On 19 January, Gong Yuandong, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of Shandong Provincial Mental Health Centre, led a delegation to visit the Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory for exchange. The delegation was received by Li Xingang, Deputy Director of the Laboratory, and Zhang Di, Principal Investigator of the Cell and Neural Function Testing Platform.
The delegation first toured the laboratory exhibition hall, gaining detailed insights into the centre's strategic positioning, infrastructure development, and technical support systems within the interdisciplinary field of microbiome-biomedicine. Subsequently, Zhang Di presented recent research advancements in brain-gut axis studies. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the associative mechanisms between gut microbiota and brain function regulation, potential translational pathways, and future collaboration opportunities.
During the symposium, Deputy Director Li Xingang welcomed the delegation and outlined the laboratory's focus on pioneering interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of microbiome science and human health, particularly in advancing research on the brain-gut axis. Professor Gong expressed that the visit had been highly enlightening, noting that the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders necessitate multidisciplinary innovation. He highlighted the laboratory's research on brain-gut axis mechanisms and microbiome intervention as possessing significant potential for clinical translation. Both parties expressed shared aspirations to establish deep collaboration, integrating clinical resources with cutting-edge research strengths. They aim to jointly advance clinical translational studies on microbiome intervention technologies and gut-brain axis mechanisms, thereby providing novel strategies and approaches for preventing and managing mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, and enhancing mental health service provision.
Also present at the event were relevant personnel from the Shandong Provincial Mental Health Centre and the Jinan Provincial Laboratory of Microbiome Biomedical Sciences.
