ICG-12 Kicks Off in Shenzhen with Theme 'Omics for All', Showcasing Breakthroughs and Strategic Collaborations
On the morning of October 26, 2017, the 12th International Conference on Genomics (ICG-12)ICG-12, The 12th Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Genomics) officially kicked off at the China National GeneBank in Shenzhen. Renowned experts and scholars from around the world gathered in Shenzhen to jointly discuss scientific research and academia, promoting the development of genomics. The conference was hosted by BGI Group, the China National GeneBank, and international open-access journals.GigaScienceCo-organized by, with“Omics for All” as the theme.
The conference was presided over by Mr. Wang Jian, Chairman of BGI Group, and Academician Yang Huanming, who also delivered the opening address. Academician Yang stated that pioneering innovation and progressive development in the field of life sciences rely on collaborative efforts for mutual benefit, and announced that the Shenzhen BGI Research Institute, together with Professor George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard University and Director of the Center for Genomics at Harvard Medical School,·Church has entered into a cooperation agreement, under which both parties will leverage their respective resource advantages to establish the “George Church Institute of Synthetic Biology” based on the synthesis and editing platform of the China National GeneBank in Shenzhen. The institute will focus on three cutting-edge areas: the development of high-density DNA storage technologies, biosynthesis of natural products, and medical applications of gene editing.
Subsequently, George· In his keynote address, Professor Church shared the breakthroughs and achievements made by his team in cutting-edge research fields. He pointed out that the development of gene reading and writing technologies has demonstrated superiority beyond Moore’s Law, benefiting from advances in various areas such as genetic engineering and gene editing. In the future, gene editing technology will find broader applications in organ transplantation and medical diagnosis and treatment, while big data omics and global analysis will bring profound transformations to our understanding of life.
Distinguished Scientist and Curator of Botany at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryW. John Kress delivered a keynote scientific report. Through vivid images and specific case studies, Professor Kress illustrated the current state of genomics and the complex diversity of species. He also provided an in-depth analysis of the impact of climate change in the Anthropocene on the interactions between flora and fauna. Additionally, Luo Fei, Founding Partner of Pinehe Capital, gave a keynote speech on “Industrial Innovation and China-US Synergy.”
At the opening ceremony, the Insurance Society of China and the BGI-Shenzhen Institute of Life Sciences jointly initiated the establishment of“Genomics Technology and Insurance Innovation Laboratory,” and the unveiling ceremony for the innovation laboratory was held. Yao Qinghai, President of the Insurance Society of China; Jiang Chongguang, Deputy Secretary-General; and Wang Jian, Chairman of BGI Group, attended the opening ceremony. It is reported that the “Genomics Technology and Insurance Innovation Laboratory” is the first cross-sector innovation collaboration platform in China bridging the insurance industry and genomic science. It aims to promote the deep integration of cutting-edge genomics technology with the insurance sector, drive innovative development within the industry, and support the “Healthy China” strategy.
It has been twelve years since the inaugural International Conference on Genomics (ICG) was held in 2006, and ICG has become one of the most influential annual conferences in the field of omics. It is understood that the current ICG Advisory Committee comprises 34 renowned experts and scholars from China and abroad, including Carl HAHN, George M. CHURCH, Marc VAN MONTAGU, Peter S. HARPER, Hao Bolin, and Li Peng. This year’s conference brings together scholars from around the world to discuss and share the latest scientific achievements. The topics cover a wide range of fields, including clinical genomics, cancer, bio-omics and evolutionary omics, metagenomics, common diseases, rare diseases, aging and regenerative medicine, sequencing and technological advances, bioinformatics, biological databases, precision medicine, international collaborative programs, plant omics, animal omics, multi-omics technologies, bioethics and social implications, and computational and systems biology, addressing both hot topics and applications relevant to public welfare.