The first China Conference on the Development of Basic Disciplines of Medical Sciences was successfully held in Beijing from November 9 to 11, 2022. With “Building Foundations, Promoting Innovation, and Benefiting People’s Livelihood” as its theme, this conference attracted experts, scholars, and guests from collaborating institutions both online and offline, with a total of over one million viewers across all platforms. This conference was sponsored by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC) and organized by the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS) of CAMS & School of Basic Medicine (SBM) of PUMC.

Professor He Wei delivered a speech at the conference. He pointed out that all participants should grasp the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, understand the strategic positioning of invigorating the country through science and education and developing a quality workforce in the new development pattern, and strive to provide support for original and leading science and technology. He emphasized that we should know the objective law governing the shift of the world’s science and technology center across nations and regions to better explore the development paths of basic sciences and modernization with Chinese characteristics. He advocated exploring a distinctive new development path of basic medical sciences by focusing on addressing major challenges and needs faced by the health of humanity.

Han Qide, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), combed the relationship between medicine and science in his opening address. He pointed out the possibility for basic medical sciences to change to new paradigms and emphasized that it was imperative to look forward to and predict the development direction of the basic disciplines of medical sciences from a macro-strategic perspective, and strengthen and reform basic medical education for medical students, particularly those in extended-track programs.

Liu Dengfeng, Supervisory Commissioner of the Department Science, Technology and Education of National Health Commission (NHC), pointed out that in addressing the system construction of basic disciplines of medical sciences and the collaborative development of science and technology education, it was essential to uphold our entrusted mission, fully recognize the important value of the basic discipline construction, to respect rules, make scientific plans, and promote the rapid development of the basic disciplines of medical sciences disciplines, and remain steadfast to our responsibilities, to highlight innovation in response to demands and grasp the core of basic medical, and to normalize the development of basic medical disciplines by firmly guarding the red line and building a solid bottom line.

Wang Chen, Academician of CAE and President of CAMS & PUMC, extended a warm welcome to leaders, guests, and scholars attending the conference in his opening speech. He pointed out that in the 21st century, a century of medicine and life sciences, the development of medical sciences was closely linked to people’s well-being, social civilization, economic development, and national security. He emphasized the purpose of this conference, that is, to explore how to better support the development of medical sciences from the perspective of basic medical disciplines so as to make the development of medical sciences more dynamic and promising. He hoped that the conference could trigger extensive discussions, inspire great intellectual wisdom, and make beneficial explorations.

The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by Yao Jianhong, Secretary of the Party Committee of CAMS & PUMC. He pointed out that the basic disciplines of medical sciences not only served as the driving force for the innovation of medical science and technology but also concerned the research and development of medical sciences. He emphasized that the basic disciplines of medical sciences, as the forefront, should take even more significant responsibilities in completing the CAMS’s task of “building a national core base of medical science and technology innovation systems”. He suggested that seniors, leaders, experts and scholars in the academic community should adhere to the path and aspirations consistently, get united wholeheartedly, give suggestions actively, and work together to achieve steady and far-reaching progress in the development and growth of basic medical disciplines and open up a new realm in the industry of medical and health services.

At this conference, nine academicians, including Wang Chen, Liu Depei, Zhan Qimin, Dong Erdan, Wang Xiaodong, Wang Xiaofan, Gu Xiaosong, Shao Feng, and Dong Chen, delivered keynote speeches entitled “Big medicine calls for strong basic disciplines”, “Exploring pathogenesis to promote national health”, “Cutting-edge technology support and leading medical technology innovation”, “Strengthening the strategic support for healthy China and consolidating the foundation of modern medical development”, “Original innovation in life sciences promotes medical development”, “Comparison and reflection on basic disciplines of medical sciences in China and America”, “Organizational engineering innovation and transformation platform construction”, “Pyroptosis: From antibacterial immunity to anti-tumor immunity”, and “T-cell subsets and human health”, respectively. Focusing on the major directions of basic research and basic education in medical sciences, nearly 40 well-known domestic scholars delivered 21 reports on discipline layout, structure, and talent allocation. Through strategic discussions on historical review, status analysis, and development trends, they jointly promoted the construction of basic disciplines, basic education, and basic research and development in medical sciences. On November 9, two youth talent forums were held, focusing on the responsibilities, opportunities and challenges of young scholars in medical innovation and development in the new era. At the forums, 41 young scholars engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions by showcasing their innovative ideas and cutting-edge achievements in the basic research of medical sciences.

The conference also held a special roundtable discussion session on “Talent Recruitment and System Construction in Basic Disciplines Medical Sciences”. Wang Jianwei, Professor and Vice President of CAMS & PUMC, introduced the talent plan of CAMS & PUMC, and nine experts from six State Key Laboratories, Tianjin Base and Suzhou Base of medical sciences system discussed extensively on how to strengthen talent-driven leadership and accelerate the building of the national core base of medical innovation systems.