The Extraordinary | The 2022 Shanghai Phage and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Institute Annual Conference was successfully held at E-SPACE Extraordinary Space.

Date：2023-02-15

   On January 12, 2023, the Shanghai Phage and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as "the Phage Institute") held its 2022 year-end summary conference at the E-SPACE conference center in Xinzhuang Industrial Park, Hailian Wisdom Valley Industrial Park. The conference specially invited Director Yi Chengdong, a first-level inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Professor Zhu Tongyu, deputy dean of Fudan University Medical College, Professor Zhang Yongzhen, a top ten "Nature" annual figure in 2020 from Fudan University, Professor Xu Jianqing from Fudan University, Professor Yan Yaxian from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Director Li Xiaoyu from the affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Director Li Jun from Shanghai Jiayi International Hospital, Directors Zhao Yanwei and Gu Chenli, Dr. Li Ming from the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ms. Zhou Tongyu, a national People's Congress representative and chairman of Hailian Wisdom Valley, Mr. Wang Jianli, chairman of the Extraordinary Medical Group, Dr. Wang Shuguang, general manager of Shanghai Wenzhou Investment, and over 50 experts from the academic and industrial communities, including special-appointed PI professors and the innovation phage scientists team, to attend and provide guidance.

Before the official commencement, an overall introduction was provided by Extraordinary for the E-SPACE medical science and innovation shared laboratory space, which has already been occupied by the Innovation Phage Biotechnology Company. The Phase I E-SPACE base covers an area of approximately 6,000 square meters, featuring a high-standard shared laboratory of 2,000 square meters with biosafety levels BSL-2/BSL-1. In addition, it is equipped with 2,000 square meters of fully decorated and fully furnished independent offices for medical enterprises, an information entry center, and a professional training center capable of accommodating 80 people. The laboratory base offers customized exhibition spaces within the shared enterprise showroom for each enterprise.

The functions of the BSL-2/BSL-1 laboratories include professional operation spaces and equipment such as cell rooms, bacterial rooms, reagent experiments, molecular diagnostics, comprehensive antibody, PCR amplification, gene sequencing, and precision instruments. Furthermore, the facility is equipped with precision experimental instruments worth over 5 million yuan that are available for rent and sharing.

The conference was chaired by Dr. Wu Nannan from the Phage Institute. At the beginning of the meeting, Director Yi Chengdong affirmed the achievements the Phage Institute has made in the past five years. He emphasized the severity of the antimicrobial resistance issue and the strategies and progress Shanghai has made in addressing it through a three-network collaboration. He also proposed "three hopes" for the Phage Institute's work in 2023: Firstly, after the baptism of the pandemic, it is necessary to regroup and face new challenges with a renewed spirit. Secondly, phages played a positive role during the fight against the pandemic, and there should be a continued increase in research and application of phages to promote the construction and development of the discipline. Lastly, researchers should further understand the mechanisms of generation and transmission of antimicrobial resistance and collectively shoulder the responsibility of combating antimicrobial resistance.

Subsequently, Professor Zhu Tongyu delivered a performance report on the Phage Institute. In terms of team building, three heavyweight experts joined the academic committee, one part-time professor received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation for outstanding youth, two core team members were promoted to the title of associate researcher, and two staff members pursued doctoral degrees. In the clinical trial aspect, 23 cases of phage therapy were completed, and nearly 300 strains of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the critical care areas for COVID-19 were phage-typed, analyzed for hospital infections, and targeted phage environmental sprays were applied.

In terms of scientific research, multiple SCI papers were published in the year 2022, and one invention patent was authorized. Regarding academic exchanges, the 5th Phage Summit was successfully held; the rights to jointly host the 2023 Phage International Symposium and Phage Summit were obtained; the China Phage Research Alliance was initiated and established; an expert workstation was co-built with the Yunnan Provincial Institute for Local Disease Prevention and Control, and strategic cooperation content was discussed.

In the area of public science communication, three high school students from Shanghai Nanyang Model High School and Lake Forest High School in the United States were mentored this year; the follower count of the Phage Institute's official WeChat account reached 7,000, with an average reading volume exceeding a thousand per post, making it one of the most influential phage promotion platforms in the country.

Professor Zhu Tongyu, the director of the Phage Institute, stated that in 2022, all employees of the Phage Institute overcame difficulties together, and in 2023, they should continue to work hard, increase investment in multiple dimensions including medical care, education, research, and production, and strive to build the Phage Institute into a research platform with international influence.

Next, the Phage Institute's Principal Investigators (PIs) Qin Jinhong, Gu Jingmin, Le Shuai, Li Jinchuan, Tan Demeng, Wu Nannan, and Zhang Tingting each summarized their work from 2022 and outlined their plans for 2023. Representatives from partner institutions, Associate Professor Shen Wei from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Dr. Li Na from the Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, also provided summaries and perspectives on their collaborations with the Phage Institute during the meeting. The experts present engaged in a lively discussion on the detailed issues of the construction of a medical phage library and the clinical application of phages, which are two areas of expert consensus.

During the annual summary and outlook segment for the staff, Guo Mingquan, Cheng Mengjun, Li Jianhui, Yang Lan, Li Linlin, Li Jie, and Dai Jia from the Phage Institute presented their reports in sequence. The attending experts provided targeted feedback and engaged in discussions. They also selected Cheng Mengjun, Yang Lan, Li Linlin, and Li Jie as the four outstanding employees of the Phage Institute for the year 2022, based on their work content and performance at the meeting.

At the end of the conference, the three directors made their concluding remarks. Director Chen Liguang expressed that it was no easy feat for the research institute to achieve such accomplishments in a challenging year like 2022, and he hoped that in the new year, it would be possible to regularly travel to and from Shanghai to participate in the work of the Phage Institute. Director Guo Xiaokui outlined the key tasks for 2023, emphasizing the need for long-term planning and short-term execution, and for the Phage Institute to continue attracting top talent while collaborating with Innovation Phage to bring products and services to the market. Director Zhu Tongyu provided the final commentary, stating that in 2023, the Phage Institute should focus on developing its advantageous projects and accelerate the application of phages in four key areas: ICU, respiratory, urinary tract, and perianal abscess infections, as well as intensify public science communication related to phages. The conference concluded with the annual keywords "Joining hands with Innovation Phage to combat antimicrobial resistance." It is hoped that in 2023, clinical doctors, scientists, and industry colleagues will work together to advance the development of the phage industry, bringing benefits to more patients.

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