Recently, in line with the China Association for Science and Technology's plans for the 2022 Enterprise "Innovation Star" speaking campaign, the Guangdong Association for Science and Technology launched the 2022 Guangdong Province Enterprise "Innovation Star" selection and speaking campaign. Dr. Liao Yan, Senior Engineer at the R&D Center of Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd., was honored with the title of Guangdong Province Enterprise "Innovation Star".
The Guangdong Province Enterprise "Innovation Star" selection and speaking campaign aims to deeply study and implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Party, the successive plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee and the 13th Guangdong Provincial Party Congress, strengthen the responsibility of enterprise S&T workers in advancing China's S&T self-reliance and self-strengthening, innovate organizational and mobilization mechanisms, energize the innovative drive of enterprise S&T workers, and raise the technological innovation capability of enterprises. After self-application by S&T workers, recommendation by provincial scientific and technological societies and prefectural-level associations for science and technology, and expert review, 100 enterprise S&T workers were named 2022 Guangdong Province Enterprise "Innovation Stars".
Dr. Liao Yan
PhD and postdoctoral fellow in stem cells and tissue engineering from Sun Yat-sen University; Shenzhen High-level Professional Reserve Talent; project review expert for the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission; project review expert for the Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission's High-Tech Industry Innovation Center; and Senior Project Manager at the R&D Center of Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. His research has covered stem cell therapy for diseases including acute myocardial infarction, Crohn's disease, lower-limb ischemia, viral pneumonia and systemic lupus erythematosus, with more than 20 academic papers published in domestic and international journals. He has served as principal investigator on multiple academic projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation Youth Program, the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (PhD Start-up and General programs).
Since joining Beike Biotech, Dr. Liao Yan has been dedicated to the R&D and registration of stem cell products. On one hand, to raise technical barriers and product performance, he has led his team to focus on enhancing the biological characteristics of stem cells and reducing their heterogeneity. They have first developed a new culture process for umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, enhancing their stemness maintenance and slowing senescence; and they have developed stem cell "priming" technology that can enhance specific functions of MSCs, such as immunosuppression and migration/homing capabilities. These R&D directions have been initiated as key projects within Beike Biotech and are currently in the preclinical research stage; three related invention patents have been filed with the patent office. On the other hand, under the guidance of the national stem cell product application guidelines, he has actively participated in process development, pharmacology/toxicology evaluation and other work for Beike Biotech's umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell injection product, and has taken part in submitting the IND application to the drug regulator.
Going forward, Dr. Liao Yan, together with Beike Biotech, plans to complete the IND application for the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell injection product, advancing clinical trials in 1–2 indications, and to work toward IND filing of "primed stem cells" – a second-generation product – with the ultimate goal of bringing them to market. In addition, the heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells affects the stability and quality of products. Currently, Dr. Liao Yan's team at Beike Biotech is developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology; iMSC cell products differentiated from iPSCs will offer the characteristics of large-scale production, good stability and strong functionality, with broad development prospects in the future.
Innovation is the foremost driver of scientific and technological development. Beike Biotech will continue to deeply implement its innovation-driven development strategy, intensify enterprise platform building around the needs of the cell industry, bring together top talent, technology, facilities and other R&D and innovation factors, and steadily advance toward becoming an enterprise with core competitiveness in the stem cell field.
