From October 19th to 20th, 2024, the annual meeting of the National Key Research and Development Program's "Synthetic Biology" key project, "Research and Application of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Massive Engineering Trial-and-Error Optimization of Synthetic Biological Systems," led by Professor Li Jianqiang, Executive Director of the National Engineering Laboratory, was successfully held at Sun Yat-sen University.
This annual meeting was hosted by Shenzhen University, the lead institution, and organized by Sun Yat-sen University, the institution undertaking the first sub-project. More than 40 project members from Shenzhen University, Sun Yat-sen University, BGI Genomics Institute, Anhui University, Tianjin University, and Nankai University attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Professor Cui Jun of Sun Yat-sen University.
At the meeting, Professor Li Jianqiang, the project leader, introduced the overall progress of the project, including research progress, research results, team and personnel input, and funding utilization. He stated that the project has progressed to the later stages of research and will undergo project acceptance next year. He expressed his hope to continue to advance the project, diligently complete all indicators, and successfully conclude the project.
Following this, Professor Cui Jun from Sun Yat-sen University, Assistant Professor Ji Junkai from Shenzhen University, Associate Researcher Liu Wenfeng from Shenzhen BGI Life Sciences Research Institute, Lecturer Wei Pijing from Anhui University, Associate Professor Wang Fangzhong from Tianjin University, and Professor Liu Jian from Nankai University gave detailed reports on the research work and progress of their respective institutions. Professors Deng Li and Wang Jiangxin from Shenzhen University supplemented the reports with remarks on the project's research.
The project, "Research and Application of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Massive Engineering Trial-and-Error Optimization of Synthetic Biological Systems," focuses on three major scenarios: bacteriophages, prokaryotic microalgae, and immune cells. It utilizes artificial intelligence methods such as reinforcement learning, transfer learning, and meta-learning, combined with high-throughput automated construction sequencing and multi-spectral characterization technologies, to conduct in-depth research on the deep integration of massive engineering trial-and-error optimization of synthetic biological systems with artificial intelligence technology. The project was launched in 2020 and will be completed and accepted in 2025.
The successful convening of this meeting facilitated further exchange and sharing among the participating institutions. In the future, the project team will continue to uphold the spirit of scientific research, strengthen cooperation and communication, and jointly promote the progress of the project.
Shenzhen University, as the project's lead institution, will continue to play a guiding role, providing strong support and guarantees for the smooth implementation of the project, successfully completing its conclusion, and contributing more to the field of synthetic biology.
