IHB held the 2024 Annual Progress Meeting for the CAS Basic and Interdisciplinary Frontier Scientific Research Pilot Project, titled "Pathogenesis and Efficient Control Technologies for Major Viral Diseases in Key Aquatic Species" on On January 7, 2025. (Credit: IHB)

On January 7, 2025, the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held the 2024 Annual Progress Meeting for the CAS Basic and Interdisciplinary Frontier Scientific Research Pilot Project, titled "Pathogenesis and Efficient Control Technologies for Major Viral Diseases in Key Aquatic Species." Over 40 experts attended the meeting, including XU Hang, deputy director general of the CAS Sustainable Development Research Bureau, and GUAN Wuxiang, vice president of the Wuhan Branch of CAS.

XU Hang praised the project’s progress and noted that the meeting would review 2024 achievements and lay the groundwork for 2025. "The project is making excellent strides and has already delivered significant outcomes," Xu said, acknowledging the contributions of the research teams. 

IHB director MIAO Wei expressed his appreciation for the expertise provided by invited specialists, especially those from non-aquatic fields. He also recognized the continued support of the CAS Sustainable Development Bureau. 

During the meeting, project leader XU Zhen and team members presented research progress, including advancements in vaccine development, cell line modifications, and virus control strategies. SHU Hongbing (CAS member), head of the advisory group, praised the team’s efforts but emphasized the importance of addressing deeper biological questions in future research. 

WU Xingqiang, head of the IHB’s Office of Research and Technology Development, encouraged project teams to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and to focus on goal-driven, problem-oriented approaches. "It's essential to combine research archives, ethics, and funding requirements," he said, adding that the Office of Research and Technology Development would fully support the project’s efforts. 

The meeting also reviewed the project's financial execution, with IHB’s finance team assuring that necessary measures were in place to manage risks. “We will continue to ensure the project’s financial integrity,” said YE Ping, head of Finance at IHB. 

In closing, SHU Hongbing reiterated the need for the project to focus on deeper biological issues and to accelerate the application and transformation of aquatic disease control technologies. "It's important to achieve landmark outcomes and advance the practical use of our findings," he concluded. 

The meeting marked an important step in the project’s development, with plans for the next phase already underway.