Fifth NGS Innovators Developer Conference: Capital, Academia, and Industry Drive Advancements in Gene Sequencing

On March 31, 2018, the 5th NGS Innovation Developers Conference was successfully held at the Lexie Hotel in Nanjing Yangzi Science and Technology Innovation Center. The conference was jointly organized by GeneCloud Health, Yangzi Sci-Tech Innovation, and Multiple Capital, and received strong support from industry enterprises and media.

Yangzi State-owned Assets Investment Group, Chairman Cai Long

Conference Initiator: Hao Xiangwen, CEO of Jiyun Huikang

Themed “Value Creation,” the conference centered on the industrial division of labor across “basic R&D, technology translation, and genetic applications.” Upholding the distinctive style of previous Developer Conferences, the event fostered a relaxed, vibrant, and professional atmosphere. Experts from diverse fields—including foundational development of sequencing technologies, supporting peripheral technologies for sequencing, innovations in clinical and health applications, advances in genetic data analysis, standardization of clinical genetic testing, and trends in industry development—showcased their research findings and achievements in translational applications.

Opening Ceremony Host: Yu Fengjia, Partner at Multiples Capital

This conference excellently demonstrated the synergy among capital, academia, and commercial applications. Dr. Cai Long, Chairman of Yangzi State-owned Capital Investment Group; Wang Xuegang, Chairman of Jinzhun Gene and Co-founder of Beike Club; and Yu Fengjia, Partner at Beishu Capital, delivered opening remarks, expressing their attention to the rapidly evolving NGS technology and their expectations for supporting emerging NGS technologies and achieving commercial translation.

Wang Xuegang, Chairman of Jinzhun Gene and Co-founder of Beikeshe

Professor Huang Yanyi from Peking University, Dr. Wu Hongwen from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Dr. Jiang Hui from MGI Tech, and Dr. Cao Han from BioNano Genomics presented the latest applications of advanced technologies—including dynamic optical mapping, solid-state nanopores, stLFR, and single-molecule imaging—in sequencing. These technological advances highlight the development trends in gene sequencing: single-molecule resolution, high accuracy, and low cost. This implies that gene sequencing will meet more clinical and commercial needs in the near future.

Dr. Huang Yanyi, Professor at Peking University

Dr. Han Dali from the Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Dr. Ge Dongliang from Apostle; and Dr. Lu Xingyu from Ebiogene discussed the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, particularly in cancer diagnosis and liquid biopsy, highlighting its broad prospects for clinical application.

Dr. Dali Han, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Addressing the various questions surrounding the application of omics, numerous experts shared their perspectives and findings—covering breakthroughs in bioinformatics challenges, the application of immunohistochemistry techniques, preparation of PCR-targeted libraries, new platforms for microbiome technologies, integration and construction of big data in life omics, and standards and regulations for clinical genetic testing. Through vigorous discussions on these topics, attendees gained a deeper, more vertical understanding of the fields of genetics and sequencing.

Dr. Liang Chengzhi, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

In addition to the expert lectures, the NGS Conference’s signature “Developer Night” was also a highlight of the event. Held in an open and interactive format, Developer Night facilitated communication and exchange among industry peers, and featured a themed discussion on the venture capital environment and commercialization models of widespread interest, with Mr. Gao Lei, Party Secretary of Yangzi Sci-Tech Innovation, and Mr. Luo Shiming from VCBeat Institute as speakers.

Gao Lei, Party Secretary of Yangzi Sci-Tech Innovation

VCBeat's Luo Shiming

To recognize advancements in basic research, technological development, and genetic applications within the sequencing field, a special awards ceremony was featured at this “Developer Night.”

The 2018 Outstanding Contribution Award in Basic Research was awarded to Professor Huang Yanyi of Peking University, in recognition of his team’s achievements in the fundamental research and development of sequencing technologies. The 2018 Outstanding Contribution Award in Technology R&D was awarded to Dr. Cao Han, Founder and Chief Scientist of BioNano Genomics. By integrating nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology, Dr. Cao invented single-molecule imaging technology for genomic mapping, which has played an increasingly critical role in detecting genomic structural variations and facilitating genome assembly. The 2018 Outstanding Contribution Award in Gene Applications was awarded to Dr. Han Jian of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in recognition of his groundbreaking clinical applications of immune repertoire sequencing technology.

Yu Fengjia, Partner at Multiples Capital; Hao Xiangwen, Founder of Jiyun Huikang; and Cai Long, Chairman of Yangzhou State-owned Assets Investment Group, respectively presented awards to the honorees.

Photo of Han Jian, Recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award in Genetic Applications, with the Award Presenter

“Developer Night” also announced a major update: Beijing Hope Group Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and Beijing JiYun HuiKang Technology Co., Ltd. will jointly launch the “Personal Reference Genome Service Project.” This initiative will leverage next-generation sequencing, third-generation sequencing, and optical mapping technologies to generate ultra-long-read data and high-quality diploid personal reference genome maps, thereby creating a “Comprehensive Personal Variant Set.” The project aims to uncover more “insider insights” into life and further advance the field of genomics.

Hao Xiangwen (left), CEO of Jiyun Huikang

Wang Depeng (center), CEO of Xiwang Group

Han Cao (right), Founder and Chief Scientist of BioNano

The NGS Innovation Developer Conference lasted for one and a half days. On the morning of April 1, Mr. Chai Yingshuang, CEO of Singbo Bio, presided over the conference. Speakers included Professor Huang Shangzhi from Peking Union Medical College, Dr. Zhang Chenhong from the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dr. Qin Junjie from PuYuan Genomics, Mr. Wang Depeng, CEO of HopeBio, Dr. Chen Yang from Tsinghua University, and Dr. Du Le from Yinai Bio. Topics covered consensus on standards and guidelines for clinical genetic testing, the microbiome, advances in sequencing technologies, and personalized skincare applications based on genetic testing.

Professor Huang Shangzhi, Peking Union Medical College