SIAT and University of Aberdeen Launch International Joint Laboratory for Energy Metabolism

On April 22, the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Aberdeen, UK, officially inaugurated the International Joint Laboratory for Energy Metabolism in Shenzhen.

The establishment of this joint laboratory is built upon a state-of-the-art experimental platform, aiming to further advance scientific research in the field of energy metabolism. The laboratory will focus on key scientific issues, including the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic diseases, precise methods for measuring energy expenditure, and personalized nutrition intervention strategies, while conducting both fundamental research and translational applications.

"Through our collaboration with SIAT, we are opening new avenues for advancing our understanding of energy metabolism. We look forward to the scientific and societal impact this partnership will generate in the years to come," said Professor Ben Tatler, Dean for Research at the University of Aberdeen.

Liang Dong, Vice President of SIAT, described the laboratory as an important milestone in SIAT's long-term partnership with the University of Aberdeen and a crucial step toward establishing a global open innovation network.

Since September 2023, SIAT has established international and Hong Kong–Macao joint laboratories as cross-border innovation hubs, encouraging young scientists to collaborate substantively with leading international research teams. To date, SIAT has set up 30 joint laboratories with 28 research institutions across 14 countries and regions, including Singapore, the UK, and Germany, covering diverse fields such as synthetic biology, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence.

In 2024, China's first Doubly Labelled Water laboratory, led by Academician John Roger Speakman, Chief Scientist of Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction, was completed at SIAT. This new joint laboratory will leverage this platform to deepen frontier research in energy metabolism. The two institutions will also foster joint talent development, data sharing, and academic exchanges to accelerate the generation of internationally impactful research outcomes.

Inauguration ceremony of the International Joint Laboratory for Energy Metabolism. (Image by SIAT)