Dr. Hu Junyuan, Chairman of Beike Biotechnology, was interviewed by Shenzhen Business Daily: Medical AI is the biggest opportunity

Dr. Hu Junyuan, Chairman of Beike Biotech

Interviewed in the Shenzhen Business Daily Science and Technology Innovation Club Living Room

November 11, 2022

Reporter Wang Hairong

A few days ago, Hu Junyuan, chairman of Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd., who had just returned from a business trip in Heilongjiang, had changed his suit and leather shoes into a casual outfit, which made everyone who saw him feel full of vitality.

This man from Guizhou, who has been working in the cell field for more than 20 years, still maintains the same work habits as when he started his business. As long as I don’t go on a business trip, I will arrive at the company headquarters building in Nanshan Park, Shenzhen High-tech Zone before 9 o’clock, rain or shine.

Paving the way for cell therapy
Beike Biotech was founded in Shenzhen 17 years ago. In the initial stage, Beike quickly transformed research results into new methods of clinical medical services through independent innovation of stem cell technology and decentralized model innovation of personalized cell therapy technology. At the same time, it promptly fed back clinical medical practice information to basic researchers, creating the prototype of China’s cell therapy industry transformation.

Soon, Beike launched the “network laying project” that attracted much attention in the industry. In September 2015, the Shenzhen Comprehensive Cell Bank and the Shenzhen (Beike) Regional Cell Preparation Center, which were constructed by Beike, were established. This is also an important support and innovation carrier for Shenzhen to develop the “innovation chain + industrial chain” of personalized cell therapy.

Today, Beike has launched a “comprehensive cell bank + regional cell preparation center” layout in South China, East China, Southwest and Northwest China, building an innovative public technology platform and infrastructure for the clinical transformation of cell therapy technology in my country.

Building a professional talent team to promote the healthy development of the industry
Technology is the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driving force. On the second floor of the headquarters of Beike Biotech, the reporter saw a talent wall full of photos of various talents from the company who have obtained junior, intermediate and senior professional titles in cell preparation and cell quality management.

“We must create a good atmosphere that respects talents and helps them grow, and build a professional talent team to promote the healthy development of the cell industry.” Hu Junyuan said.

In 2021, Beike introduced Professor Cai Cheguo as chief scientist, leading the team to start a new research and development pipeline-organoid research, and develop and utilize in vitro drug testing systems based on organoid models. In June this year, Beike Biotech was approved to establish a Shenzhen academician (expert) workstation, and cooperated with Academician Wang Zhengguo of the Chinese Academy of Engineering to carry out research on stem cells in regenerative medicine and related disease treatment.

The continuous R&D layout allows Beike to firmly hold the “nose” of scientific research. According to statistics, the company has undertaken more than 60 scientific research projects at national, provincial and municipal levels, including 863 projects and Torch Plan projects. As of October this year, Beike has applied for 132 related patents in the biomedical field, 105 of which have been authorized, and has led the drafting and compilation of many standards, including the local standards for my country’s first cell preparation center.

Actively embrace the trend of medical artificial intelligence
Hu Junyuan believes that as an innovative enterprise, when looking at future development, it must have the courage to break the conclusions based on traditional experience and better grasp the development slope and trend. Use “causal thinking” when doing things, first determine the results and goals you want in the future, and then match the corresponding skills and time according to the results to promote the efficient combination of technology, talent, capital and other innovative elements.

“In the next 5-10 years, the bioeconomy will be inseparable from digital technology, and medical artificial intelligence will be the biggest opportunity in the field of life and health. We cannot ignore it, let alone be absent.” Hu Junyuan revealed that Beike is planning to build the world’s largest metabolomics testing platform, with the purpose of finding new data sources for medical artificial intelligence.

Beike also invested in the establishment of Shenzhen Maitu Precision Technology Co., Ltd. to study the biological mechanisms hidden behind big data through a self-improved quality control system and enhanced mass spectrometry data processing algorithms.

Since this year, Beike Biotech has signed agreements with the Heilongjiang Provincial Government, the Hunan Yueyang Municipal Government, and the Yunnan Provincial Government, and plans to build the Digital Life International Research Institute, a medical big data trading platform, a smart electrocardiographic clothing base, and wearable medical device projects.

In Hu Junyuan’s view, smart wearable devices are an important carrier for realizing medical artificial intelligence. They can systematically and visually measure disease-related data sources like high-definition cameras, and use modern algorithms and computing power to help the human brain diagnose diseases more efficiently.

“With the in-depth application of new generation information technology, the life and health industry is undergoing profound changes. This time next year, you will see this change more clearly.” Hu Junyuan said.