National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases Successfully Convenes Annual PI meeting

Beijing, January 11, 2025 - The National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases (NITFID) held its annual Principal Investigators (PI) meeting in Beijing on January 11, 2025. The event gathered laboratory leadership, principal investigators, and representatives from co-establishing institutions to review the laboratory's achievements, strengthen consensus, and discuss future development.

 

In his opening address, Academician Xu Jianguo, Director of NITFID, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, praised the laboratory’s achievements in 2024. He emphasized the need to enhance research capabilities, focus on fostering high-quality talent, and improve the laboratory’s core competitiveness.

Dr. Shi Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and Deputy Director of NITFID, stressed the importance of enhancing core research capabilities, strengthening innovation, and prioritizing talent development.

 

NITFID is relying on China CDC, in collaboration with Nankai University and Beijing Ditan Hospital (affiliated with Capital Medical University). During the meeting, representatives from the founding institutions provided the following updates:

●Dr. Shi Xiaoming emphasized the institution's ongoing support from China CDC and potential avenues for future collaboration.

●Jin Ronghua, Deputy Director of Beijing Ditan Hospital, outlined current initiatives to upgrade laboratory infrastructure and advance talent cultivation.

●Professor Liu Bin from Nankai University presented the university's strategic support measures and articulated objectives for deepening research partnerships.

 

The meeting featured reports from four departmental directors, each presenting research outcomes from 2024:

● Academician Xu Jianguo, Director of the Pathogen Mutation and Tracing  Department, presented key research on pathogen mutation tracking.

● Deputy Director Dong Xiaoping, from the X Infectious Diseases and Ecological-Social Environment Department, discussed emerging infectious diseases and their ecological-social interactions.

● Deputy Director Zhao Xin, from the Infectious Disease Monitoring, Early Warning, and Intelligent Decision-Making Department, shared progress on monitoring and decision-making systems.

● Deputy Director Li Qun, from the Big Data and Decision Support Center, provided insights into the role of big data in public health responses.

 

They all emphasized the importance of research outcomes and the recognition of academic talent, as well as highlighting the need to focus on the development of laboratory platforms and promote collaboration and exchange with external institutions.

 

One of the highlights of the meeting was the recognition of award-winning research achievement and exceptional young scientists from NITFID. Five researchers whose high-level academic achievements made significant contributions to the field were invited to present their findings, sparking insightful discussions and exchanges. Additionally, five young researchers—Li Tiantian, Peng Zhixing, Lu Xin, Liu Bin, and Song Hao—were honored for their outstanding contributions to the laboratory’s research endeavors, demonstrating the strong future potential of NITFID’s team.

In the closing remarks, Academician Xu Jianguo reiterated the laboratory’s dedication to advancing cutting-edge research in infectious disease control. He encouraged all PIs to continue conducting high-level researches. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and the need to strengthen the laboratory’s role in supporting public health systems worldwide.

 

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to excellence in infectious disease research and a vital contributor to global health security.