Inauguration of the Douglas C. Wallace Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine & International Symposium on Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine

Mitochondria generate almost 90% of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy. In addition to supplying cellular energy, mitochondria are involved in a wide range of other processes, such as regulating levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), genetic expression and signaling, cellular differentiation, cell death, and control of the cell cycle and cell growth. Mitochondria are thought to be dynamically regulated, and to undergo a continuous process of fission, fusion, biogenesis and degradation. The changes of morphology and hence physiological function are related to key issues of the regulation of cellular metabolism, proliferation, growth, aging, inheritance, and evolution. Mitochondria disorders have also been implicated in several human diseases, including cardiac dysfunction, tumorigenesis, diabetes, and may also play a role in the aging process. Mitochondrial biomedical research has been one of the most important and active frontiers in modern life science and molecular medicine. As one of the major four groups of mitochondrial research in China, the Institute of Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Enginnering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an jiaotong University, together with the State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics of Wenzhou Medical College, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine of Tianjin University of Sport, have held previous Chinese-Mit conferences with the themes: “Mitochondria Determine the Cell Life and Death” in 2005, Beijing, “Mitochondria and Health” in 2006, Wenzhou , “From Bioenergetics to Cell Biology and Medicine” in 2008, Tianjin, “Mitochondrial Medicine: From Laboratory to Clinic” in 2011, Xi’an, “Mitochondrial Biology and Diseases” In 2012, Beijing, and “Clinic-Basic-Clinic.” in 2015, Hangzhou. , Hangzhou. The success of these meetings greatly promoted the development of mitochondrial biomedical science in China and enhanced the international communications with scientists all over the world. Dr. Douglas Cecil Wallace pioneered the use of human mitochondrial DNA as a molecular marker and one of the few most famous scientists in mitochondrial research. He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences of USA (1995), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004) and the Institute of Medicine (2009). Most importantly, Dr. Wallace has great enthusiasm in supporting the development of Chinese science and scientists. He has extensive communications with Chinese academia and has attended numerous conferences and visited many universities and institutes in China. Virtually all scientists in mitochondrial research field are his good friends. Therefore, the establishment of Douglas C. Wallace Center for Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine will greatly help unite the Chinese mitochondrial researchers to work as a big team for making greater achievements and successes. The concurrent symposium will provide all participants with the opportunities of nurturing deeper mutual understanding and friendship for their future collaborations!