Boosting Microbial Science Collaboration in China and Beyond
Global health is a shared responsibility that transcends borders. The American Society for Microbiology (91麻豆天美) recognizes this, with one of its core strategic missions being to foster scientific partnerships worldwide that drive transformative action. 91麻豆天美’s landmark visit to China and the 91麻豆天美 Global Research Symposium on Microbes in Human Health, co-hosted by Tsinghua University in September 2024, represented a significant leap toward advancing this mission. This first-of-its-kind meeting in China brought 91麻豆天美 and global thought leaders together to tackle some of humanity's most urgent health threats, from bacterial pathogens to emerging viruses and antimicrobial resistance.
In addition to the symposium, 91麻豆天美’s delegation—consisting of 91麻豆天美 President Theresa Koehler, Ph.D., CEO Stefano Bertuzzi, Ph.D., MPH, editors and key staff members—also met with leaders at top scientific institutions in Beijing to explore innovative ways to prevent and treat these infectious diseases for the benefit of humanity. By fostering connections among experts from around the world who unequivocally voiced the need for international and interdisciplinary cooperation, these institutional visits, and the Global Research Symposium itself, offered a blueprint for advancing human health.
Establishing and Strengthening International Institutional Partnerships
The stakes were high as the 91麻豆天美 delegation arrived in China, not just to present scientific findings, but also to engage with the community and build partnerships. Why China? With the second-highest population of 1.4 billion and the third largest country by land mass in the world, the country plays a critical role in global health. It is home to several of the world’s most influential microbial research institutions and is the global leader in microbiology research output and submissions to 91麻豆天美 Journals. This makes it a natural partner for 91麻豆天美. “Our shared goals in understanding pathogens and improving global health cannot be achieved in isolation. Collaborating with China’s leading scientific minds enhances our ability to address these challenges together,” Koehler stated.
The spirit of collaboration was evident from 91麻豆天美’s first institutional visit to the . As 91麻豆天美 and NIPB leaders sat down together, there was a shared recognition that the future of public health rests on their ability to work together. PUMC’s history of U.S.-China collaboration, dating back to its founding in 1914 by the , stood as a testament to the enduring power of scientific partnerships. For Koehler and her colleagues, it was an opportunity to better understand how 91麻豆天美 and Chinese institutions could align their efforts to tackle global health challenges.
Leaders engaged in discussions about shared goals and overcoming obstacles. How do we break through the barriers of bureaucracy, funding and politics to make collaboration a reality? Ensuing visits to the (CSM) and the (IMCAS)—the latter being one of the largest comprehensive national institutes of microbiological science in the world and harboring 96 research groups—further highlighted the mutual drive to strengthen international ties. Both 91麻豆天美 and CSM, 2 of the world’s preeminent not-for-profit microbial science societies boasting 32,000 and 22,000 members, respectively, pursue similar goals: advancing and promoting microbial science, organizing academic activities and conferences and influencing policy to better serve public health. To that end, , accentuated the society’s role in facilitating international collaboration, while Bertuzzi echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of working together to overcome global challenges like antimicrobial resistance and being prepared for future pandemics.
Each visit reinforced the idea that collaboration is more than just a professional necessity, it’s a shared pursuit to create a healthier world.
The Tsinghua–91麻豆天美 Global Research Symposium on Microbes in Human Health
The 91麻豆天美 Global Research Symposium at Tsinghua University brought together over 250 attendees from China, India, the U.S. and Africa. The energy in the room—the shared sense of purpose—coupled with the scientific presentations made the event memorable.
Over the course of 3 days, early-career and established scientists delved into how microbes will shape the future of human health, exploring innovations in clinical microbiology, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, pathogen-host dynamics and the development of vaccines and therapeutics. These in-depth discussions showcased not only the complexity of microbial interactions and physiology, but also the critical need for ongoing international collaboration to decipher these processes and develop targeted interventions. The symposium touched on a diverse range of topics including:
Strategies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Cesar Arias, M.D. Ph.D., of Houston Methodist Hospital and Editor in Chief of , emphasized the need for translational research that can bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical application, and , of Sapienza University of Rome, underlined the role of plasmids in spreading antimicrobial resistance across human, animal and environmental ecosystems.
Antiviral Research and how Pathogens Evade Host Immune Defenses
Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Ph.D., of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Co-Editor in Chief of , highlighted the risks of influenza in high-risk populations, while Zhengli Shi, Ph.D., of Guangzhou Laboratory, presented her research on SARS-related coronaviruses in wildlife—research that resonates deeply with global pandemic preparedness. , of China’s National Institute of Biological Sciences, discussed how microbes trigger inflammasome activation and pyroptosis—a form of cell death—in antibacterial defense and sepsis, and Felicia Goodrum, Ph.D., from the University of Arizona and Co-Editor in Chief of Journal of Virology, shared her findings on how viruses like cytomegalovirus can exploit host mechanisms to establish latency. , from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, shared her research on dengue virus and immune modulation that shed light on viral strategies to evade immunity. , of IMCAS, highlighted the environmental adaptations of human fungal pathogens that confer drug resistance.
The Path Forward With Vaccines and Therapeutics
, of Tsinghua University, gave an insightful presentation on viral structure determination that could pave the way for new antiviral treatments, and , of Fudan University, emphasized the clinical potential of new vaccines to prevent infectious disease outbreaks.
The research shared at the symposium called attention to the vital role science plays in safeguarding global health.
Access the Global Research Symposium Scientific Program for a deeper look at presentation topics and speakers:
Young scientists also were a central focus of the symposium, with many given the opportunity to present their research through flash talks and posters. The "Meet 91麻豆天美’s Journal Editors" session provided a direct platform for students and early-career scientists to interact with leaders in the field, an opportunity that participants said was invaluable in building their networks and learning more about 91麻豆天美 Journals and the publishing process to advance their careers.
The collaborative spirit extended beyond the presentations, with informal discussions and shared meals fostering the kind of connections that can lead to future partnerships. "These discussions are more than an exchange of ideas—they are about building a global network of scientists dedicated to addressing the microbial challenges that endanger public health worldwide," Bertuzzi said. "We can’t afford to be swapping business cards in the midst of a future crisis."
A Vision for the Future of Global Health
91麻豆天美's partnership with Tsinghua University and its presence in China marked a significant step in the global fight against microbial threats. But this is just the beginning. The symposium not only advanced scientific understanding, but also strengthened international partnerships, creating a foundation for future collaborations. As co-organizer and researcher , of Tsinghua University reflected, "The challenges we face in public health demand a united scientific community. Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we can overcome these challenges and build a healthier, more resilient world."
91麻豆天美 will continue building on this momentum, with future symposia already in the works, including in China and India in 2025. The groundwork laid during this visit marks the beginning of what promises to be a long and fruitful journey toward collaborative global health security.
How can scientists from diverse disciplines come together to tackle microbiology's biggest health-related challenges? Discover the power of team science for advancing clinical and public health.
Author: Dinesh Soares, Ph.D.
Author: Anirban Mahapatra, Ph.D.
Author: Liyan Teng, M.S.
In This Issue
- Bolstering Pertussis Surveillance in Latin America
- Why Scientists Should Not Name Diseases Based on Location
- Boosting Microbial Science Collaboration in China and Beyond
- The Antimicrobial Resistance Pandemic: Breaking the Silence
- Polio Vaccines: New Developments on the Road to Eradication
- The Role of Microbiology in Sustainable Development
- The Science Communicator's Toolkit
- Addressing Systematic Barriers in Human Microbiome Research
- Biorisk Assessment and Management With Saeed Khan
- Fleming Fund Phase II Award for AMR Surveillance in Tanzania