International Big Science Program Led by Chinese Scientists Enters Implementation Phase: π-HuB Framework Includes 13 Research Programs, Pilot Projects Make Progress

September 29 — Xinhua News Agency reported today that He Fuchu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, says the Human Proteome Navigation International Big Science Program (the π-HuB program), initiated and led by Chinese scientists, has entered its implementation phase. The program has proposed a research framework that is being reviewed through the proper procedures, and a number of pilot projects have already produced preliminary results.

The 25th Congress of the Human Proteome Organization was held in Singapore from September 27 to October 1. He Fuchu presented the progress at the "π-HuB Program Global Day" event held during the congress, which was attended by more than 60 researchers and representatives of relevant institutions from different countries and regions.

He Fuchu said the research framework under review consists of 13 interconnected research programs, covering technology and standards, proteome atlases, navigation theory and computational models, and applications in medicine and drug development.

Pilot studies supported by participating institutions have already made preliminary progress in mapping tissue and cell atlases, large-scale population studies, proof of concept for proteome navigation, and exploration of clinical applications.

An international working group has begun work on common standards and data governance, and a data center platform in Guangzhou is also under construction.

Zhao Jing, director of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Center of China's Ministry of Science and Technology, said in a speech at the event that in 2026 the π-HuB program formally received project approval and funding support from the Chinese government. China will support the program in improving its governance structure and governance capacity, in bringing together international strengths and resources, in sharing results, and in improving people's health.

Han Jun, education minister-counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, said in his speech that a big science program like π-HuB can reinforce talent development, and expressed the hope of promoting closer joint training and academic exchange mechanisms among universities and research institutions around the world.

Uwe Völker, president of the Human Proteome Organization, said the π-HuB program focuses on long-term scientific goals and requires the joint participation of the global research community, and that the organization is willing to promote exchanges and cooperation in related fields.

The π-HuB program aims to map the human proteome and study its dynamic changes and mechanisms of action, so as to explore the laws that govern human development, aging and the onset and progression of disease, and to provide new scientific evidence for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. IT Home notes: the proteome refers to all the proteins expressed within a cell or tissue.