A group photo of the attendees of the Ciliate Molecular Biology Conference 2025. (Credit: IHB)

From July 25 to 28, 2025, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully hosted the Ciliate Molecular Biology Conference 2025. This marks the first time the long-standing conference—previously held as part of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Summer Series and supported by the Genetics Society of America (GSA)—has taken place in Asia, signifying a milestone for the ciliate research community. 

The conference was co-organized by Prof. MIAO Wei, Prof. Kazufumi Mochizuki, and Prof. Yifan Liu. It was hosted by IHB and the Chinese Protozoological Society. More than 150 participants from 10 countries, including China, Japan, India, Pakistan, the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland, attended the conference. Among the distinguished attendees was Professor Michael Lynch, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

The conference featured in-depth presentations and vibrant poster sessions covering a wide range of cutting-edge topics, including: genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology, chromatin and chromosomes, genome rearrangement, evolution and adaptation, cell motility, structure and development, and symbiosis and environmental stress.

CMB2025 provided a dynamic platform for researchers from around the world to share their latest findings, foster collaborations, and discuss future directions in ciliate molecular biology. The event not only facilitated academic exchange between Asian and international research communities but also highlighted China's contributions in the field.

This landmark conference has strengthened global research networks and laid a solid foundation for continued international collaboration and innovation in ciliate biology.

Academician Michael Lynch of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences gave an oral presentation at the Ciliate Molecular Biology Conference 2025. (Credit: IHB)