The Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources was established at Hainan University under the approval of the Ministry of Education in October 2005 and was put into operation in February 2008.

Covering more than 3,100 square meters, the lab is equipped with over 100 sets of advanced precise instruments, worth about 46 million yuan ($6 million), to conduct biological, pharmaceutical, and chemical experiments. They include nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, electron microscopes, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometers, fermentation systems, as well as protein isolation and identification systems.

Also highlighted are 49 high-level talents specializing in biology, biopharmacy, pharmacy, biomaterials, aquaculture, food science and engineering, as well as chemical engineering and technology, of whom 37 are professors or researchers and 43 are academic backbones with PhD degree.

The lab mainly conducts research on the marine biological resources in the South China Sea and the terrestrial biological resources in tropical areas to contribute to relevant discipline construction and regional socioeconomic development.

Over the past five years, it has been committed to 186 government projects and 26 enterprise projects with a total fund of 93.79 million yuan, of which six are under the National Science and Technology Support Program, five are under the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology. and three are under the International Cooperative Research Projects of the National Natural Science Fund.

In addition, the lab has published 292 theses, as well as 28 monographs and textbooks, compiled two regional industrial standards, obtained 89 patents, and garnered 12 Science & Technology Progress Awards of Hainan Province.