Abstract
We embrace open collaboration and actively engage with the synthetic biology community. Through online exchanges and participation in major conferences, gained valuable insights, and broadened our project vision. Below are the highlights from our collaborations with Nanjing Normal University (NNU) and Sichuan University (SCU), as well as our participation in the 12th Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC).
Exchange with NNU
Why collaborate with NNU?
NNU’s iGEM team has extensive experience in project design and management. Through online communication, we sought to refine our own project structure and achieve better integration of human practices with our goals of solving practical problems. On June 14, 2025, we held an online meeting with NNU, where both teams shared project directions and experimental progress (Fig.1).
What did we discuss?
During the online meeting, both teams focused on aligning project directions and sharing research progress.
Fig. 1 Online exchange with NNU.
a. YNNU-China team introduction promotion video.
b. NNU-China team sharing experience.
How did this influence our project?
Exchange with NNU inspired us to make tangible improvements in two areas:
Exchange with SCU
Why collaborate with SCU?
To further enrich our preparation and gain diverse perspectives, we held an online exchange with the iGEM team from Sichuan University.
What did we discuss?
On July 26, 2025, we held a productive online meeting with SCU’s iGEM team, fostering meaningful dialogue and mutual learning(Fig.2). At the beginning, Professor Zhang Nianhui generously shared his extensive experience in iGEM competition preparation. He emphasized that a successful project should comprise well-developed modules that are closely integrated with the overall thematic design. He introduced his team’s highly efficient collaboration model:
This structured approach provided a valuable reference for our own team-building strategies.
Following this, our team presented the core concept and technical roadmap of REvoDesign, highlighting its potential to address key challenges in enzyme modification for the heterologous synthesis of plant-derived natural products.
During the interactive segment, SCU-China provided sincere and professional feedback.
This exchange not only strengthened our technical direction but also deepened our understanding of effective team organization and overall project coherence.
Fig. 2 Online exchange with SCU.
a. YNNU-China team introduction.
b. SCU-China team sharing experience.
How did this influence our project?
Exchange with the SCU-China iGEM team provided us critical inspiration and concrete guidance for advancing our project. We have made three important improvements:
Attending the CCiC Conference
Why attend CCiC(The 12th Conference of China iGEMer Community & Synbiopunk 2025)?
To deepen our understanding of the iGEM competition process and broaden our academic horizons, we participated in the 12th Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC) , held from August 6–8, 2025, in Beijing.
This prestigious event brought together leading university teams and industry experts from across the country, serving as a vital platform for showcasing project achievements, gaining valuable insights, and fostering collaboration. Through engaging presentations and in-depth discussions, we refined our project direction, drew inspiration from exemplary work, and established meaningful connections within the synthetic biology community.
What did we do?
During the three-day conference, we actively engaged in the opening ceremony, project roadshows, keynote lectures, and in-depth exchanges with other teams. These interactions not only broadened our academic perspective but also helped us forge meaningful connections with vibrant iGEMers.
During the roadshow phase, we showcased the innovative concepts and research outcomes of the REvoDesign project(Fig.3). Our presentation was met with enthusiastic feedback, and approximately 27 teams expressed strong interest in our work. Notably, Wei Jingchu, head of the AI Lab at Huaheng Biology, expressed keen anticipation for the open sourcing of our protein design tool and pointed out that once the tool is released, it can be quickly integrated into the company's protein modification work(Fig.3b).
In addition to academic engagement, we held discussions with several industry representatives on licensing strategies and the development path for both research and commercial applications of REvoDesign. These conversations laid the groundwork for potential collaborations and further validated the real-world impact of our project.
Fig. 3 Display poster at the CCiC.
a. Team member photo with poster.
b. Huaheng Biotech’s AI Lab Director is learning about our tool.
c,d. Other teams are engaging with our project.
We engaged in offline discussions with several iGEMers in China, including Jiangnan-China, BIT-China, and ZQT-Nanjing(Fig.4). While sharing our work on REvoDesign, we also explored their diverse research directions spanning basic science, food nutrition, disease treatment, medical diagnostics, space exploration, and art design. These interdisciplinary insights greatly expanded our perspective and inspired new ideas for our future research.
Fig. 4 Offline exchanges with other iGEMers.
a. Exchange with Jiangnan-China.
b. Exchange with BIT-China. c. Exchange with ZQT-Nanjing.
On the morning of August 8, 2025, our team gave a comprehensive presentation on REvoDesign at CCiC, focusing on key challenges in the heterologous synthesis of plant natural products(Fig.5a). We emphasized the design philosophy, technical features, practical applications, and achievements in human practice and education of the platform. This structured report not only provides a clear overview of our project, but also allows us to receive valuable feedback from other teams and reviewers, further affirming the feasibility and importance of our approach(Fig.5b and 5c).
Fig. 5 Project report at CCiC.
a YNNU-China team sharing at the conference.
b Listening to presentations from other teams. c
Photo with members from other teams.
How did these insights influence our project planning?
The CCiC exchange offered multidimensional insights that significantly shaped our project strategy.
By engaging with diverse projects, we realized that the application landscape of synthetic biology is far more expansive than we initially anticipated. This encouraged us to not only deepen our focus on enzyme engineering for plant-derived natural products but also to remain attentive to emerging frontiers in the field.
Inspired by these exchanges, we began to explore the universality and scalability of REvoDesign across broader biomanufacturing contexts, enhancing its potential adaptability and impact.
Our interactions with outstanding teams nationwide laid a strong foundation for long-term collaboration across academia, research, and industry. These connections will facilitate resource sharing, technical exchange, and joint efforts to advance the development of synthetic biology.