The seventh Chinese C. elegans Academic Conference took place in Wuhan, Hubei province, from Oct 18 to 20.

The seventh Chinese C. elegans Academic Conference opens on Oct 18 in Wuhan, Hubei province. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC] 

Hosted by the Academic Subgroup of Subcellular Structures and Functions under the Biophysical Society of China (BSC) and organized by Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the gathering brought together more than 400 participants who discussed the significant role of C. elegans in advancing research on aging, development, neurobiology, gender, stress, immunity, cellular biology and technology.

Researchers deliver keynote reports at the conference. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC] 

The conference showcased a rich agenda of insightful exchanges, including keynote reports by esteemed researchers: Shawn Xu from the University of Michigan, Wang Xiaochen from Southern University of Science and Technology, Zhen Mei from the University of Toronto and Hu Zhitao from the City University of Hong Kong.

For the first time, the conference was divided into sub-forums featuring eight themes, 68 oral presentations and four workshops, along with a principal investigator meeting. A total of 148 abstracts and 80 posters were presented, underscoring the robust and growing research activity within China’s C. elegans community.

The oral presentations, delivered by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, provided an engaging platform for young scholars to present their work, which fostered peer connections and ignited research inspiration among attendees.

Certificates of presentation awards and poster awards are presented to researchers. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]  

In recognition of outstanding contributions, five presentation awards and ten poster awards were presented to the most exemplary participants. 

With a growing number of research teams in China using C. elegans as a model organism, the field has produced numerous internationally recognized breakthroughs. Looking ahead, the 2026 conference is scheduled to open in Kunming, Yunnan province, promising even greater contributions to this vibrant research community.