Professors Xin Deng and Xiaoyu Zhou have both recently received prestigious grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), supporting their innovative research projects in biomedical sciences.
Prof. Xin Deng has been awarded a 2025 General Program grant for the research project “Global Transcription Factors Network of Bacillus cereus and Virulence Regulation.” This project employs an integrated approach combining DNA affinity purification and sequencing, bioinformatics, and genetic analysis to systematically investigate the comprehensive regulatory network of transcription factors in the important food-borne human pathogen Bacillus cereus. The study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which transcription factors regulate both metabolic processes and virulence expression in Bacillus cereus. By revealing these regulatory pathways, the research will provide novel insights into the pathogen’s environmental adaptation strategies and establish a theoretical foundation for developing targeted prevention and control strategies. This marks Prof. Deng’s fourth NSFC grant.
Prof. Xiaoyu Zhou has also been successful in securing a 2025 Youth Science Fund Project (Category C) grant. The project, titled “Sorting of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Based on Single-Cell Metabolic Phenotype Analysis and Its Applications in Regenerative Medicine,” proposes a label-free, rapid, and highly efficient microfluidic strategy for isolating adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). The method employs droplet microfluidic technology and leverages the unique glycolytic dependency of ADSCs to achieve precise sorting without exogenous labels or prolonged culture, thereby preserving cellular integrity and genetic stability. Successful validation of this microfluidic platform will provide a clinically applicable ADSC isolation technology that accelerates the translation of ADSC-based therapies and enhances therapeutic outcomes in regenerative medicine.