research institutions to cluster in the field of brain science, naturally establishing Beijing and Shanghai as the two primary hubs for brain science research.

2. Affiliated Entity: Not Exclusive to Medical Schools

From the perspective of research institutes, brain science differs from other medical specialties and is not exclusive to medical schools. Some comprehensive universities, evenPolytechnic universities are also specializing in brain science.. This is related to the expansion of concepts in brain science.

In its early stages, brain science was not yet an independent discipline; it was more commonly referred to as neuroscience. Originating from physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, pharmacology, anatomy, embryology, neurology, and psychiatry, it primarily focused on the study of the central functional control system.

It was not until the 1980s that neuroscience emerged as an independent discipline, incorporating molecular biology, genetics, imaging, and even computational networks into its research scope.

With the advancement of life sciences, there is a growing recognition that medicine cannot develop in isolation; rather, multidisciplinary collaborative development has emerged as the new trend in innovation. The same applies to brain science, where various subdisciplines are no longer focused on single research strategies but have instead become integrated.

Nowadays, the scope of brain science has been “expanded” to encompass nearly all research related to the brain, including the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, and prognosis of diseases. Scientific and engineering research institutes’Big data technology, artificial intelligence technology, cloud computing, and other technologiesIt has also become an integral and inseparable component of the development of brain science. Thanks to this, brain science is no longer the exclusive domain of the traditional pharmaceutical industry but has also emerged as one of the key pillars of bioengineering.

In summary, brain science is a multidisciplinary research field and a discipline with immense potential. Beyond established hubs of scientific excellence, many emerging cities and research institutions are also making significant strides in brain science research and translational applications in their own unique ways. Brain science not only holds substantial clinical significance but may also drive the development of next-generation artificial intelligence and the new information technology industry. Therefore, there is a growing need for more researchers with comprehensive knowledge bases to join the field of brain science research.

For laboratories, research directions also represent their key areas of focus. VCBeat’s analysis of 58 neuroscience laboratories across China reveals that their research directions can be primarily categorized intoBrain Cognition, Brain Protection, Brain DevelopmentThree Major Modules.

Statistics for the Three Major Modules

Brain CognitionAs the name suggests, it involves exploring the structure, functions, and underlying mechanisms of the brain.Brain Protectionfocuses on researching diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for major brain disorders, including neurological and psychiatric diseases.Brain DevelopmentIt can be narrowly understood as technology development based on brain research. However, as brain development research continues to expand, its subcategories are increasingly showing a trend of "establishing their own identities," with the most prominent example being brain-computer interfaces.“Brain-inspired Research”。

1. Brain Cognition: The Foundation for Translational Applications

An analysis of the laboratory’s research focus reveals that the number of projects on neuroprotection and brain development far exceeds those on cognitive neuroscience.

Although human research into brain science can be traced back to the Renaissance, spanning more than 500 years, the field has truly entered an explosive growth phase only in the past century. Over the course of this century, our understanding of the brain has moved beyond mere anatomy to encompass a clear mastery of neural coding and transmission, neuronal interactions, and even functional responses.

However, many “unsolved mysteries” in the field of brain science remain unexplored. Therefore,China is also actively advancing basic research in brain science.

withFudan University Institute of Brain ScienceTaking it as an example, it operates in an integrated manner with the State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, focusing on the fundamental processes of neural activity and higher-order brain functions. Its key areas of interest include basic brain science research such as neural signal transduction and synaptic transmission, sensory information processing and its underlying mechanisms, as well as the functional development, regeneration, and plasticity of the nervous system.

However, basic scientific research ultimately serves applied research. Building on foundational studies, the Institute of Brain Science at Fudan University also emphasizes the clinical translation and application of brain science. In 2023 alone, researchers from the Institute published multiple articles in internationally renowned journals on the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, the management of glaucoma, and the diagnosis and treatment of depression.“Enhancing Brain Science Research Capabilities to Meet Societal Health Needs”has also become a goal of the research institute.

The Fudan University Institute of Brain Science is not an isolated case. While fundamental cognitive research on the brain continues, the current foundational knowledge is already sufficient to support the translation and diversification of more projects. This may well be one of the reasons behind the current surge in research on brain protection and brain development.

Brain protection and brain development are both broadly applications of neuroscience research, yet they differ significantly. In terms of application scenarios, brain protection places greater emphasis on clinical use, whereas brain development focuses on technological innovation.

2. Neuroprotection: The pathogenesis and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders remain to be explored

Currently, the diseases that researchers engaged in neuroprotection studies are primarily focused on can be broadly categorized into four types.1. Neurodegenerative Diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Second, psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia.Third, neurodevelopmental disorders are prevalent in children., such as ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability. The fourth category comprises brain tumors and cerebrovascular diseases originating from the brain structure itself.

In terms of quantity, laboratories focusing on neurodegenerative diseases are the most numerous.This may also be related to the breakthrough advances in understanding the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases over the past decade.

Although the scientific community has identified genetic factors and biochemical processes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, there are still no therapeutic regimens capable of fully curing or even reversing these conditions. Consequently, researchers are focusing on neurodegenerative diseases to both clarify their pathogenic mechanisms and the causes of associated comorbidities, and to provide effective solutions for diagnosis and treatment.

For example,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDedicated to basic neuroscience research and the development of interventions targeting the pathogenesis of nervous system disorders. In 2002, an international research team led by Professor Nancy Ip discovered a blood protein that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

This discovery offers innovative therapeutic strategies for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), effectively reducing the risk of developing AD and improving patient outcomes. The study has been published in Nature Aging and has sparked extensive discussion on academic platforms focused on AD research, such as Alzforum.

The number of laboratories focusing on psychiatric disorders is second only to those focusing on neurodegenerative diseases.

While social development has brought convenience to people’s lives, it has also introduced significant social pressures. The large population of individuals suffering from mental disorders has become a serious societal issue. Furthermore, as numerous celebrities have chosen to end their lives due to mental illness, the topic of “paying attention to mental disorders” has repeatedly been thrust into the spotlight of public discourse.

Many laboratories are attempting to improve the condition of patients with psychiatric disorders using technologies such as light, electricity, and magnetism.Tianjin Brain Science and Brain-inspired Research CenterIt has specifically designated “technological innovation in acoustics, optics, electronics, and magnetism for the development of advanced equipment for neural function detection and modulation” as a key research direction.

However, the pathogenesis of most psychiatric disorders remains unclear, and the majority of treatment regimens are derived from evidence-based medicine. Therefore, elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders and developing targeted therapies based on these mechanisms represent the current focus of scientific research.

3. Brain Development: Brain-Computer Interface Research Becomes an Irresistible Trend

With the continuous emergence of new technologies such as brain imaging, brain-computer interaction, biosensing, and big data processing, brain science is increasingly intersecting and integrating with disciplines including computational technology, artificial intelligence, and nanomaterials.

Brain development not only benefits from technological innovation but also feeds back into technological iteration. Therefore, brain-inspired research has become a hot topic in scientific research, and the competitive game among major powers in brain-inspired research is becoming increasingly fierce.In the “China Brain Project,” brain-inspired computing and brain-computer intelligence are listed as core components.Policy support and scientific research emphasis for brain-inspired research are both higher than those for other types of brain research.

In brain-inspired computing research, direction b has garnered the most attention.

Among the 25 laboratories involved in brain development research, those focusing on brain-computer interface research include18 Institutes. Brain-computer interfaces represent a discipline characterized by the deep integration of life sciences and information technology, making science and engineering universities naturally the mainstay of research efforts, such asHubei University of Science and TechnologyA dedicated Brain-Computer Interface and Machine Learning Laboratory has also been established.

Moreover, the growing momentum of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is also reflected at the policy level. According to statistics, by 2022, national agencies including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Health Commission, and the State Council had issued 23 policies supporting BCI development. Across 31 provincial-level administrative regions, a total of 34 supportive policies were released, prioritizing the industrial application of BCIs in fields such as medical rehabilitation and virtual reality as key areas for industry growth.

Throughout the field of brain science research, attention to brain cognition remains slightly less prominent compared to the other two areas. Nevertheless, both brain protection and brain development rely fundamentally on research into brain cognition. The brain is the most important, and perhaps the most complex, organ in the human body. Only by clarifying the brain’s network structure can we truly establish the connective pathways between the brain and other areas of research.

In 2005, to celebrate its 125th anniversary, Science magazine invited hundreds of scientists worldwide to list the most important frontier scientific questions in the contemporary world. These were ultimately distilled into 125 questions, 18 of which pertained to brain science.

At that time, neuroscience was held in high esteem and even hailed as the “frontier science of the century.” Eighteen years later, the veil of mystery surrounding neuroscience is gradually being lifted. We can glimpse its potential and opportunities, while also recognizing that unknowns still await exploration.

Over the past 200 years, we have progressed from identifying the basic structure of the brain to unraveling the mysteries of neurotransmission.What surprises will brain science bring us in the next 200 years? The answer lies in the laboratory.