On September 14, 2024, the Institute of Cell and Gene Technology (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute”) was established, with Academician Kang Le of the Chinese Academy of Sciences appointed as Dean. The Institute focuses on innovation, industrial application, and enterprise incubation in cell and gene technology, aiming to build an innovative and shared R&D platform and translation center. It seeks to create a comprehensive science and innovation hub, establish an industrial ecosystem, promote the rapid and orderly development of the cell and gene industry, and secure a leading position in technology R&D and translation.

The Institute serves as a key base for cultivating interdisciplinary talent and is a critical component of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology’s (SUAT) commitment to the “integration of industry and education, synergy of science and teaching” philosophy and the “three-institute integration” framework. The Institute comprises three main components: research units, a public technology platform, and open laboratories.

The research units are divided into three sectors: Basic Innovation Sector: Includes the Center for Cell Differentiation and Fate Regulation and the Center for Gene Expression Regulation and Editing, focusing on fundamental research and technological breakthroughs in cell and gene technologies. Applied Development Sector: The largest sector, encompassing the Cell Therapy Research Center and Gene Therapy Research Center, dedicated to key technology development, application, demonstration, and industrialization. Future-Oriented Sector: Comprises the Frontier Interdisciplinary Technology Research Center, focusing on developing cutting-edge technologies to serve the cell and gene industries in Shenzhen and nationwide. The establishment of the Institute will bring new development opportunities to the field of cell and gene technology, contributing to technological innovation and industrial upgrading.