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30th CLSS-UK Annual Conference | Event Summary
The 30th Annual Conference of the Chinese Life Scientists Society in the UK (CLSS-UK) has been successfully held on 11–12 September 2025 at the Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge. Dr Jia Li, Chair of CLSS-UK, opened the conference by reflecting on the society’s rich history spanning over three decades. She unveiled a renewed mission to support early-career researchers, complementing the society’s ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration across disciplines and serving as a bridge between Chinese and British scientists. In addition, CLSS-UK launched its first art-science-culture fusion competition.
Programme Highlights: Day 1
Dr Qianxin Wu (middle) and Dr Aihan Zhang (left) shared their experiences in bringing scientific discoveries to market. The session was chaired by Dr Jia Li (right).
Prof Li Su (left) and Dr Pao-Sheng Chang (middle) offered insights into building an academic career and navigating early-career fellowship applications. The session was chaired by Dr Wenqianglong Li (right).
Prof Masud Husain (left) and Dr Wenbo Li (middle) provided candid views on manuscript preparation and the peer-review process. The session was chaired by Dr Lan Xu (right).
Dr Rebecca Jacob (right) closed Day 1 with a talk on mental wellbeing, resilience, and maintaining balance in academic life, chaired by Prof Li Su (left).
Programme Highlights: Day 2
Prof Sir David Klenerman opened the conference on Day 2 with a compelling keynote on “How the physical sciences can empower biology,” illustrating the transformative potential of interdisciplinary approaches.
Dr Marco Di Antonio presented his cutting-edge research on “Alterations of DNA 3D architecture and chemotherapy resistance,” shedding light on mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer.
Dr Georgios Baskozos shared insights into “Multi-omic integration in diabetic neuropathy,” demonstrating how layered data can unravel complex disease pathways.
Dr Yiliang Ding captivated the audience with the talk on “Decoding the language of DNA and RNA”, demonstrating AI application in biological research.
Dr Yan Liu explored “Glycan microarrays and the microbe-host glycointeractome,” highlighting the role of glycans in microbial communication and host interactions.
Prof Rongjun Chen discussed “Biomimicry at the nanoscale for healthcare,” showcasing innovative nanotechnologies.
Dr Fu Di introduced the concept of “Embodied AI in human-robot interaction,” bridging artificial intelligence with human-centred design.
Dr Miao Guo addressed sustainability in her talk on “Bioprocesses for waste-to-protein and biomanufacturing,” offering solutions for circular bioeconomy.
Prof Dennis Wang presented “Unsupervised learning of health patterns,” demonstrating how AI can uncover latent structures in biomedical data.
Prof Wenying Shou delivered a memorable and engaging narrative on the evolution of cooperation and cheating, blending storytelling with evolutionary biology.
The conference concluded with a keynote by Prof Yulan Wang, who spoke on metabolic interactions between host, gut microbes, and nutrients, offering a systems-level view of nutrition and health.
Our Amazing Audience
The conference environment was exceptionally lively, with the audience actively engaging by asking insightful questions to all speakers and poster presenters.
Best Abstract Awards
The three Best Abstract Awardees - Xiong Xiong, Jiao Xiao, and Yan Liao - each delivered a 3-minute overview of their research, showcasing the depth and innovation of their work.
Fusion of Art, Science, and Chinese Culture Competition
To celebrate 30 years, CLSS-UK launched its fusion of art, science, and Chinese culture competition. We congratulate the Winner - Bincheng Wang and the Runner-ups - Xiaohan Ma and Tianyi Tang.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Thanks to the conference co-organisers:
We thank all the co-organisers organisation committee members including Dr Quan Gu, Dr Shenglin Cai, Dr Ying Liu, Dr Qiuchen Zhao, Dr Wenqianglong Li, Dr Jian Wang, Dr Yumeng Zhang, Dr Lan Xu, Dr Hao Hu, Dr Jinke Chang, Dr Yong Ji, Dr Xuehao Cui, and Dr Guifen Chen.
A special thank-you to our volunteers whose enthusiasm made the conference run smoothly: Chen Zhang, Haochen Bai, Fangrui Liu, Jiayi Zhu, Yuqi Bian, Mengyuan Li, Tianyi Lu, Lin Su, Jingxiu Xu, Yangteng Ou, and Li Ma.
Concluding remarks
This milestone gathering underscored CLSS-UK’s commitment to bridging communities, fostering interdisciplinary discovery, and empowering the next generation of life scientists. The conference concluded with an award ceremony and the announcement of Prof Li Su as the newly appointed Chair of CLSS-UK.
