On August 5th, the 6th China Northwest Regional Conference was successfully held in the Boya Lecture Hall of the Wenbo Building at Northwest University. Ten iGEM teams from various regions across the country, including NWU-CHINA-A, AFMU-China, BUCT-China, and Fudan, attended the conference to share and exchange ideas in the field of synthetic biology.
During the conference, we learned from each other in all fields such as experiment design, Human Practice, and visualization. We changed ideas and problems faced in our project and strengthened connections and cooperation. We also displayed and exchanged our peripherals, hoping to build a friendly and mutually supportive bridge to enhance future cooperation.
We also consulted with environmental engineering professionals from Northwest University on pollution problems. We gained a lot of academic knowledge on environmental protection and policy, which really helped us to make our project environment-friendly.
We had a communication with outstanding experts and teams from different schools and different major, learned a lot from other teams' experiences, and also reflected on and improved our own projects. We established close academic connections and bonds of friendship, hoping to write a more exciting chapter in the field of synthetic biology.
It is a great honor to have the opportunity to communicate with the Naval Medical University in person. As both of us are medical colleges with similar professional backgrounds, we found that we encountered similar issues in modeling and hardware during the exchange. Therefore, in addition to analyzing and discussing improvements to our respective experimental designs and sharing ideas for human practice activities, we also focused on exchanging learning methods and experiences in modeling and web page production. Everyone expressed their opinions and really enjoyed our time.
At synbio chanllange, we had an in-depth discussion with ZJU-China on the project issues and HP, and their innovative ideas related to pigment production ignited our thoughts on lactobacilli design, such as synergistic protein building. At the end of the exchange we exchanged perimeters, and this interaction of ideas gave the team a deeper understanding of each other.
During the exchange activity, the AFMU-China team and HainanU-China Team of Hainan University shared and discussed the latest research progress of HP and the challenges they faced. The two teams had a dialogue on the practical experience, achievements, difficulties and solutions of HP work. The team members of HainanU-China HP Group of Hainan University actively shared the latest results achieved in their social investigation project, detailing their innovative methods, problems found and solutions proposed during the research process.
In the free exchange session, the two teams had a heated discussion on the difficulties encountered in their social survey work, including the difficulty of data collection, the low cooperation of the survey subjects, and the challenges of data analysis technology. Through interaction and communication, we discussed strategies and methods to deal with these difficulties, such as how to design more scientific and effective questionnaires, how to increase the participation of survey subjects and how to use advanced statistical tools and techniques for data analysis.
With the deepening of the exchange activities, the two teams not only enhanced the academic consensus between each other, but also broadened the ideas for solving problems and enhanced the ability of cooperative research. At the end of the exchange activity, the team leader made a summary speech, affirmed the achievements of the exchange activity, and put forward the prospect of further cooperation between the two sides in the future.
In order to better promote iGEM and the team project, we collaborated with the BUCT team, on the one hand, we worked with them on the production of a synthetic biology related science magazine.
On the other hand, considering that our stakeholders have a great probability of accumulating retinopathy that leads to blindness, we also collaborated together on podcasts related to science, so as to obtain the purpose of diabetes related science knowledge through non-visual effects.
Our podcast covers the definition and classification of diabetes, clinical symptoms, available treatments, the engineered lactobacillus treatment designed and developed by our team, and the management of diabetes in daily life.
We hope that through the podcast, we can achieve the protection and care of marginalised diabetes stakeholders and reach out to a wider section of society.Click to listen to podcast
.
During the CCiC, we had the pleasure of meeting the team from Ocean University of China. We learned about their project, which involves the application of a new type of biology materials, Pullulan, that could potentially benefit the delivery of our engineered bacteria. We conducted a more detailed discussion on this through an online meeting. We discussed the core content of our respective projects and shared the problems encountered during our experimental progress.
Through this exchange, we not only gained valuable advice and feedback but also explored potential opportunities for peripheral cooperation. We look forward to integrating this new material into our project in the future and maintaining contact with them to jointly promote innovation and application in synthetic biology.
In order to deeply explore the current social medical security system faced by diabetes patients in China and its actual operation, the AFMU-China team carefully planned and implemented a targeted interview activity, the interview target is the professional in charge of claims settlement of the Langfang branch of Taiping Life Insurance Co., LTD. Through in-depth interviews, we were able to gain a detailed understanding of the healthcare challenges faced by people with diabetes and the different steps they may take in the insurance claims process from the perspective of front-line workers.
In the domestic medical insurance system, the insurance policy for diabetic patients sets different reimbursement standards and compensation ratios according to the severity of the disease and complications. For patients diagnosed with diabetes, the medical insurance will cover part of the cost of drugs, especially for basic hypoglycemic drugs and related drugs for the treatment of some complications. For patients who use more expensive imported drugs or require long-term insulin therapy, insurance may not be able to fully cover the full cost, where commercial insurance plays an important role.
In commercial insurance companies such as Langfang Central Branch of Taiping Life Insurance Co., LTD., there are a wide variety of protection products for diabetic patients, including but not limited to specific disease insurance, hospitalization medical insurance and chronic disease management services. When buying a specific disease insurance for diabetic patients, once a specific type of diabetic complication is diagnosed (such as diabetic foot, diabetic kidney disease, etc.), the insurance company will provide additional compensation according to the contract. For inpatient medical insurance, as long as the medical expenses incurred by the hospitalization of diabetic patients due to diabetes-related complications reach the minimum payment line, the insurance company will reimburse the hospitalization expenses in accordance with the proportion agreed on in the contract.
Society's attention and help for diabetes patients are increasing day by day, and the prospect is broad. However, how to further improve the level of medical insurance treatment, optimize insurance products and services, and reduce the burden of patients is still a problem to be solved. To this end, industry experts call on the government, medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies and all sectors of society to work together to create a more friendly medical environment for diabetes patients.
FIST's investigation of engineered lactic acid bacteria products covers Shandong, Fujian, Sichuan, Henan, Liaoning and other provinces, showing that the product has a wide range of geographical adaptability. This shows that the product can be effectively used in different geographical environments to meet the needs of consumers in different regions.
Post-use satisfaction Most users have a high overall satisfaction with the product. For example, users 27 and 92 both said they were "very satisfied," and although there were individual users (such as user 53) who said they were "very dissatisfied," the overall feedback was positive.
Most users (e.g. 53, 92, 98) reported a decrease in blood sugar levels after using FIST, which directly proves the positive effect of the product on blood sugar control. Even if user 27 reports a "slight rise" in blood sugar, this may be the result of individual differences or not fully following the recommendations for use.
Some users (e.g. 53, 98, 103) also reported other health improvements, such as improved digestion and immunity, which further demonstrated the overall health benefits of the product.
A number of improvements were suggested in user feedback, such as the aesthetics of product labels (user 27), easy storage of packaging (user 53), attractive design (user 92), innovative taste (user 131), and flexibility of customized services (users 98, 103). These suggestions provide valuable direction for the continuous optimization of the product.
Based on the above analysis, we can formulate the following acceptance criteria for FIST engineered lactic acid bacteria products:
1）Wide regional adaptability: The product should be able to maintain stable performance in different regional environments to meet the needs of consumers in different regions.
2）Significant blood sugar control effect: Most users should be able to observe a significant decrease in blood sugar level after using the product, which proves that the core function of the product is effective.
3）Comprehensive health benefits: The product should be able to bring other health improvements in addition to blood sugar control, such as improving digestion and immunity.
4）High user satisfaction: Through the collection of user feedback, the product should obtain a high overall satisfaction evaluation.
5）Continuous improvement and optimization: According to user feedback, the product should be continuously improved and optimized to improve the user experience and product performance.
To sum up, FIST engineered lactic acid bacteria products have proven their success and value in the market with their extensive geographical adaptability, significant blood sugar control effects, comprehensive health benefits and high user satisfaction. At the same time, the product team should continue to pay attention to user feedback, and constantly optimize the product to meet the needs of more consumers.
"Joining Hands in Philanthropy: Our Charitable Endeavors and Social Contributions"
As we ventured deeper into the diabetes clinic for our field visit, a heartrending panorama unfolded before our eyes, touching even the most resilient hearts.
In the dawn's early light, we encountered elderly figures shuffling along the path, each step laden with the weight of years and the struggles against illness. Their worn-out bags, perhaps the only possessions they carried, spoke of the simplicity and hardship of their lives. Their hunched backs, etched by time and countless battles with disease, served as testament to their resilience. Their dark, lined faces betrayed a mix of anxiety for the future and the heavy burden of both physical and financial strife.
We halted to engage with these seniors, and in their trembling voices, we heard stories of unwavering resilience, love for family, and a yearning for a healthier life. These encounters profoundly moved us, igniting a sense of urgency to take action – to do something tangible to bring comfort to these souls shivering in the cold and light up their journey ahead.
We envision channeling every penny our team earns, through the esteemed Xi'an Charity Federation, to those who are most in need of our assistance. We are convinced that each donation will transform into a powerful force of warmth, instilling hope and brightness into their lives.
Furthermore, we aim to collaborate with affiliated hospitals to organize regular free clinics, where professional medical teams will provide consultations and examinations.
This is a weighty responsibility, but also a noble mission. We are cognizant of the challenges ahead, yet we are unwavering in our belief that, with hearts full of love and united efforts, we can create a shelter for those in need, nurturing seeds of hope and love that will blossom into radiant flowers.
In order to realize this plan, we have forged a close partnership with the Zhang Hua Volunteer Service Team of the Air Force Medical University, collaborating intimately in their 2024 Clothing Donation Campaign, delivering warmth and care to those in need. Concurrently, we engaged in profound exchanges with the Philanthropy Association of Xi'an City and the Xi'an Branch of Rongtong Group, which not only broadened our charitable network but also laid a solid foundation for our subsequent philanthropic endeavors.
These activities not only directly benefited vulnerable groups such as elderly diabetic patients but also disseminated positive energy throughout society, inspiring more people to embrace kindness and benevolent actions.
Every step we take embodies our profound respect for life and compassion for the less fortunate. We firmly believe that through sustained efforts and unwavering dedication, we can coalesce into a formidable social force, contributing our share towards building a more harmonious and compassionate society.
E-mail: pengyuoms@fmmu.edu.cn
© 2024 - Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
The repository used to create this website is available at gitlab.igem.org/2024/afmui-china