Shenzhen forges ahead in life sciences with new sci-tech center

The groundbreaking ceremony for Cheerland-Watson Center for Life Sciences and Technology, a project led by American molecular biologist and geneticist James Watson, best known as one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA , was held in Dapeng New Area, Shenzhen on March 16.

Shenzhen holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cheerland-Watson Center for Life Sciences and Technology on March 16. [Photo/Xinhua]

The ceremony, held at the Shenzhen International Bio Valley, was attended by Ai Xuefeng, vice mayor of Shenzhen, Wang Jingdong, secretary of the Dapeng New Area Party Working Committee and James Watson.  

With an investment of 2.8 billion yuan ($440 million), the project will cover a construction area of 160,000 square meters and will be completed and put into operation within three years. It will consist of three parts - a science research center, a sci-tech achievements transformation center and a 23,000-sq m laboratory.

The renowned geneticist and winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine said at the ceremony that he was elated to see the development of advanced technologies and the emergence of new medicines. 

Watson said he has been committed to the research of life sciences for 50 years and plans to continue his work in the field. With the help of his Chinese counterparts, he believes that the mysteries of genetics will continue to be unraveled and more effective drugs and quality hospitals offering better treatments for patients will be developed.

Early in April last year, Watson came to Shenzhen in search of a suitable location for his life sciences and technology project and was very satisfied with Baguang area in the Shenzhen International Bio Valley. He said the research center will be modeled after the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the United States and at least 1,000 scientists, including Watson himself, will work at the center after its completed.

James Watson, best known as one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, delivers a speech at the ceremony. [Photo/Xinhua]

Watson said he has been dedicated to finding new ways to develop anti-cancer medicine, especially through genetics and chemistry. "I have a dream. I hope that the medicine we develop will benefit all patients and provide equal treatment for all," he said.

The research center is one of Shenzhen's major projects for 2018. It will have at least two research projects led by Nobel laureates and 15 labs led by various scientists and is expected to generate output value and tax revenue within three years.

As of now, 90 pieces of infrastructure and supporting projects costing over 8.4 billion yuan have been launched in the Baguang area. 

A rendering of the Cheerland-Watson Center for Life Sciences and Technology project, which will cover a construction area of 160,000 square meters. [Photo/Xinhua]