Professor Han Hongbin was approved to receive funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Release date: December 19, 2023 Views:

Recently, the National Natural Science Foundation of China announced the list of major projects funded in 2024. The project "Neural Biological Network Modeling and Application Research Integrating Brain Extracellular Space Structure and Function" led by Professor Han Hongbin was approved, with a direct cost of 15 million yuan. Professor Han Hongbin is the dean of the Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, director of the Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Peking University Third Hospital, and a professor of radiology. He is a corresponding academician of the Life Sciences Department of the International Academy of Astronautics, a member of the National Industrial Base Expert Committee, a member of the Advisory Committee of the Information Science Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the deputy director of the National Medical Technology Professional Degree Graduate Teaching Committee. The approved project is led by Peking University Third Hospital and the Institute of Medical Technology, and is jointly led by Southeast University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, and Wenzhou Medical University to form an excellent research team. It will use the next five years to steadily advance the exploration, decryption, and development and utilization of the unknown structural space of brain extracellular spaces.

The extracellular space of the brain is the direct environment for the work of nerve cells and neural networks. The transport of substances in the space determines important brain functions such as sleep, memory and sensory formation. Because the width of the space is only tens of nanometers, it is difficult to detect in vivo. In particular, the extracellular space in the vast area deep in the brain has always been an ultrastructure space that cannot be explored by the academic community. It is known as the "last high ground in the field of neuroscience research", and brain disease treatment and new drug development have therefore fallen into difficulties.

The multidisciplinary cross-research team led by Professor Han Hongbin will systematically tackle the key problems of the existing brain extracellular space detection technology and research system, such as "difficulty in accurate quantitative measurement, few structural and functional indicators, and unclear regulatory mechanisms", with the goal of building a new neurobiological network model that integrates extracellular space information, developing new detection technologies, and supplementing and improving the structural deficiencies and theoretical defects of traditional neurobiological network models. Each research group will cooperate with each other to jointly establish a new theory of neural regulation and develop new methods for the treatment of brain diseases. The project team will take the opportunity of the major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China to strengthen cross-collaboration, produce a number of influential results, and play the role of discipline leadership and practical support for major projects. Guided by national strategic needs, we will continue to concentrate on research and move forward courageously, implement the innovation-driven development strategy in depth, and focus on original and leading scientific and technological research.

It is reported that since the merger of Peking University Health Science Center and Peking University in 2000, it has been approved for a total of 7 major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, including one for the School of Basic Medicine, two for the School of Public Health, one for the School of Pharmacy, and one each for Peking University Hospital and People's Hospital. Together with the one approved this time by Peking University Third Hospital and the Institute of Medical Technology, the total number has reached 7. The major project approved this year is the first approval of Peking University Health Science Center by the Department of Informatics of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The major projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of my country are aimed at major scientific problems at the forefront of science and major needs of national economic, social, scientific and technological development and national security, advance deployment, carry out multidisciplinary cross-disciplinary research and comprehensive research, give full play to the supporting and leading role, and enhance the source innovation capacity of basic research in China. In 2023, the Department of Informatics issued a total of 8 major project guidelines, and 6 of them were funded.

Figure 1: On July 20, 2023, after the release of the National Natural Science Foundation of China's Information Science Department's major project guidelines, Professor Han Hongbin led a team to organize a kick-off meeting in Changchun, Jilin

Figure 2: On October 20, 2023, the leaders of major projects and subjects made preparations for the defense: Han Hongbin (center), leader of the project and subject four, Xie Zhaoheng (2nd from left), leader of subject one, Sun Jianfei (2nd from right), leader of subject two, Zhang Jicong (1st from left), leader of subject three, and Sui Yao (1st from left), a core member of subject two.