Based on the principles of "fairness, impartiality and openness", the Alliance of CAST Member Societies in Life Sciences carried out the program of "Top 10 achievements of life sciences selection in China" in 2020.

A special committee composed of senior experts of life sciences, biotechnology and clinical medicine evaluated the projects recommended by relevant societies.

The presidium of the alliance gave a final review of the short list and decided "Top 10 achievements of life sciences in China in 2020", and classified them into 2 categories, naming "theoretical innovation" and "technology innovation" respectively.

Compared with the program in previous years, this year's selection saw more recommended projects and less researches led by academicians, indicating the program was attracting more concerns and attention and the growth of the research force in the fields of life science in China.

The selected projects are of outstanding originality and great social significance.

"4-Vinylanisole is an aggregation pheromone in locusts" reveal the mystery of locust aggregation for the first time in the world and is of great significance to predict and control the locust plague to solve global food problems.

"Structure of Mpro from COVID-19 virus and discovery of its inhibitors" and "The Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in hACE2 Transgenic Mice" are important contributions to fighting the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

"Horizontal gene transfer of Fhb7 from fungus underlies Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat" and "Feeding induces cholesterol biosynthesis via the mTORC1-USP20-HMGCR axis" focus on hot issues relating to national economy and people's livelihood.

The Alliance of CAST Member Societies in Life Sciences has carried out the program annually since 2015, aiming to promote research and innovation and publicize the major achievements in the fields in China.

Experts of the award-wining projects are invited to publish science communication books and give lectures to youth and children to reveal the mysteries of life sciences and provide new ideas for bio-economy, getting general public more engaged in science.

Tag: Academic & societies