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Inaugural Xuemin Fellow: How Pascal Mayer is Building the Future of Frontier Research

In December 2025, Dr. Pascal Mayer, a "sequencing pioneer" who helped drive the DNA sequencing revolution, arrived at Fudan University's Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies (hereinafter referred to as "Xuemin"), in his new role as a Xuemin Fellow.
Dr. Pascal Mayer is a 2022 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and 2024 Canada Gairdner International Award laureate, Honorary Chair of the University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study and Co-Founder and CEO of Alphanosos.

Dr. Xiaohong Helena Yang, Executive Dean of Xuemin Institute, presents Dr. Mayer with the certificate of “Xuemin Fellow”

An Academic Commitment Across Europe and Asia
Two months earlier, at the 2025 World Laureates Forum, Pascal attended the Young Scientists Forum organized by Xuemin as a special guest.
As a new-generation research institute established through private philanthropy, Xuemin shared a clear vision. It aims to support original, breakthrough research and to prioritize world-class young talent with a strong international outlook. This resonated deeply with a key driving force behind Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
"Traditional academic models are good at accumulating knowledge, but they are not built to address the major challenges facing humanity." After the forum, Pascal expressed his wish to return to China and to engage more deeply in building Xuemin.

Dr. Mayer at the 2025 World Laureates Association Forum

"I look forward to joining a new frontier research ecosystem. I also want to explore the unknown together with Chinese scientists."
In early December, after the Global Xuemin Fellows Program was officially launched and intensively prepared, Pascal began his second trip to China. During the visit, Pascal took part in in-depth discussions on Xuemin's strategy, international talent recruitment, and the design of its research ecosystem. He also gladly agreed to join Xuemin's first Development Advisory Committee (DAC).

Dr. Xiaohong Helena Yang presents Dr. Mayer with the appointment certificate of the Development Advisory Committee

At the same time, Pascal held wide-ranging exchanges with faculty and students from within and beyond Fudan University, as well as with leaders from industry. He also visited the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission to learn more about Shanghai's basic research strengths and translation pathways in life sciences and medicine. Summing up the trip in one sentence, he chose a word with weight. He called it an "epiphany."

Building an Institute That Dares to Break Through

"Fudan University is forward looking with the creation of Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies, which I believe is very good initiative, and that will make big success for Fudan University for sure. Traditional academic functioning is a necessity to build knowledge. But an Institute of Advanced Studies is the right mechanism and environment to address challenges that humanity and countries in general are facing."
Pascal was energized by Xuemin's innovative model and spoke highly of it. In his view, truly breakthrough and disruptive work require freeing research from traditional operating constraints. "Xuemin is focused on research and on making concrete things," he said, "not simply on attaching labels to research."

Dr. Mayer exchanges at the Xuemin Institute

"An environment is taking shape here where scholars can concentrate, where new ideas can grow," he said. "Scholars can lead projects, take on high-risk work, accept possible failure, adjust direction when needed, and enjoy real freedom."
"Do not demand that researchers predict results in advance," Pascal said. "If you think a different method is needed, try it. If it fails, stop early and pivot." He believes that fast experimental validation, paired with a culture that tolerates failure, is exactly what enabled paradigm-changing technologies like NGS.

Dr. Mayer with Dr. Helena Yang at the Xuemin Institute

A Distinguished Scholar Who Dares to Challenge

Twenty years ago, by Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Pascal sketched a bold idea in his notebook—cut DNA molecules into small fragments, fix them on a solid surface, multiplicate them locally and read sequences in parallel. That spark became a starting point for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). At the time, sequencing was still done one fragment at a time. It was slow and labor-intensive, yet it was the mainstream approach. When peers heard his idea, they didn't believe him. "They said it was impossible, but we did it." He said.
Twenty years later, at Fudan University's Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies, Pascal is globally recognized for his pioneering sequencing approach. This technology has become a foundational tool in laboratories worldwide. It has helped countless researchers achieve breakthroughs within just a few years, and it has brought Pascal to major international science stages. The idea once questioned has become a core DNA labeling technology used in biology labs around the world.

Dr. Mayer at the Xuemin Luminary Lecture

"I did not spend much energy chasing conventional excellence," Pascal said. "I focused on innovative work." He described himself as imaginative and never satisfied with the status. He often notices gaps in what people think they know and asks if there ways to fill those gaps.
This mindset of never settling, never following blindly, and daring to question, became the engine of his improvements and innovations. It helped him break free from fixed thinking, solve problems others had not solved, and propose entirely new approaches.
It was the young scientist who dared to step away from assigned tasks and follow his own conviction, together with a research environment willing to take risks for innovation, that propelled the rise of NGS. For Xuemin, the responsibility is not only to cultivate top talent. It is also to embrace innovators who do not follow the usual playbook.
Speaking of Pascal, his wife, Mrs. Mireille Mayer, expressed deep admiration. "He isn't driven by recognition, but by usefulness," she said. "Even today, when he's working on new ideas in health technology, he still asks himself, 'How can this help others?' That sense of purpose, contributing to something larger than oneself, has always guided him."
"We expected this technology's potential impact on society and science," Pascal said with a smile, "genome sequencing can help identify the genetic roots of disease, and that was one reason we began this work." He added, "Based on extrapolating scientific principles and evidence, we knew that it would lead to that level. If we get it to work, it would bring a revolution."
During the early COVID-19 public health emergency, Pascal's team relied on its in-house AI plant-mix screening technology. They quickly identified a plant-based formula, W17P47, that showed potential antiviral effects in experiments. Within weeks, and sometimes even days, the team was able to propose a safe front-line option. This provided a practical and fast-to-implement approach for research at that time, far faster than the development cycles of traditional vaccines or synthetic drugs. "When facing an unknown disease, people can gain protection faster and more safely," he said. "We cannot predict future viruses, but we can build stronger readiness. We cannot erase the fear of disease, but science can become humanity's most reliable courage."

Innovation Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

"Frontier research often requires collaboration across disciplines and fields," Pascal recalled when speaking about developing NGS. "The other people in the institute were also helpful to do this, like people in chemistry, people in molecular biology, especially Laurent Farinelli, who was with me at the very beginning. Without them, this technology could not have succeeded."
For this reason, he values the open and collaborative environment Xuemin is building. It enables researchers from different backgrounds to communicate freely and work closely. Xuemin Fellows should pursue ambitious projects of their own, while also staying ready to help others and collaborate across projects.

Dr. Mayer visits the Human Phenome Institute at Fudan University

At Alphanosos, Pascal and his colleagues use generative AI algorithms to screen mixtures of edible ingredients with high precision. Their goal is to rapidly identify effective treatments for a range of diseases. They are exploring the frontier where natural plants meet artificial intelligence, seeking new answers to global health challenges. During the visit, Pascal also toured institutions dedicated to the systematic modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, including Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. He held in-depth discussions with peers on global pathways and broad prospects for integrating innovation across Chinese and Western medicine.

Dr. Mayer exchanges with representatives from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

"At its core, my research uses modern technology to uncover the therapeutic potential of natural ingredient combinations," Pascal said. "This aligns closely with both traditional Chinese medicine and Europe's traditional herbal medicine."
"Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated thousands of years of experience, with many classic formulas and herbs," Pascal said. "Its modernization needs support from modern science and technology. Our research can also draw inspiration from the wisdom of TCM." He hopes to combine TCM insights with modern AI and molecular biology to reveal more scientific meaning within TCM formulas and develop treatments better suited to today's populations.

Mentorship Across Generations

As the first speaker of the "Xuemin Luminary Lecture Series," Pascal drew hundreds of faculty and students, filling the lecture hall. He began with his experience developing NGS and then moved to frontier work in AI-driven drug discovery. He explained the technical pathway of "AI plus edible ingredient mixtures," and he stressed the importance of pursuing innovative research with willingness, determination, and the courage to solve real social challenges. The talk offered young scholars' fresh perspectives and showed the lasting value of learning from the leading pioneers.

Dr. Mayer presents his research at the Xuemin Luminary Lecture

Beyond the lecture, Pascal also joined Fudan University's Qihang Forum T·Chat session. He spoke with students face to face, sharing his personal journey with openness and respect. He answered questions patiently and offered practical guidance for young researchers. Many students said the dialogue revealed the resilience behind a life in research, and it gave them greater courage and confidence to face scientific challenges.
Dr. Mayer engages with students at the Qihang Forum T·Chat session
"Perseverance is the most important quality for a researcher," Pascal emphasized. "Failure is normal. You might try ten times or dozens of times without the result you want, but you cannot give up. Often, success is hidden in the next attempt." He encouraged young scholars to think in disruptive ways, to ask what they can do and what they truly want to do, and to identify what they feel must be changed. He urged them not to be limited by existing assumptions or held back by voices of doubt.

Turning Research into Real-World Impact Across Academia and Industry

During his time in Shanghai, Pascal visited the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission and held a closed-door discussion with officials. As a scholar who witnessed NGS move from the lab to commercialization, he expressed his hope to deepen cooperation with Chinese research teams.
Dr. Mayer meets with officials from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality
"Shanghai is building an innovation ecosystem," the Commission noted. "For high-risk, original research, we are willing to offer policy support and promote collaboration across industry, universities, and research institutes." The Commission warmly welcomed Pascal's visit. Its detailed introduction to Shanghai's future plans left a strong impression, and it reinforced for Pascal China's determination to translate research and support frontier innovation.
"China's emphasis on science exceeded my expectations," Pascal said. "It's impressive to see the importance that is given to science. This top-down support is the strongest driver of innovation."
The path from "lab to market" is full of challenges. To explore this, Xuemin organized a "Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies x TR35" exchange event. Pascal held a closed-door discussion with young innovators, including several recent MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35 (TR35) honorees. 
Pascal exchanges ideas with TR35ers
Using the commercialization of NGS as an example, Pascal addressed key questions such as how to build a commercialization team, and he shared hands-on experience. The session was chaired by Dr. Xiaohong Helena Yang, Founding Executive Dean of Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies. She is also a former co-publisher and Editor-in-Chief of MIT Technology Review China and has served in the TR35 selection work for China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Through this visit, Pascal, as the first Xuemin Fellow, connected a diverse network of frontier research collaborations. He also left behind valuable academic insights and concrete intentions for future cooperation.
"The atmosphere at Xuemin is very well suited to innovation," Pascal said. "Not only in the scale, but in the commitment to science."
Pascal pledged to continue supporting Xuemin's development. He aims to advance its international talent cultivation and research collaboration, and to help Xuemin become a truly world-class hub for frontier research. "I hope I can put my foot to it to be part of it." he said.
Pascal visits Fudan University's Jiangwan Campus
Science knows no borders, and cooperation has no end. Pascal's visit is only a beginning. We believe more leading talents will gather at Xuemin in the future, sparking more paradigm-changing ideas on this fertile ground for innovation and writing a new chapter in global scientific exchange. Xuemin's doors will always remain open. 
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