Overview CJUH-JLU-China believes that truly valuable collaboration begins when iGEMers "understand each other’s stories." As conversations between individuals accumulate, bonds naturally extend from "individuals" to "teams," and collaboration takes root. We take the ABCS (Adipocyte for Breast Cancer Surveillance) Project as the core link—all exchanges and collaborations revolve around the technical R&D and popular science promotion of this project. Ultimately, through diverse forms of interaction, we have established trust with cross-regional and interdisciplinary teams.
An overview of the collaboration scale of the CJUH-JLU-China
Guided by the principle of "dialogue first, collaboration later," we transform scattered insights into tangible outcomes that drive the development of the iGEM community. Meanwhile, drawing inspiration from the "dynamic interactions between adipocytes and surrounding tissues in the breast cancer micro-environment," we have built a "Connection-Response-Symbiosis" collaborative network:
"Connection" corresponds to "signal transmission" Establishing cross-team links through basic communication such as letters and meetings;
"Response" corresponds to "functional coordination" Achieving technical complementarity based on the needs of the ABCS Project (e.g., co-building inclusive solutions with Fudan University, optimizing diagnostic education resources with Munich University);
"Symbiosis" corresponds to "scientific community" Uniting multiple teams to form a cross-regional and cross-domain collaborative ecosystem, where every exchange of ideas amplifies the innovative value of synthetic biology.
From initial familiarity to information sharing, and then to mission-aligned action, every step embodies the iGEM spirits of "win-win collaboration" and "community co-building."
Teams forming a community of collaborative innovation
(Click the logo to go directly to these teams’ home pages.)
Diverse Exchange Network Domestic Collaboration
Letters Across the Nation At the outset of iGEM 2025, when teams were still refining project directions, CJUH-JLU-China chose the most heartfelt medium: letters. Together with WHU-China, TJUSLS-China, HUST-China, and BNU-China, we launched “Letters Across the Nation.” By recording our original intentions and sharing lessons in writing, we built early bonds of trust across distance. This exchange planted seeds of deeper cooperation, ensuring that the five teams could support each other's development and move forward together.
Communication letters between teams
SUSTech-SynBio Community Forum (May 10, 2025) As one of the 2024 Best IHP-nominated teams, on May 10, 2025, CJUH-JLU-China was invited by SUSTechOCEAN to the “Inheritance · Innovation · Infinity” HP forum with SUSTechOCEAN, SUSTech-Med, BNUZH-China, HainanU-China, SZU-China, and CAFA-AFAC. Teams shared accumulated HP experience and their 2025 HP plans. The forum helped us refine our HP road-map and adopt the SCQAI model to strengthen logic. We also established ongoing exchange mechanisms with seven teams to explore new modes of community collaboration.
SUSTech-SynBio Community Forum
The 2nd Northeast China iGEM Exchange Meeting (May 11, 2025) A regional stage allowed diverse ideas to converge. The second Northeast iGEM exchange, “Synthesis · Co-Expansion | iGEM BioHorizon,” gathered 11 teams across disciplines and cities. Presentations spanned ginsenoside biosynthesis, breast cancer detection, microplastic degradation, and diabetic wound therapies. By presenting our ABCS project, we gained valuable feedback on modular design and biosafety safeguards, while sharing our own advances in RADAR logic-gated technology.
The 2nd Northeast China iGEM Exchange Meeting
The round table discussions on bio-safety and decentralization further highlighted how standardization and open collaboration can shape future innovation ecosystems.This exchange not only deepened regional academic complementarity, but also generated actionable ideas for project standardization and safety design.
CJUH-JLU-China & Fudan University Exchange (May 16, 2025) On May 16, 2025, we met in person with the Fudan University iGEM team, a 2024 Inclusivity Award nominee. We presented our approach to building an inclusive team culture, and Fudan shared their field-tested practices. Together, we identified concrete ways to include more populations in our education work and to broaden the reach of synthetic biology through innovative community engagement. We aligned on a core principle: inclusivity should shape not only team composition but also project design, outreach, and pedagogy—respecting diverse perspectives, needs, and backgrounds. As next steps, we will translate these insights into our programs, expand our audiences, and deepen the application of inclusivity across our iGEM activities.
CJUH-JLU-China & Fudan University Exchange
iBridge Exchange Meeting (May 25 and June 1, 2025) The iBridge exchange, hosted by OUC-China, brought together teams including PekingHSC-China, SUSTechOCEAN, Jiangnan-China, NEFU-China, XJTLU-China, and SCUT-China-L. Presentations highlighted a range of applications and methods. We shared the ABCS project, responded to questions, and refined our approach based on their suggestions. This dialogue sharpened our planning and task allocation, making the project more coherent.
iBridge Exchange Meeting
The 12th China iGEMer Communication Conference (CCiC-Synbiopunk 2025, August 6–8, 2025) From August 6–8, 2025, the 12th China iGEMer Communication Conference & 2nd Global Bio-Developers Conference (CCiC-Synbiopunk 2025) convened at the Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone in Beijing. With teams from universities and institutes nationwide, CJUH-JLU-China engaged in multi-dimensional, in-depth exchanges and collaboration. We presented our work, held open discussions during the poster session about challenges and breakthroughs, and sought opportunities for joint development. Swapping team memorabilia and photos, we strengthened friendships across the community.
The 12th China iGEMer Communication Conference
During the conference, we presented our work, held open discussions during the poster session about challenges and breakthroughs, and sought opportunities for joint development. Swapping team memorabilia and photos, we strengthened friendships across the community.
Our interactions with other teams in the CCiC
Functional Nucleic Acids Symposium (August 7, 2025) CJUH-JLU-China participated in the Functional Nucleic Acids Symposium hosted by PekingHSC-China, alongside ZJU-China, NNU-China, HZAU-China, and DUT-China. The program reviewed the current landscape of functional nucleic acids (FNAs) and spotlighted advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, high-throughput screening, rational design, and directed evolution.
Our presentation in the Functional Nucleic Acids Symposium
We presented our work and shared recent results. As a concrete outcome, the six teams agreed to co-author a “White Paper on Innovative Applications of Functional Nucleic Acids” in iGEM, providing a practical framework and reference for teams worldwide.
International Collaboration Cross-Continent SynBio Education Workshop (August 2025) To expand the accessibility of synthetic biology and build cultural bridges, we conducted in-depth online exchanges with teams from 4 continents, focusing on "educational collaboration":
Europe (Lund University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) Munich (Diagnostics track) and our team compared education for diagnostic projects and identified shared challenges: translating technical terms for the public and balancing universal content with local health needs. We agreed to highlight diagnostics’ core value—rapidity, accuracy, accessibility—and co-create resources that are both generalizable and context-aware.
Zoom meeting with Munich
Meanwhile, Lund (Fashion & Cosmetics track) showcased synthetic-biology-driven green fashion, providing both industrial insights and educational inspiration. We also collaborated with Lund on the Myth-Busting Handbook and co-recorded the “Biology 101 by Team Lund” blog series. In return, we shared our original lesson plans and invited them to pilot these materials locally, creating opportunities for mutual testing, feedback, and refinement.
Zoom meeting with Lund
Middle East (NYU Abu Dhabi) NYU Abu Dhabi placed emphasis on cross-cultural science communication. Their team underscored that respecting cultural differences is the foundation of effective education: content must feel authentic and grounded in local life if it is to resonate with diverse communities. This principle struck a strong chord with us, reminding all participants that outreach must adapt to context rather than remain one-size-fits-all.
Google meeting with NYU Abu Dhabi
North America (McGill University) McGill explored education around synthetic biology and public health, and we detailed our plan for a Myth-Busting Synthetic Biology handbook.
Zoom meeting with McGill
Outcomes Rationality in Action
Myth-Busting Synthetic Biology Handbook (Co-compiled by 36 teams, with CJUH-JLU-China as lead editor) As a fast-growing field, synthetic biology is often misunderstood—some imagine scientists “freely creating life,” while others worry iGEM projects might have negative future impacts. Within our collaboration map, we launched a special myth-busting initiative. As the lead editor, CJUH-JLU-China united 35 iGEM teams to co-create the Myth-Busting Synthetic Biology handbook. With professionalism and sincerity, we addressed common misconceptions, turning rumor battlefields into platforms for science communication. We hope more readers will see synthetic biology as it truly is, and feel the collective, rational voice of iGEMers—perhaps even fall in love with the field.
Smashing Synthetic Biology Rumours Science Brochure
White Paper on Innovative Applications of Functional Nucleic Acids in iGEM (Co-compiled by 6 teams, led by CJUH-JLU-China) Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) not only carry genetic information but also catalyze, recognize, and regulate biological processes, placing them at the forefront of life sciences and biomedicine. From fundamental discoveries to clinical applications in diagnostics and therapy, they hold vast potential. Our ABCS project is one such FNA-based effort in iGEM. To provide systematic guidance, CJUH-JLU-China—as lead editor—worked with PekingHSC-China, ZJU-China, NNU-China, HZAU-China, and NJU-China to compile a White Paper on Innovative Applications of FNAs in iGEM Projects. This resource offers iGEMers a panoramic reference, highlights future directions, and fosters cross-team knowledge-sharing so that more FNA projects can flourish on the iGEM stage.
White Paper on Innovative Applications of Functional Nucleic Acids in iGEM
Making Science Accessible
Genetic Engineering Children’s Picture Book (Co-created by CJUH-JLU-China & NUDT-China & CAFA-AFAC) To bring synthetic-biology fundamentals into children’s science enlightenment, CJUH-JLU-China teamed with NUDT-China and CAFA-AFAC to create a children’s picture book on gene engineering. With a playful lens, we turned complexity into wonder. NUDT-China built the narrative; CJUH-JLU-China designed image drafts to visualize experimental steps; CAFA-AFAC transformed drafts into finished hand-drawn illustrations. With the right approach, even intricate knowledge can be delightfully accessible.
Genetic Engineering Children’s Picture Book
WeChat Official Account Promotion: Interpretation of the Heartecho Project (Collaboration between CJUH-JLU-China & CAFA-AFAC) Early in the 2025 season, CJUH-JLU-China partnered with CAFA-AFAC to produce a WeChat promotion introducing our 2024 Best Diagnostics Project–nominated Heartecho. We drafted the text—covering project background, workflow, and innovation—while CAFA-AFAC enhanced it with polished visuals and layout. The article, telling the story of our AND-gate detection strategy for identifying high-risk cancer populations among cardiac patients, reached 1,426 reads, bringing more people closer to iGEM and synthetic biology—and perhaps inspiring future iGEMers.
An excerpt of our jointly published tweet
Lawn Music Festival: "SynBio Pictionary" & "Smile Board" (Co-hosted by CJUH-JLU-China & JLU-NBBMS) At a lively lawn music festival, we partnered with JLU-NBBMS to blend science & fun. We designed an image-based guessing game—turning core biology into meme-like icons that prompt participants to guess underlying concepts, learning synthetic biology fundamentals through play.
The image-based guessing game "SynBio Pictionary"
In parallel, our hand-drawn SynBio & Smiles board invited people to sketch faces and write moods—turning knowledge transfer into a warm, shareable, personal experience. Together we broke the stereotype that “science equals solemn lecturing” and brought syn-bio’s playful side into public view.
Our hand-drawn SynBio & Smiles board
3-Minute Anti-Cancer Aerobics (Jointly developed by CJUH-JLU-China & ZQT-Nanjing and 2 other teams) To bring prevention into daily life with simple, actionable movement, we responded to ZQT-Nanjing’s call with HainanU-China, Nanjing-China, and MammothEdu-South to co-create and promote a 3-minute anti-cancer routine focused on colorectal cancer prevention. Inspired by the traditional Wu Qin Xi (Five-Animal Exercises), it blends gentle stretches with core-activating motions for busy schedules—easy at home or at work—to lower the barrier to participation.
3-Minute Anti-Cancer Aerobics
"Her Laboratory" Women in Science Series (Jointly initiated by CJUH-JLU-China & ZQT-Nanjing and 3 other teams) Women scientists often shoulder a “dual role”: advancing truth in the lab while caring for life at home. Their commitment embodies resilience, wisdom, and love. Responding to ZQT-Nanjing’s call, CJUH-JLU-China joined ZQT-Nanjing, Nanjing-China, BAID-China, and MammothEdu-South in creating the themed series “Her Laboratory” to honor pioneering women in science. We highlighted five figures—from Rosalind Franklin’s DNA research, to Chien-Shiung Wu’s cobalt-60 experiment, Tiera Fletcher’s rocket design, Ning Yan’s membrane protein structures, and Hui Huang’s coral-reef restoration. Our message is simple: the distance to science is never about gender, but about the courage to take the first step.
"Her Laboratory" Women in Science Series
Outlook CJUH-JLU-China’s 2025 collaboration journey began with understanding each other’s stories, was structured around a Connection–Response–Symbiosis network model, and was anchored in the ABCS project. Across four tiers of exchange—domestic cross-regional, university-specific, cross-continental, and national-level—we delivered outcomes in three domains: public engagement with science, cultural exchange, and social impact. Together, these efforts reflect iGEM’s spirit of win-win collaboration and community co-building. We believe that by staying open and collaborative—and by continually strengthening our connections—the innovative value of synthetic biology can reach and benefit broader communities.