"Our laboratory focuses on protein subunit vaccine research, and we have recently achieved a breakthrough. The structure of the COVID-19 RBD subunit vaccine can be extended to an octamer or hexamer, further enhancing its broad-spectrum efficacy," stated Gao Fu, a pathologist, microbiologist, immunologist, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, during the "Good Hope Science Salon" held on December 20.

Gao Fu emphasized that the pandemic has accelerated fundamental research and industrialization in immunology and vaccinology, and that a deeper understanding of basic science can shorten the path from research to product development.

"Understanding how influenza viruses enter cells via sialic acid receptors helps us develop drugs to block this process," Gao Fu noted. By studying how viruses activate host immune responses, more effective vaccines can be designed to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate viruses.

For a long time, insufficient vaccine efficacy has been one of the challenges facing the vaccine industry. Taking influenza vaccines as an example, the rapid mutation of respiratory viruses leads to lower-than-expected vaccine effectiveness. However, new technologies hold promise for changing this landscape. "We have developed multiple vaccine research and development strategies, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, protein subunit vaccines, viral vector vaccines, mRNA vaccines, multivalent combination vaccines, and virus-like particle vaccines," Gao Fu explained.

Gao Fu also highlighted that every biological outbreak is accompanied by the spread of misinformation, and these "information viruses" can be as harmful as the pathogens themselves. "This is why we advocate that 'science communication is a social vaccine.' Only by helping people understand scientific knowledge can we prevent the spread of rumors and collectively strengthen our defense against outbreaks," he added.

At the event, over 130 experts from academia, industry, and technology commercialization gathered to discuss the latest scientific achievements, pathways for transformation, and investment logic under the theme "The Path of Scientific Research: From Basic Pathogen Studies to Applications in Infectious Disease Prevention and Control."

During the panel discussion, Wei Hongxiang, a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Deputy Commander of the Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility, moderated a session with industry guests including Ge Baoxue, a Distinguished Professor at Tongji University School of Medicine and Director of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis (Lung). They explored topics such as technological innovations in immunology and vaccines, the industrialization and commercial prospects of vaccines, and the ecosystem development in related fields.

It is reported that the Good Hope Science Salon was initiated by CAS Star and co-organized by Dongbi Technology Data and the Shanghai Research and Development Public Service Platform Management Center. It aims to build a platform for integrating science and innovation and fostering interdisciplinary exchange. The salon focuses on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, photonic science, quantum computing, nuclear energy, life sciences, and synthetic biology, promoting the transformation and application of hard-tech scientific achievements.

reference：https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202512213597589668.html