The 2025 Bacteriophage Conference of the Chinese Society of Biotechnology & the 8th China Bacteriophage Therapy Conference was held from August 19 to 23 at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. As one of China’s most influential annual academic events in phage research and clinical practice, this conference focused on advancing the development of a bacteriophage therapy system. It marked the launch of two national key research and development programs and facilitated comprehensive academic exchange and talent cultivation, injecting “Chinese momentum” into addressing the global public health challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Experts including Tian Jinqiang (Director of Life Sciences and Frontier Technology at China National Center for Biotechnology Development), Guo Xiaokui (Vice Dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Global Health), and Tong Yigang (Dean of the School of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology) attended the conference. Professor Zhu Tongyu, Vice Dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Director of the Fudan University Phage Research Institute, and academic leader in kidney transplantation at Zhongshan Hospital, served as co-chair.
With the continuous rise in global antimicrobial-resistant infections, the efficacy of conventional antibiotics is diminishing, and the threat of “superbugs” is intensifying. This not only increases mortality risks from common diseases such as pneumonia but also complicates medical procedures including surgery and chemotherapy due to heightened infection risks. In this context, bacteriophage therapy—specifically targeting bacteria—has emerged as one of the most promising alternative antimicrobial strategies, attracting significant attention for its development and application.
The convening of this conference represents a key action in implementing China’s national strategy against microbial resistance. During the event, the 2025 National Key R&D Program “Frontier Biotechnology” Bacteriophage Special Projects was launched, comprising two major initiatives: “Development of Safe and Efficient Engineered Bacteriophage Therapy Technologies and Clinical Research,” led by Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and “Research on Key Technologies for Developing Safe and Efficient Bacteriophage Preparations and Clinical Treatment of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections,” led by Beijing University of Chemical Technology. These projects bring together government, industry, academic, and research sectors, marking China’s transition from laboratory exploration to systematic clinical validation in phage therapy. This effort will vigorously promote the industrialization and standardization of phage therapy in China and accelerate the formation of internationally influential Chinese solutions.
Concurrently, the conference hosted the second Bacteriophage Therapy “Seed Camp,” covering topics from fundamental phage theory, isolation and purification techniques, quality testing methods, to clinical application standards, regulatory policies, and translational case studies. Through systematic training and practical implementation, the camp aims to cultivate new talent in the field and advance phage therapy from theoretical exploration to broader clinical applications.
Professor Zhu Tongyu emphasized that global phage research has entered a phase of accelerated breakthroughs, with technologies such as AI screening expanding treatment possibilities. China has achieved initial successes in areas including phage preparation development and personalized therapy, with regions like Shanghai establishing a collaborative framework integrating research, clinical practice, preparation, and regulation. He noted that this conference is expected to drive progress in mechanistic research and technical standards, fostering an integrated “Chinese pathway” from laboratory to clinic, ultimately benefiting patients with drug-resistant infections in China.
Since its inception in 2018, the China Bacteriophage Therapy Conference has been successfully held seven times, attracting nearly a thousand experts from countries including China, Belgium, the United States, and Georgia, along with nearly ten thousand participants. It has become a benchmark academic platform in the field of basic and clinical phage research in China.