Five members of the Biophysical Society of China (BSC) were honored with the 2025 Xplorer Prize in Life Sciences and Medical Sciences, according to the list released by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation on Aug 25. 

The awardees -- Xue Yuanchao, Yan Zhen, Zhu Shujia, Lin Xianfeng and Shu Yilai (listed in the foundation’s order) – were recognized for their important breakthroughs and original contributions to their respective research fields, underscoring the collective strength of the BSC community. 

1. Xue Yuanchao: Explorer of the RNA world 

Xue, researcher at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a member of the BSC’s RNA Therapeutics Subgroup, has long focused on the functional mechanisms of noncoding RNAs and the development of related technologies. 

He established the RIC-seq suite of technologies to resolve, for the first time, the in situ higher-order structures of RNA molecules, uncovering a novel mechanism of transcriptional regulation mediated by enhancer non-coding RNAs. He developed the vRIC-seq technique to elucidate the higher-order structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA, and created the LACE-seq method to reveal the mechanism through which endogenous small RNAs suppress gene expression. 

Xue’s contributions have advanced the frontiers of RNA biology and RNA-based drug development. 

2. Yan Zhen: Decoding the molecular language of cell fate 

Yan, distinguished researcher at Westlake University and a member of the BSC’s Cryo-electron Microscopy Academic Subgroup, focuses on the structure and functional mechanisms of transmembrane transport proteins, with particular emphasis on chloroplast protein translocation. 

Combining cryo-electron microscopy, structural biology and artificial intelligence-assisted modeling, her team systematically resolved the composition, assembly and dynamic mechanisms of the chloroplast protein transport system, revealing both its evolutionary diversity and conservation.

These achievements provide solid structural evidence for understanding the molecular basis of protein translocation across organelle membranes and lay a key foundation for related studies and potential applications. These studies have been published in leading international journals such as Cell, Nature and Science. 

3. Zhu Shujia: Unraveling neural circuitry with precision 

Zhu, professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology and a member of the BSC’s Neurobiophysics Academic Subgroup, has long focused on studying NMDA receptors, which are excitatory glutamate-gated ion channels of the nervous system. Using cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiology, she and her team elucidated the gating mechanisms of NMDA receptors and the action of antidepressants, while also uncovering their pathogenic role in neurological autoimmune diseases. 

In 2025, together with collaborators, Zhu achieved the first atomic-resolution structure of endogenous NMDA receptors from the adult brain, overcoming the long-standing reliance on recombinant systems. Her series of discoveries has not only deepened the understanding of higher brain functions such as learning and memory but also provided new avenues for drug development in neurological disorders. 

4. Lin Xianfeng: A new lens on aging 

Lin, associate chief physician at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and a BSC member, explores the degeneration of the musculoskeletal system and tissue repair mechanisms. 

His team has studied microenvironmental reprogramming and immunometabolic regulation under aging conditions through tissue engineering and biomaterial strategies, thereby promoting bone tissue regeneration and repair. 

Lin also proposed a novel approach of using plant thylakoids to transfer energy across species into animal cells, successfully activating a photosynthesis-like process that delays cellular aging and enhances tissue repair. These findings, published in Nature, open up a new avenue for the treatment of aging-related diseases. 

5. Shu Yilai: Decoding hearing and communication 

Shu, professor at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University and a member of the BSC’s Hearing, Speech and Communication Studies Academic Subgroup, has long been committed to the gene therapy and clinical translation of hereditary deafness.

He was among the first to apply CRISPR/Cas9 and AAV technologies for precise in vivo gene editing of cochlear hair cells, paving the way for strategies in hair cell regeneration and repair. He spearheaded the world’s first clinical trial for congenital deafness gene therapy, successfully restoring patients’ hearing and speech. Shu has also uncovered pathogenic mechanisms of multiple deafness-related genes. 

His influential findings have been published in The Lancet, Science Translational Medicine and Neuron, pushing gene therapy closer to clinical reality. 

Established in 2018 and funded by the New Cornerstone Science Foundation, the Xplorer Prize is one of China’s most influential honor for young scientists. It encourages researchers aged 45 and below to venture into uncharted scientific territory, supporting original, curiosity-driven research. 

The achievements of these five awardees not only represent individual excellence but also demonstrate the growing strength of BSC members in RNA biology, bioimaging, neurobiophysics, aging biology, and auditory and speech sciences. The BSC will continue to foster collaboration and innovation, empowering young scientists to deliver transformative discoveries.