In the first part of the theme, NNU-China, CJUH-JLU-China and ZJU-China, three teams focused on how to solve the challenges of delivery, stability and immunogenicity of functional nucleic acids in vivo applications, and how to realize the integration of diagnosis and treatment. The application frontier of functional nucleic acids was introduced. By listening to the reports of other iGEM teams, we have a clearer understanding of the frontier development of functional nucleic acids, filling in some of the missing details when we collect background information.
Participate in The Functional Nucleic Acid Seminar Organized by PekingHSC
On August 7,2025, the PekingHSC team hosted a functional nucleic acid seminar. The conference was divided into two themes: ' Application frontier of functional nucleic acids in biomedical diagnosis and treatment ' and ' Design, screening and optimization of functional nucleic acids '.
In the second part of the topic, HZAU-China and PekingHSC introduced the dry experiment methods of their projects in the process of functional nucleic acid screening and optimization. We show our rational design strategy for nucleic acids (structure-based computational design). Our rational design ideas are well received. After the meeting, we discussed the design of the dry experimental model of the riboswitch with the PekingHSC dry experimental group. Through the communication and in-depth discussion between each other, we deepened our understanding and provided us with new perspectives and ideas.
The 12th CCIC
The iGEMer China Community Congress (CCIC) is the largest platform for iGEMers to connect and communicate within China. The 12th CCIC Conference was hosted by the Engineering Biology Young Enthusiasts Association.107 iGEM teams from all over the country gathered in Beijing to communicate and learn from each other.
In the 5-minute roadshow session, we demonstrated our project-modular RNA precise therapeutic drugs for liver cancer. In the poster display link, our posters have attracted the onlookers of many teams. The iGEMers from different schools have a strong interest in our posters for our projects. In close communication with them, we also face some doubts. For example, HZAU-China has also studied the targets we have selected and the pathways they are located in. They have put forward some insights based on their research on our pathway selection, which has prompted us to reflect on the project design from a new perspective. Through this exchange, we also established a profound friendship with HZAU, and further discussed each other 's projects in all aspects after the meeting. We also learned about their projects and their thinking about synthetic biology in our conversations with other iGEMers.
In addition, we have also listened to a number of high-level reports and discussions in the business community and academia, from which we have benefited a lot. Through this CCIC, we not only learned about the experimental design of many excellent teams, but also gained valuable opinions from other iGEMers on our projects and made new friends, which prompted us to think from a new perspective.
The Communication with HAZU-China
At the CCIC conference, through close communication between the two teams, we learned that in the treatment of hemorrhoids studied by HZAU-China, they are similar to our pathway selection. HAZU team members introduced that hemorrhoids can be regarded as a benign tumor that does not metastasize to a certain extent, similar to liver tumors. In addition, the delivery vectors of our two team projects have bacterial cell membrane components and both use the PROTAC ubiquitination degradation system. Therefore, the projects of our two teams have strong similarities in tumor treatment strategies.
In order to learn from each other and discuss the similarities and aspects between our projects, we have enthusiastically expressed their opinions and feedback on project design details, target pathway selection, safety and other issues.
During the conference, we focused on the two major treatment directions of liver cancer and intestinal diseases, and demonstrated innovative ideas in modular biological design, targeted regulation and safety strategies and their respective technical characteristics in the field of precision therapy. At the same time, we exchanged ideas on the hypoxic microenvironment of dry experimental tumors. We agreed that the construction of hypoxic microenvironment of liver tumors and hemorrhoids was similar, and further clarified the importance of pharmacokinetic model in drug development.
In the process of communication, we find that the common concern of the two teams is security, which suggests that we need to pay more attention to the security in each process in the future to ensure that we are responsible for the society and the world.
Cooperate with AFMU-China to Carry Out Popular Science Activities
In the progress of the previous public communication activities, we found that the public's understanding of liver cancer and the treatment and prevention of liver cancer is generally insufficient. In order to improve the public's understanding of liver cancer so as to increase public acceptance in the follow-up stage of the project, we contacted AFMU-China, which is jointly committed to the research of liver cancer treatment, and jointly launched video and podcasts.
Both the videos and podcasts were well-received, and we received enthusiastic reviews in the comments section, with many expressing their support for our project and expecting us to overcome medical challenges. Some viewers said that after watching the video, they had a deeper understanding of the current situation of liver cancer and liver cancer treatment, and also looked forward to the future of liver cancer treatment.