A Bridge for Global Brain Science: SIAT Symposium Celebrates Neher Lab's Impact and Honors Its Founder

The "Synapse Symposium of Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory" was hosted by the Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory at the Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Disease, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, on November 9, 2025.

At the symposium, Professor Neher and his laboratory received double honors. He was appointed "Honorary Director" in recognition of his foundational contributions to neuroscience in China, while the lab was awarded "Outstanding Research Team" for its research excellence and talent development.

"In 2019, we were deeply honored that Professor Neher chose to bring his academic leadership to Shenzhen, establishing the city's first Nobel laureate-led brain science laboratory," said WANG Zhu, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission at SIAT， "Over the past six years, under his guidance, the lab has become a widely recognized research hub—publishing over 100 papers in top-tier journals such as Cell and Nature Neuroscience, applying for more than 100 patents."

Professor Neher—a world-renowned German scientist and the 1991 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine—has made profound contributions to the field of life sciences. The patch-clamp technique he pioneered laid a critical foundation for the development of targeted ion channel drugs, producing extensive and far-reaching impact on global human health.

"Your academic excellence and dedication to nurturing the next generation have left a profound mark on the scientific community in Shenzhen and across China," WANG Zhu remarked. "We sincerely look forward to continuing our exchanges with both of you and warmly welcome you to return to Shenzhen and to the laboratory."

Professor WANG Liping, Director of the Institute of Brain Cognition and Brain Disease, spoke highly of Professor Neher's pivotal role in advancing the internationalization of neuroscience in China and fostering the growth of young researchers. In his closing remarks, Professor Neher praised the laboratory's achievements and systemic development, affirming his continued support for its exploration in neural plasticity, mechanisms of brain disorders, and novel drug development.

The academic session featured in-depth presentations by four scholars on synaptic function and neural signaling. Professor BI Guoqiang introduced a novel theory on vesicle dynamics regulation; Professor SUN Jianyuan explored mechanisms of neural information encoding; Professor XIAO Le elucidated how nutrient signaling influences synaptic function; and Professor ZHU Yingjie systematically reviewed the laboratory's developmental journey, summarizing its successes in international collaboration and talent cultivation.

 Professor Erwin Neher and his wife Professor Eva-Maria Neher. (Image by SIAT)