Source: the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration

Date: November 14, 2025

Editor: Li Weimiao

On November 6, 2025, a collaborative project between Professor Chen Gong’s team from Jinan University and NeuExcell Therapeutics was awarded the highest prize—the Honor Award—in the 2025 National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition. Titled “Gene Therapy for CNS Diseases via In Situ Conversion of Glial Cells into Neurons,” the project emerged victorious from a pool of over 2,200 submissions from 120 cities across China, becoming one of only four recipients of this top honor.

The project employs an innovative in situ neural regeneration technology, using AAV vectors to deliver the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 into brain astrocytes, reprogramming them into functional neurons. This approach opens a new therapeutic pathway for central nervous system disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease, which currently lack effective treatments. NeuExcell Therapeutics has since launched three global first-in-class clinical trials targeting glioma, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease based on this platform, with preliminary data indicating promising safety profiles and encouraging therapeutic outcomes.

The National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition is organized by the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technology Innovation Center and co-hosted by the Shanghai Disruptive Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou Disruptive Technology Innovation Center, and Huangpu Innovation College. Centered on global technological trends and industrial transformation, this year's competition attracted high-quality projects nationwide. After several rounds of expert review, 65 projects received the Winning Award, 20 the Excellence Award, 10 the Outstanding Award, and 4 the top-tier Honor Award. Professor Chen Gong from Jinan University’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration attended the ceremony as the award recipient and presented the project during the roadshow session.

(Image: 2025 National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition)