First Announcement

The forum will be held in Hangzhou, China, from December 21 to 23, 2026. It is jointly organized by Tsientang Institute for Advanced Study (TIAS) and the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University. It will bring together leading scholars and outstanding early-career researchers from around the world for in-depth discussions in an open and dynamic setting on frontier developments, emerging trends, and future directions in the life sciences.

Organizers

Tsientang Institute for Advanced Study

School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University

Conference Chair: Songhai Shi

Organizing Committee: Anming Meng, Xing Wang Deng, Chenjian Li, Wei Xie, Yiguo Wang, Pengye Wang, and Qiangfeng Zhang

Venue and Dates

Venue: Tsientang Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Registration: December 20, 2026
Forum Dates: December 21–23, 2026
Main Activities: keynote lectures, oral and poster presentations, laboratory visits, and discussions

Scientific Themes

This forum will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and create opportunities for sustained academic interaction among participants from diverse research backgrounds. Topics will include, but are not limited to:

• Biophysics and biochemistry
• Cell biology and genetics
• Aging, regeneration, and cell fate reprogramming
• Neuroscience and brain-inspired intelligence
• Symbiosis and environment

Keynote Speakers (Continuously Updated)

Zhigang He     Professor, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine

Shengcai Lin  Professor, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Kang Shen       Professor, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Bing Zhu           Professor, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Call for Applications

The forum welcomes applications for oral and poster presentations.

Eligibility: Applicants should be early-career scientists actively engaged in scientific research who have made significant research contributions.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified of the result no later than November 15, 2026. Invited participants should confirm their participation within 5 business days of receiving the notification.

Travel and Accommodation

For invited participants, the forum will provide the following support:
•Fully covered accommodation and meals during the forum
•Reimbursement of round-trip travel expenses in accordance with the forum policy (economy-class airfare or second-class high-speed rail), subject to submission of valid supporting documents

Contact and Further Information

For abstract submission and academic matters:

Ms. Qian: qianwenli@tsinghua.edu.cn

Ms. Zhao: jjzhao@tias.ac.cn

For conference logistics and general inquiries:
Mr. Zilong Zheng: zlzheng@tias.ac.cn
Mr. Peifeng Liu: pfliu@tias.ac.cn