The 2024 Precision Medicine Conference, a flagship event in its field, was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, from Sept 20 to 22.

Co-hosted by Guangdong Precision Medicine Application Association and the Biophysical Society of China, this year's conference was themed "Innovating Precision Medicine, Accelerating the Development of New-quality Productive Forces".

The event featured 43 sessions, offering an overview of China's progress in precision medicine. It aimed to promote innovation to advance the country’s technological self-reliance and support the integration of science and economic growth.

The Sixth Precision Medicine Development Forum brings together 11 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. [Photo/gdpmaa.com]

A highlight was the Sixth Precision Medicine Development Forum, part of the 2024 Lingnan Science Forum series. The forum brought together 11 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with over 20 national experts, who provided a comprehensive review of the latest advances in China's precision medicine.

They also summarized achievements from the past year and offered suggestions for technological innovation and industrial growth in the field.

The award ceremony for the 2023 Guangdong Provincial Precision Medicine Science and Technology Award was also held during the conference, with a total of 22 projects recognized - eight in natural science, seven in technological innovation and seven in popular science.

For professionals in the field, the conference hosted 34 academic forums that provided a multidimensional exploration of precision medicine, fostering the interdisciplinary development of basic research, technology development, clinical applications and regulation.

Public outreach efforts were a key aspect of the event, with six themed science popularization activities tailored to different audience groups. Top-tier hospitals in Guangdong participated in a series of live-streamed sessions over three days, providing high-quality medical education and health knowledge. These activities, viewed by nearly 2.5 million people online, were aligned with National Science Popularization Day.

The 2024 Precision Medicine Conference establishes three new branches on pathological technology, sarcoma and assisted reproduction. [Photo/gdpmaa.com]

The conference also marked the steady growth of Guangdong Precision Medicine Application Association’s organizational structure, with the establishment of three new branches – Pathological Technology, Sarcoma and Assisted Reproduction – bringing the total number to 98.

Four branches underwent leadership changes, further strengthening the collaborative innovation resources of the association.

This year's conference demonstrated a significant leap forward in integrating cutting-edge medical technology with practical applications, contributing to China's scientific and technological advancements and healthcare improvements.