On April 3, the Innovation Conference on the Integration of Medicine and Engineering in Chongqing Universities was held in the academic lecture hall of the Chongyi Building at the Yuanjiagang campus of Chongqing Medical University. The conference was hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, organized by Chongqing Medical University, and co-organized by Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing University of Technology, and Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Liu Yanbing, Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal Education Commission, attended and delivered a speech. Zhang Zemin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Chongqing Medical University, gave a welcome address. Other attendees included Qing Zhixue, Second-Level Inspector of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology; Wang Yongde, Party Secretary and President of Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Li Huabing, Vice President of Chongqing Medical University; Li Zhangyong, Vice President of Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications; Zhou Jianting, Vice President of Chongqing Jiaotong University; and Zhang Xiaohong, Deputy Party Secretary of Chongqing University of Technology.
The conference was chaired by Jiang Yunfang, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission and a member of the Education Working Committee of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee.
The conference brought together more than 200 experts, scholars, and educators from universities, medical institutions, and high-tech enterprises in Chongqing. It focused on cutting-edge fields such as intelligent medical equipment, bio-imaging, new drug development, brain-computer interfaces, digital diagnosis and treatment, and AI empowerment. Aimed at addressing clinical challenges, overcoming key technological bottlenecks, and promoting the application of research outcomes, the event included thematic discussions, case sharing, industry–academia collaboration, and signing ceremonies. It sought to build consensus on innovation in the integration of medicine and engineering, define future priorities, and establish an integrated model of organized research and talent cultivation.
In his speech, Liu Yanbing emphasized that holding this conference is a key step in promoting the integrated development of education, technology, and talent, as well as the deep integration of the “four chains” (innovation, industry, talent, and education). He highlighted the need to explore AI for education and AI for science, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, overcome industrial bottlenecks, and cultivate both original innovation “from 0 to 1” and engineering talent “from 1 to N”. He also stressed strengthening the “one body with two wings” framework, using talent and innovation as dual engines, and enhancing coordination between government, universities, enterprises, and medical institutions.
Zhang Zemin, president of Chongqing Medical University, welcomed everyone attending the conference and highlighted the university’s achievements over the past 70 years in western China. He emphasized that medicine–engineering integration is a key driver of innovation and high-quality development. Zhang noted that the university continues to invest in talent development, research, and the transformation of research results. The conference provides a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experience, and fostering collaboration, accelerating breakthroughs in critical technologies.
Academician Zhang Zemin, Zhong Ning, distinguished professor at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications and foreign member of the Japan Engineering Academy, Zhou Jianting of Chongqing Jiaotong University, and Li Jianguang of Chongqing University of Technology delivered keynote presentations at the conference, offering attendees a cutting-edge academic showcase of interdisciplinary research between medicine and engineering.
Zhang Zemin delivered a keynote presentation titled From Understanding Single Cells to the Future of Precision Medicine. He systematically explained the new opportunities arising from changes in tumor treatment paradigms, highlighting how his team uses single-cell genomics to analyze the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, identify novel cellular modules and therapeutic targets, and accelerate drug development with AI, achieving practical application of research results. He also introduced the Chongqing Institute of Information and Intelligent Medicine, outlining its current status and development plans. He emphasized the need to rapidly cultivate “AI + clinical” talent and the importance of integrating the full innovation chain from basic research to technological breakthroughs, clinical translation, and industrial application while promoting deep integration of precision medicine and AI.
Zhong Ning delivered a presentation titled New Generation Key Technologies for Intelligent Health Driven by Network Intelligence 3.0. He introduced the Smart Health Innovation Center at the Institute of Frontier Technology Interdisciplinary Research of Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, outlining its overview and development plans. He shared theoretical and practical results from the integration of network intelligence and brain informatics, and emphasized the need to advance the three-dimensional integration of artificial intelligence, brain science, and proactive health in medicine–engineering collaboration. Zhong also highlighted the goal of developing a full-lifecycle intelligent health service concept and transitioning from a disease-centered approach to a new model focused on intelligent health. He expressed his hope to jointly create an intelligent service-oriented society and a new paradigm for intelligent health, contributing core technological capabilities to make Chongqing a leading city in the intelligent health industry and supporting the Healthy China initiative
Zhou Jianting delivered a keynote presentation titled Some Reflections on the Interdisciplinary Development of Transportation and Medicine. Based on national strategic needs and Chongqing’s industrial and research foundations, he systematically explained the pathways for two-way integration of medicine and engineering. The presentation focused on three main areas: life safety, with the development of transportation trauma medicine; artificial intelligence, with the development of transportation facility health diagnostics; and strategic channels, with the development of high-altitude transportation medicine. Zhou emphasized that by leveraging Chongqing Jiaotong University’s comprehensive transportation discipline system covering land, water, air, and rail, and through technological synergy, data sharing, and collaborative scenario creation, the integration of disciplines can address transportation safety challenges, empower industrial upgrading, and contribute to the Healthy China initiative.
Li Jianguang delivered a keynote presentation titled Clinical Translation of Nanoparticle and Nucleic Acid Drugs. Drawing on his years of experience in new drug development both domestically and internationally, he shared achievements in the clinical translation of nanoparticle delivery systems and nucleic acid drugs. He noted that nucleic acid drugs, as a third-generation innovative therapy following small molecules and antibodies, offer advantages such as precise targeting, flexible design, and the ability to address traditionally “undruggable” targets, making them a key focus in global new drug research. Li advocated for deepening medicine–engineering collaboration to help the local nucleic acid drug industry achieve rapid advancement and to enable China to move from following to keeping pace with, and ultimately leading, in this field.
Amid warm applause, Xu Xiangyang, Director of the Science and Technology Department at Chongqing Jiaotong University, and Zhang Hongjun, Director of the Research Department at the Army Medical University, signed a cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.
Fourteen research teams from Chongqing University, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing University of Technology, the Seventh People’s Hospital of Chongqing, and other institutions signed cooperation agreements.
Eleven companies, including Siemens Healthineers, Chongqing Electromechanical Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing Shanwaishan Blood Purification Technology Co., Ltd., Chongqing Xishan Technology Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Zhixing Lanshi Technology Co., Ltd., signed cooperation agreements on-site with the participating universities.
During the results exchange session, nine experts and scholars from Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing Jiaotong University, and Chongqing University of Technology presented and discussed their latest innovations in medicine–engineering integration, sparking a dynamic exchange of ideas and fostering the innovation ecosystem.
Chongqing Medical University: Professors Liu Guodong, Wang Wei, and Lü Yang
Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications: Professors Han Longfei, Shu Yucheng, and Pang Yu
Chongqing Jiaotong University: Professor Chen Lili
Chongqing University of Technology: Professors Zhang Junrui and Wang Lurui
The conference also launched an initiative titled “A New Paradigm for Collaborative Innovation and Talent Development in Medicine–Engineering Integration among Chongqing Universities.”
The conference was also supported and guided by the Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, the Commission of Economy and Information Technology, and the Health Commission, among other departments.
(Translated by AI)
