Editor’s Note: In the golden season of autumn, leading experts gathered in the City of the Future to discuss the frontiers of cell therapy. On October 31, 2025, the 2025 Chinese Research Hospital Association on Frontiers in Cell Therapy and Biomedicine was grandly inaugurated in Xiong’an, Hebei Province. The conference was hosted by the Xiong’an Institute for Translational Research in Medicine and Engineering, Peking University People’s Hospital, and organized by the National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases – Peking University Institute of Hematology.
Bringing together leading experts in cell therapy and biomedical sciences, the conference focused on key topics such as CAR-T cell therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, spanning breakthroughs in basic research to clinical applications. The aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances and emerging trends shaping the global field of cellular and gene therapy.
Opening Ceremony
Charting an Academic Vision, Uniting Strength for Progress
The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Zhao Xiangyu from the National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases and the Peking University Institute of Hematology. Professor Huang Xiaojun, also from the National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases and Peking University Institute of Hematology, delivered the opening remarks.
Both professors extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the international scholars and domestic experts attending the conference.
Professor Huang emphasized that this year’s conference centers on the theme of “Advancing Cell Therapy from Bench to Bedside,” with the goal of accelerating the translation of innovative research into clinical practice. He noted that each session of the conference is closely aligned with clinical needs and the key technological challenges faced in the field, aiming to explore sustainable pathways for real-world clinical application.
He encouraged experts and scholars from diverse countries and disciplines to engage in in-depth academic exchange and collaboration, share their experiences, and jointly promote the development of cell therapy practice both in China and globally.
Through building consensus and deepening cooperation, Professor Huang called on participants to transform academic progress into clinical value, foster cross-disciplinary innovation, and collectively contribute to the high-quality global advancement of cell therapy.
Speech by Professor Huang Xiaojun
Under the moderation of Professor Chen Fangping from Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Professor Michael R. Bishop from the U.S. National Cancer Institute delivered a presentation titled “Advances in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lymphoma: Steps Towards Better Outcomes.” He provided an in-depth discussion on the latest progress of CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of lymphoma and its future directions, offering attendees cutting-edge insights and innovative strategies.
Under the moderation of Professor Hou Ming from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Professor Huang Xiaojun delivered a presentation titled “Decoding Homeostasis Remodeling in Haplo-SCT: From HLA Mismatch to Immune Rebalancing.” He provided an in-depth analysis of the biological mechanisms underlying immune homeostasis remodeling after haploidentical stem cell transplantation, offering new insights into improving transplantation success rates and enhancing long-term immune reconstitution.
Under the moderation of Professor Liu Daihong from the PLA General Hospital, Professor Edmund K. Waller from Emory University School of Medicine delivered a presentation titled “Epigenetic & Metabolic Reprogramming of CAR-T Cells to Enhance Antitumor Cytotoxicity.” He shared new strategies for enhancing CAR-T cell function through metabolic regulation and epigenetic intervention, emphasizing the potential value of this approach in improving response rates in solid tumors.
Under the moderation of Professor Fu Rong from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Professor Du Peng from the School of Life Sciences, Peking University delivered a presentation titled “Capturing Totipotent Blastomere-like Cells.” He introduced his team’s latest breakthroughs in the acquisition and identification of totipotent-like cells, a discovery that lays an important foundation for research on early embryonic development and regenerative medicine.
Under the moderation of Professor Zhou Daobin from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Professor Stefan O. Ciurea from the University of California, Irvine delivered a presentation titled “Adoptive NK Cell Therapy Before and After Transplantation for AML.” He shared the latest research findings on NK cell therapy in immune reconstitution and relapse prevention in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), highlighting its multidimensional value in both pre- and post-transplant applications.
Under the moderation of Professor Mi Jianqing from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Professor Zhao Xiangyu presented a report titled “Safety and Efficacy of Adoptive Transfer of Stem Cell Memory Enriched Virus-Specific T Cells Against CMV and EBV.” She analyzed the immunological durability advantages of this strategy in antiviral defense and shared early clinical application data, offering a new direction for precise intervention in post-transplant viral infections.
Under the moderation of Professor Lü Meng from Peking University People’s Hospital, Professor Jae-Ho Yoon from The Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital delivered a presentation titled “Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advances in Korea with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the Era of Gene Analysis and Targeted Immunotherapy.” He shared Korea’s latest experiences and explorations in the precision diagnosis and treatment of ALL, particularly recent achievements in individualized therapy and immunotherapy guided by genetic profiling.
Under the moderation of Professor Liang Yang from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Professor Raheel Iftikhar from the Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Pakistan, delivered a presentation titled “The Current Situation of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy in Pakistan.” He introduced the current state of development in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy in Pakistan and shared experiences in building an efficient clinical system under resource-limited conditions.
Under the moderation of Professor Huang Xiaojun, Professor Liu Daihong delivered a presentation titled “Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapies in Hematopoietic Transplantation.” Drawing on recent domestic clinical research progress, she analyzed the role of mesenchymal stem cells in alleviating graft-versus-host disease and promoting hematopoietic reconstruction after transplantation, and discussed clinical application standards as well as future directions for the development of such therapies.
Under the moderation of Professor Zhang Xiaohui from Peking University People’s Hospital, Dr. Lü Lulu, Chief Executive Officer of Hecell Bio, delivered a presentation titled “The Development and Innovation Path of China’s Original CAR-T Cell Therapies.” She reviewed the journey of China’s CAR-T research from early development to industrialization and shared insights into the rise of domestically developed innovative therapies within the global cell therapy landscape.
After each academic presentation, lively and engaging discussions followed. These interactive sessions not only provided a platform for participants to exchange ideas and share insights in real time but also, through in-depth questioning and commentary from experts, helped clarify key issues such as the clinical adaptability of research findings, technical implementation challenges, and directions for future optimization. The vigorous exchange of perspectives refined academic viewpoints and provided clearer guidance for subsequent research and clinical practice.
Conference Summary
As an international academic platform focused on cell therapy, this conference was centered on the theme of “Sharing Achievements, Exchanging Wisdom.” It showcased cutting-edge global advancements—such as the optimization of CAR-T therapy for lymphoma and the application of NK cells in AML—while also highlighting China’s original innovations, including discoveries in haploidentical transplantation immune homeostasis and the development of domestically pioneered CAR-T therapies.
Through the deep exchange of ideas between East and West, the conference built a bridge between basic research and clinical translation, laying a solid foundation for interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
This event not only accelerated the clinical implementation of innovative technologies but also propelled the global advancement of cell therapy toward the goal of making these life-saving treatments more accessible and beneficial to patients, bringing new momentum to the fight against hematologic and other refractory diseases.
