Twelve voices from China: On publishing, community, and how the field of genomics is developing.

Jian Yang New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University Jian Yang New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University I am a statistical geneticist and a member of the Cell Genomics advisory board, working to understand the genetic and cellular architecture underlying human complex traits. Much of my academic journey has been defined by the development of statistical models and analytical methods to make sense of increasingly large genetic and genomic datasets. To me, method development is never a purely statistical or computational exercise; it is a way of addressing foundational questions in genetics, genomics, and the life sciences, of exploring the unknown and, perhaps just as importantly, of serving the research community. In my view, the strongest genomics studies over the past 5 years have paired major discoveries with rigorous, transparent methods, bringing method developers and applied biologists into the same conversation and treating open data, shared code, and reproducibility as primary outputs rather than afterthoughts. As we enter an era of ever-growing data, not only in volume but also in the variety of omics layers, we need more robust and efficient methods and shared frameworks that let method developers and wet-lab scientists, including the data generators, work together seamlessly. Over the next 5 years, I would like genomics publications to keep pace with this complexity. The gold standard, to me, is work that not only makes new discoveries but also equips the community with methods and integrated systems that deepen our collective understanding of genetics and genomics. Yong Zhang School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University Yong Zhang School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University My work asks how we can learn the combinatorial regulatory grammar of transcription factors from large-scale genomic data. One example from my lab, ChromBERT, seeks to connect foundation models with a mechanistic understanding of gene regulation, treating regulation not only as something to predict, but also as something to interpret. For those of us at the interface of genomics and artificial intelligence, this distinction matters: technically ambitious studies should be evaluated not only on predictive performance, but also on their biological relevance and methodological contribution. In the next 5 years, I think this standard will become increasingly important as the field distinguishes lasting methodological advances from improvements in benchmark performance alone. As foundation models become more widely used in genomics, it will be increasingly important to validate them carefully and to connect their predictions to biological mechanisms. I hope the field keeps making room for work that is both computationally ambitious and biologically grounded and that Cell Genomics remains an influential home for creative, forward-looking research from China and around the world. Siyang Liu Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Siyang Liu Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University When two of our studies appeared together in the same issue of Cell Genomics , they captured an important transition in our research. One presented a statistical and computational framework for repurposing low-depth sequencing data from routine non-invasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, for human genetic studies. The other applied this approach to 84 maternal plasma metabolites during pregnancy, identifying genetic associations and effects specific to the physiological context of pregnancy. Seeing the methodological foundation and its biological application published side by side was especially meaningful to me. It reflected our journey from asking whether routinely generated clinical data could be reused for research to showing what such data can reveal about maternal and lifelong health. Chinese researchers now work with clinical and genomic datasets of exceptional scale and diversity, but turning these resources into knowledge that is rigorous, reproducible, and useful beyond a single population remains a shared challenge. I value venues that welcome biological discoveries alongside the methods, datasets, and open resources that make those discoveries possible. Over the coming years, I hope to see more work connecting population-scale genomics with real-world healthcare, while encouraging broader representation of understudied populations and life stages. A genuinely international genomics community should do more than extend existing approaches to new populations; it should allow different populations and clinical contexts to reshape the questions the field asks. Yan Zheng State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Zhongshan Hospital Yan Zheng State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Zhongshan Hospital My work has focused on the genetics of circulating metabolites, but I have tried to approach it not simply as another metabolite GWAS, but as an opportunity to ask what we can learn when Chinese population data sit at the center of genetic discovery rather than serving only as a replication resource. Comparing Chinese and European populations, we saw both shared biology and population-specific genetic architecture underlying circulating metabolites and disease risk. During revision, I remember being pushed to make the cross-ancestry message clearer, not just statistically, but conceptually: why diverse populations matter for understanding disease mechanisms and for building more equitable precision medicine. That process made the final story much stronger. From the perspective of a Chinese author, the past few years have been especially exciting. Chinese cohorts are becoming deeper, more longitudinal, and more multi-omic, and many young investigators are working to connect population evidence with biology and clinical translation. I am especially drawn to studies that do not treat ancestry diversity as an appendix, but as a scientific question in itself. In the next 5 years, I hope to see more research integrating genomics with metabolomics, microbiome studies, aging cohorts, and disease prevention, alongside greater visibility for population-based discoveries from China and other underrepresented regions. The goal is not simply to make genomics more representative, but to use population diversity to reveal biology that no single population can show us on its own. Gangqiao Zhou State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences Gangqiao Zhou State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Center for Protein Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences For years, I have returned to a question that has long puzzled me: how do Tibetans thrive in environments that challenge almost every aspect of human physiology? Instead of focusing on common adaptive genes, we traced an unexpected signal from a positive selection scan and ultimately identified the MCUR1 gene. What began with population genetics led us into single-cell transcriptomics, functional assays, and mitochondrial biology, revealing how natural selection finely tunes erythropoiesis through calcium homeostasis. Looking back, the path resembled the mountain road on our cover, winding and twisting, but ultimately opening a clearer view of how humans adapt to high altitude. That experience reflects what I value most in the literature: rich, forward-looking work that keeps me inspired and moving forward. Such studies introduce new concepts and analytical frameworks and push genetics, genomics, and molecular evolution beyond the traditional focus on individual locus identification. In recent years, progress in multi-omics analysis in extreme environments has been especially thought provoking, opening new avenues for understanding human adaptation and disease susceptibility. As genomics grows more comprehensive and mechanistic, I look forward to work that tightly integrates diverse populations, new technologies, and fundamental biological questions, helping us understand how evolution and genetics together shape human biology. Shu-Jin Luo School of Life Sciences, Peking University Shu-Jin Luo School of Life Sciences, Peking University Our work reconstructed how domestic cats reached China via Silk Road merchants during the Tang Dynasty. Before their arrival, the native leopard cat had lived alongside people in China for more than 3,500 years. On the day our paper came out, a complementary ancient genomics study traced the spread of domestic cats into Europe during the Roman period. Using comparable approaches, the two studies revealed complementary chapters of a shared global history: domestic cats originated in the Near East and subsequently spread westward into Europe and eastward into Asia alongside human societies, trade networks, and cultural exchange. This experience also made me reflect on how scientific significance is evaluated. It left me with a broader question: how can journals ensure that judgments of significance and broad interest are not shaped, often unconsciously, by familiarity with particular histories and cultures? Discoveries rooted in less familiar histories and cultures may otherwise be read as narrower than they are. As genomics increasingly reconstructs the intertwined histories of humans, domesticated species, and civilizations, I hope journals continue to assess scientific significance based on the originality of the question and the strength of the evidence, rather than on the familiarity of the history or culture involved. That is the standard I hope the field will continue to work toward, and my recent experience gives me confidence that it is possible. Hongxia Ma Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Hongxia Ma Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Working in genomics from within China, I have felt both the opportunities and the challenges of publishing in this field. On the one hand, the continued increase in research investment and ongoing improvements in research platforms and resources have enabled us to produce work of high quality. On the other hand, the bar at leading international journals remains high, and in peer review we sometimes encounter assumptions about our research background or our interpretation of the data. As a result, we may need to devote additional effort to explaining our research context and supporting our interpretation of the evidence. What has mattered most in my own experience is being met by editors and reviewers who engage with the science on its own terms and respect the scientific context a study comes from. That kind of engagement does more than improve a single manuscript; it signals to a whole community which questions and datasets are recognized as part of the field. Over the next 5 years, I hope the field continues to lower these implicit barriers, judging Chinese work by its rigor and originality and expanding two-way exchanges, in print and in person, through which different perspectives can meet and inform one another. For genomics to become truly global, rigorous evaluation must be matched by an openness to understanding the different scientific contexts in which research is conducted. Chaoyang Sun Department of General Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Chaoyang Sun Department of General Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Our study set out to map the molecular landscape of HPV integration in cervical cancer. Looking back on the review and revision process, I was particularly impressed by the attention given to both the scientific conclusions and the clarity with which they were communicated. We had written that HPV integration breakpoints were distributed across all chromosomes except the Y chromosome. The editors suggested that we rephrase our statement to make clear that our cohort was entirely female and that, as a result, no breakpoints on the Y chromosome could be observed. It was a seemingly minor edit, but it reminded us of the importance of precise scientific wording. Similar attention to figure legends, color coding, and undefined acronyms made the paper clearer and more rigorous. Rigor in genomics is not only statistical; it also depends on whether readers can understand exactly what was done and in whom. As genomic datasets and analyses grow more complex, this attention to clarity will matter more, and it is something authors, reviewers, and editors must build together. Looking ahead, I hope that the coming years bring more ambitious cancer genomics from China and around the world, accompanied by a shared commitment to communicating complex data clearly enough to inform further research, precision medicine, and patient care. Kai Ye School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University Kai Ye School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University My experience with Cell Genomics spans two quite different projects. In 2024, we published a study on the dynamic evolution of chromosomes and centromeres in plant genomes. In 2025, we published a second study addressing the challenge of gene selection in spatial omics, which has since drawn positive responses from the research community. Although the two studies asked very different questions, both benefited from timely feedback and a professional review process that engaged seriously with the science. Across these submissions, I valued the consistency of the editorial communication and the journal’s willingness to engage directly with researchers in China. For me, the experience showed that the breadth of a genomics journal lies not only in the range of subjects it publishes, but also in its ability to recognize and evaluate strong work across very different areas. In the years ahead, I hope this kind of professional collaboration continues to support the full breadth of genomics, from fundamental questions in genome evolution to emerging analytical methods, while giving researchers across the region greater confidence that scientifically strong work can be recognized in its many different forms. Y.M. Dennis Lo Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Y.M. Dennis Lo Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong I have worked on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) since 1997. My group has developed non-invasive prenatal testing and contributed to the first multi-cancer early-detection test. My engagement with Cell Genomics began in 2024, when Laura Zahn visited the Chinese University of Hong Kong and we discussed the journal’s broad view of genomics, spanning fundamental biology and clinical research. That conversation stayed with me, and when my group later completed a study taking a more holistic approach to cell-free DNA fragmentation, I felt that the work fit naturally within that scope. Much of the cfDNA field has focused on diagnostic applications, while technical approaches have often examined only selected features of the fragmentation signal. We examined both the 5′ and 3′ ends of cell-free DNA, on both strands, as well as the regions before and after each fragmentation site. We hoped this fuller view would reveal less explored aspects of cfDNA fragmentation and eventually enable new forms of liquid biopsy. What I value in the journal is its willingness to make room for both sides of the field: understanding the underlying biology of cell-free DNA and exploring its clinical possibilities. Such a healthy mix of basic and translational research is essential to the vitality of the field, because each gives the other new questions and new possibilities. Over the next 5 years, I hope Cell Genomics continues to bring these two sides together, because today’s basic insight is often the beginning of tomorrow’s diagnostic. Xiaoyue Wang Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Xiaoyue Wang Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences When our endometriosis paper was published in Cell Genomics in early 2025, it led to some of the most memorable and unexpected moments of my research life. After I shared the paper on my WeChat Moments, several people I knew messaged me privately: “I saw your paper. I’ve lived with endometriosis for years. Is there any hope for new treatments?” In the paper, I had written that the disease affects up to one in ten reproductive-age women. Only then did I fully realize what that number meant: the “one in ten” included people around me, and they are waiting for better options. That exchange changed how I understand my own work. Publishing is not just a conversation among researchers, and genomics is not only about data; it is, ultimately, for people. Looking ahead, I hope Cell Genomics continues to be a place where genomics and patient health meet, and where the questions we ask remain connected to the people behind the numbers, including the one in ten still waiting for better options. Lei Wang The Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University Lei Wang The Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University My work has focused on understanding the genetic causes of defects affecting human oocytes, fertilization, and early embryonic development. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has made it possible to assess these processes directly, yet the causes of many failures have remained unknown. As a result, many patients undergo repeated IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts without a molecular diagnosis that can explain why these attempts fail. In 2016, we found that mutations in TUBB8 , a primate-specific gene, cause oocyte maturation arrest and account for about one-third of such cases. This discovery suggested that a much broader landscape of Mendelian defects in human reproduction remained to be mapped. The critical question was what proportion of cases in the wider clinical population could be explained genetically. That question led to the study we later published in Cell Genomics , in which we sequenced the exomes of 3,627 patients with oocyte or embryo defects. We achieved a diagnostic yield of 13.2% and identified 123 novel candidate genes, providing a more systematic view of the genetic architecture underlying these conditions. Over the next 5 years, I hope work in this area continues to move from describing clinical failure toward identifying its molecular causes and exploring potential therapeutic strategies. A genetic diagnosis cannot by itself provide a treatment, but it can replace uncertainty with an explanation. I think the broader promise of genomics is not simply to identify more genes, but to turn unexplained failure from an endpoint into a question that medicine can begin to answer, ultimately providing a stronger foundation for more precise and personalized patient care.

Generative AI was used to assist with organizing, editing, streamlining, and reducing repetition across draft materials provided by the contributors. The resulting text and titles were subsequently reviewed, revised, and finalized by the editorial team. Each named contributor reviewed and approved the text of their section, corrected it where necessary, and takes responsibility for the accuracy and views expressed.

J.Y. is a member of the advisory board of Cell Genomics . Y.M.D.L. is a shareholder of Insighta and the Take2 Group and an inventor of patents or patent applications that have been licensed to, and received license income from, Grail, Illumina, Labcorp, Pacific Biosciences, Xcelom, Insighta, and Take2.