On June 10^th, the 1^st Global Health Forum (GHF) of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was held in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. Themed with “Health Beyond Health·In the Year of Sustainable Development 2030”, the conference is formatted to include a plenum, 28 sessions, 4 innovation roadshows, 16 important events as well as the opening ceremony of the Global Health Expo.

The Session Eleven of GHF entitled “Innovation - International Colloquium of Microbiomes” was co-organized by the Forsyth Institute, Harvard University and Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This session aimed to further promote microbiome development to benefit human health. Prof. SHI Wenyuan, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer of the Forsyth Institute, chaired this session.  

Prof. Jeff Miller, the microbiologist and immunologist & a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Prof. John Mekalanos, a member of the National Academy of Sciences from Harvard Medical School, Mark Davis, the vice president of American Brigham Health International, Prof. XU Jian, the director of Single-Cell Center (SCC) in QIBEBT, Ms. XU Lin, the CEO at VIVA Nutritional Product LLC, and Ms. ZHOU Weili, the founder of Amphora capital were invited to attend the session.

Scientists, entrepreneurs and investors who were renowned figures in the field of microbiome were gathered to discuss the current status and future development trends of microbiome focusing on human health.

Prof. Miller detailed microbiome and its impact on human diseases (within human body), whereas Prof. Mekalanos introduced microbiome and its impact on plants, animals and human health. Then, Prof. XU introduced the research deployment, progress and major technological breakthroughs of microbiome in China, and Davis introduced USA-Asian global collaboration in medical and health care. Finally, in-depth discussion and exchange were made by experts and representatives in light of their own superiority.

This session will bring a major contribution to in-depth discussion for international cooperation on microbiome, as well as joint construction of the international health alliance for microbiome.

Two technologies developed by QIBEBT were presented in the session of Innovation Project Roadshow about biological drugs and medical devices on the first day of GHF. Prof. XU Jian exhibited the self-develop Clinical Antimicrobial Resistance Ramanometry (CAMR-R), and briefly introduced its application for rapid detection of “superbugs”. Prof. LI fuli, the head of the Molecular Microbiology Engineering Group, displayed the significant results of QIBEBT in biosynthesis of natural products for medicine and health. During the roadshow, on-site experts and investors were showing great interest in these two technologies.

The active participation in the innovation roadshow aimed to make effective connection between advanced technology and capital, and shorten the process from technology to industrialization, during the GHF as a top-level exhibition and exchange platform.

The 1^st GHF was hosted by BFA and the People’s Government of Shandong Province, and organized by the committee of GHF and the People’s Government of Qingdao. More than 2600 delegates from over 55 countries and territories around the world attended the Forum.

The GHF aims to garner consensus in global health, pool wisdom and resources of the pharmaceutical and big health industries, and sharpen domestic and international focus and influence on health issues. In addition, the GHF endeavors to build a world class thought leadership platform, emphasize public health development as a pro bono, inclusive and innovative cause, fully tap the potential of the health market, actively promote exchanges and cooperation among government, academia and the business community, and jointly advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Forum will last to June 12^th.

Fig.: Group photo for invited speakers in the session “Innovation-International Colloquium of Microbiomes”.