37.2 trillion, what does that mean? He explores the mysteries of life from massive cell research

37.2 trillion, what does that mean? Every human body is made up of such a huge number of cells, which work without rest and sleep to protect our health.

"Cells are alive and are the smallest unit of life. When we study cells, we are observing the world inside the human body." When I met Wang Pengyuan, the head of the stem cell and engineering biology research group of Oujiang Laboratory, he was observing human embryonic stem cells under a microscope. He described his work with great interest, "It's so interesting to use living cell equipment to observe the behavior of stem cells in real time!"

Human embryonic stem cell skeleton distribution. Photo provided by the interviewee

A career close to my dream

Wearing a pair of black-framed glasses and a white coat, Wang Pengyuan's childhood dream was to be a doctor. He smiled and pointed at his outfit: "Isn't it the same now?"

Although Wang Pengyuan majored in chemical engineering, he is actually very close to his dream. Doctors shuttle between operating tables to save lives and maintain human life; for many years, he has been studying how to regulate the fate of cells through microenvironmental mechanics, learning "how cells survive", developing corresponding bionic materials and cell engineering methods, and ultimately promoting the development of human life and health.

Wang Pengyuan is testing the experimental results. Photo by Li Xiaoxu, Chao News

Wang Pengyuan picked up a small transparent round box on his desk. The two "small things" inside looked like a boomerang, and the middle part looked like a clear crystal ball. He introduced that this was the "new accommodative intraocular lens (AIOL)", which was different from all the lenses currently used in hospitals.

"Cataract is one of the eye diseases with the highest blindness rate in the world. To completely cure it, it can only rely on replacing the 'camera lens' and replacing the patient's cloudy lens with a new one," Wang Pengyuan said. "Current lenses are mainly single-focus, and the raw materials and advanced technologies have long been monopolized by foreign companies. A breakthrough in domestic substitution is imminent."

Based on years of technical research, the team and collaborators have completely overturned the underlying logic of foreign technology, innovated in both materials and technology, and used chemical vapor deposition technology to create a "membrane-coated oil" AIOL that can achieve long-term surface anti-fouling and flexible adjustable functions.

At present, the project has become a representative of the development of the region's new quality productivity industry, and has been selected as the first pilot project of "invest first, then share" in Longwan District, Wenzhou City, to accelerate the transformation of results.

New accommodative intraocular lens Photo by Li Xiaoxu from Trend News

Work hard, Play hard

To do scientific research and strive for innovation, we must have the courage to break traditional ideas and constantly challenge ourselves. After the experiment, we must constantly review, summarize, read a lot of literature, and learn the latest scientific research results in the world.

In the morning, holding a cup of coffee in hand is what Wang Pengyuan considers the most ceremonial opening of the day. As the "brain" of the entire team, he has to shuttle between various laboratories, personally guide team members to conduct experiments, and also take time to return to the office to read papers and write materials. After sitting for a long time, he raises the height of the desk, stands to work, and stretches his muscles. In the afternoon, he went to the laboratory cafe to drink a second cup of coffee to recharge, and then threw himself into one meeting after another.

Wang Pengyuan instructs team members to do experiments. Photo by Li Xiaoxu, Chao News

In the eyes of his team members and students, Wang Pengyuan is an absolute "workaholic". He always brings his computer to the lab team building and works every minute to attend meetings. Wang Pengyuan shook his head and added: "Now I have slowed down a lot. At least I force myself not to take the computer home."

In fact, unlike scientists who are often so diligent that they seem a bit “bitter”, Wang Pengyuan from Taiwan, China, speaks with the gentleness of a Taiwanese TV drama protagonist. He said that he is an atypical scientist who believes in work hard and play hard, enjoys work and combines work and rest. “I hate procrastination the most. Efficiency is so important!”

During his master's degree, Wang Pengyuan studied chemical engineering courses and medical engineering courses at National Taiwan University, and obtained a double degree in chemical engineering and medical engineering in just two years. "I was always the top student in the department during my undergraduate studies, and I often played ball with my classmates after class, and the game lasted for more than three hours." Wang Pengyuan said, "At night, my roommates all went to bed, and only my desk light was still on. This lifestyle was already engraved in my DNA at that time." The doctoral qualification examination is the most unforgettable and "toughest" exam for him so far. He often "slept" in the library and practiced hard subjects such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, kinetics, heat and mass transfer repeatedly. As a doctoral candidate, he had no time to celebrate. He continued to put on his white coat and returned to the laboratory to chat with the "cells" he had been thinking about about his future life.

This spirit of both learning and playing naturally continues from school to work.

In the research team’s official account, the reporter saw the most cutting-edge scientific information, research results, as well as sharing of various activities such as the civil and martial arts competition, tasting glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice, and beach barbecues.

The assistant of the research team said that the person in charge still retains the image of a "sportsman" in his past, and can play several games of billiards, basketball, tennis, table tennis, badminton and other sports. "The day before the interview, Wang Pengyuan and his colleagues in the laboratory's brain disease and cognitive function rehabilitation cluster had just won the first prize in the Oujiang Laboratory badminton competition."

The first prize winner of the badminton competition was provided by the interviewee

Scientific research power among green mountains and clear waters

In 2021, the Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory for Regeneration Regulation and Eye and Brain Health) was officially "settled" in the Wenzhou Huandaluoshan Science and Technology Innovation Corridor. The beautiful mountain scenery and vast water scenery with the unique Wenzhou landscape are surrounded by the laboratory, forming a radiant and beautiful combination of nature and science. Looking out from the office window, the blue sky and white clouds and the mountain peaks and rocks embrace each other, and the scenery is unique.

Oujiang Laboratory's starting building. Photo courtesy of Oujiang Laboratory

Seeing the sunny weather, Wang Pengyuan reminded his team members to go hiking together the next day. Having lived in a big city in the past, he has gradually slowed down and started to like living in Wenzhou.

"When I first received the olive branch from Oujiang Laboratory, I was a little uncertain." Wang Pengyuan told reporters that he had never been to Wenzhou before. He was invited to attend the World Youth Scientists Summit held in Wenzhou at that time. At the summit, he felt a great "Oujiang shock". "I didn't expect Wenzhou to be able to attract so many academicians and experts from home and abroad, and even Nobel Prize winners."

Wang Pengyuan was also deeply attracted by Oujiang Laboratory's determination to benchmark against the international standards and its emphasis on talent. "Unlike traditional universities, Oujiang Laboratory conducts organized scientific research, and the research groups have strengthened interactive exchanges and collisions of ideas. Everyone works together to overcome bottleneck problems. At the same time, the PI system (project leader system) implemented is similar to that of foreign scientific research institutions, which allows researchers to obtain the greatest degree of scientific research leadership. Many great works are produced in this environment, which is the soil that scientists need most," said Wang Pengyuan. "The cutting-edge instruments and facilities with a total value of 244 million yuan also allow us to 'show our strength'."

Just two years after joining Oujiang Laboratory, Wang Pengyuan has formed a research team of nearly 30 people, with an average age of no more than 30, including many "post-00s". This young team has driven many technologies towards achievement transformation, demonstrating the huge potential of bioengineering in the field of life and health.

Wang Pengyuan believes that a vibrant team and scientific research innovation complement each other. "Scientific research cannot be constrained by what is known at the moment, and innovation is to break the old cognition." He wants to gather a group of young people with lofty ambitions, courage and determination to challenge, and together with the Oujiang Laboratory, explore a broader path in the field of life and health, continue to move forward, and do their best to explore the mystery of the fate of human cells.