Fudan University Xiangbo Lecture Hall & Tan Jiazhen Life Science Forum
Jin Li, President of Fudan University and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presented the "Fudan University Xiangbo Lecture Hall" Honorary Certificates to the two speakers.
The two speakers received the 2025 World Laureates Association Prize in Life Science or Medicine for their "breakthrough discoveries in the cellular mechanism of receptor membrane protein trafficking and degradation". The mechanism closely linked to viral budding, infection progression, and antiretroviral therapeutic intervention. Over the past decades, the two scientists have pursued complementary lines of research. They have resolved key obstacles in HIV prevention and treatment from different stages. Their discoveries laid essential foundations for the development of long-acting HIV prophylactic therapies.
Where Xuemin Meets World-Leading Scientific Achievements in Long-Termist Values
Dr. Xiaohong Helena Yang, Executive Dean of Xuemin Institute, delivered the opening remarks, extending her congratulations to the two laureate professors and paying tribute to their pioneering contributions. She noted that their groundbreaking research vividly exemplifies how curiosity-driven and long-term fundamental research can give rise to profound applications and broad societal impact, demonstrating the vital importance of basic science. This aligns closely with the core mission of the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies: true scientific innovation stems from free exploration, and major scientific breakthroughs require long-term support.
The Institute is committed to fostering innovative research spanning basic, applied, and interdisciplinary fields, and to building world-class platforms for research and collaboration. It also aims to empower young talent through a newly designed interdisciplinary funding program driven by a dual model of independent Principal Investigators (PI) and Visiting Fellow Program. Through this approach, the Institute seeks to catalyze transformative achievements and contribute to the global scientific community’s efforts to address future challenges.
Scott D. EMR delivered a compelling lecture titled"The ESCRT Pathway: Sorting out Membrane Protein Traffic to the Lysosome." Reflecting on nearly five decades of scientific inquiry, he offered a comprehensive overview of his major contributions to elucidating the functions and mechanisms by which the ESCRT pathway directs proteins to the lysosome. In his talk, he highlighted three lines of systematic work: genetic screening of vacuolar protein-sorting mutants; the use of GFP-tagged PIPS assays to define the function of the VPS34 PI3-kinase complex; and investigations showing how VPS4 mutants block the formation of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). These discoveries revealed the core mechanisms enabling lysosomes to efficiently clear intracellular waste and further demonstrated the evolutionary conservation of the ESCRT pathway from bacteria to yeast and human cells.
Emr has remained passionate about scientific research throughout his career, never feeling fatigued and never chasing trends, but always focused on the “small questions that remain unresolved." He compares scientific research to exploration and believes that the greatest treasure lies in the unknown rather than the known. The joy of science, he noted, comes from the way solving one problem inevitably leads to three new ones. He consistently encourages his students to explore boldly, and even a small bit of progress earns an enthusiastic "great"or "wonderful” from him. "The future belongs to young scientists—be brave in venturing into the unmapped territories of science." he urged.
Wesley SUNDQUIST delivered an illuminating lecture titled "ESCRT Pathways in HIV Budding and Cell Biology," in which he systematically presented his team’s breakthrough discoveries on the ESCRT machinery, particularly its role in HIV viral budding. Beginning with how HIV “hijacks” the host ESCRT system to complete the budding process, he offered an in-depth analysis of the underlying structural principles. He highlighted the refined architecture of the ESCRT-III complex and the membrane-remodeling mechanism it mediates: the MIT domain of the Vps4 protein, assisted by cofactors, binds to ESCRT-III C-terminal tails in multiple modes and assembles into a crucial asymmetric hexamer that provides the mechanical force for membrane scission. These profound insights, from atomic-level structures to physiological functions, not only elucidate the molecular secrets of viral dissemination but also significantly advance our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing essential cellular processes such as cytokinesis.
Sundquist understands the "underlying logic" of the research enterprise—solving hard problems takes time. The path of scientific inquiry is long, requiring both patience and sustained support. He stressed that long-term funding and strong backing for basic science are essential, as they enable generation after generation of scientists to accumulate truly epoch-making discoveries. "Without the funding we received from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the past 30 years, we would not have achieved these results," he noted. What he considers most crucial is creating opportunities for scientists to genuinely collaborate and interact frequently—engaging deeply with research questions, motivations, and their broader significance. "This is precisely why establishing interdisciplinary research institutions like the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies is so important—such places are where miracles are often born," Sundquist emphasized.
Zhenglong Gu, Distinguished Professor at Fudan University, who chaired this session, remarked, "In any scientific endeavor, especially at the beginning, you have to be prepared to endure long periods of quiet, steady work. Innovation is not defined by speed. As long as young researchers are given time and space, they will shine."
Xuemin Builds an Intergenerational Platform to Empower the Growth of Young Scientists
In addition to their lectures, the two speakers also held an informal roundtable with outstanding student representatives from Fudan University. Students posed enthusiastic questions on topics including research interests, choices of academic trajectory, and frontier scientific problems. Drawing on nearly half a century of scientific commitment and scholarly insight, the two academicians shared the original curiosity for exploring the unknown, the resilience in overcoming setbacks, and their long-termist philosophy of scientific research. The conversation was relaxed and energetic, and the world-renowned scientists expressed high hopes for China’s younger generation, bringing renewed confidence and momentum to the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies to nurture top-tier innovative talent.
This "master-guided" model of engagement is a hallmark of the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies’ ongoing efforts to empower young researchers. Beyond providing stable funding and academic support, the Institute is dedicated to building platforms for “Dialogue Between Top Scholars and Youth”, ensuring that the spirit of science continues to thrive across generations.
In the future, Fudan University’s Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies will continue to leverage its high-level academic platforms and open, collaborative ecosystem to establish sustained, multi-tiered and multi-format avenues for in-depth scientific exchange. Through long-term research support, interdisciplinary collaboration, and globally connected academic engagement, the Institute aims to bring together global intellectual strength, cultivate a new generation of scientific talent, and contribute Xuemin strengths to advancing innovation in fundamental research.
