On September 25, Anthony A. Hyman, Director of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Germany, visited Tsinghua University and delivered the 257th Tsinghua Global Vision Lecture. His lecture was titled "Biomolecular Condensates and Their Implications for Cell Physiology and Disease". Wang Hongwei, Vice President of Tsinghua University, attended the event and presented Professor Hyman with a commemorative plaque for the lecture series.
Anthony Hyman delivers lecture
Wang Hongwei presents Hyman a commemorative plaque
Professor Hyman is a pioneer in the field of biological phase separation. During his presentation, he shared his team's long-term research achievements in this area. He provided an insightful overview of the historical development of the phase separation concept, focusing on how biomolecular condensates, formed through liquid-liquid phase separation within cells, dynamically regulate key physiological processes such as cell division, signal transduction, and stress response. Furthermore, he discussed into the potential links between dysregulated phase separation and various pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, offering new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms of these diseases.
Q&A session
During the Q&A session, faculty and students engaged in an in-depth discussion with Professor Hyman on topics such as the technical challenges in phase separation research and its potential therapeutic applications. Drawing from his own research experience, he encouraged students to explore the unknowns in life sciences, maintain curiosity and enduring passion for scientific questions, and focus on pursuing significant fundamental research with persistence.
The lecture was hosted by Lin Yi, Associate Professor from the School of Life Sciences. The event was co-organized by the Office of International Affairs and the School of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University. Nearly 400 faculty and students from Tsinghua University's School of Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, and ZhiLi College, as well as from Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the lecture onsite.
The Tsinghua Global Vision Lecture Series, featuring high-level international speakers, is a prestigious platform for the university community. Since its inception in 2007, it has held 257 lectures, featuring two main series: "Global Leadership" and "Cutting-Edge Science & Technology." The distinguished speakers include Nobel Laureates, renowned scholars, foreign dignitaries, leading university presidents, and senior executives from multinational corporations.
Group photo
