From July 4th to 5th, the "China Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (CALAS) Symposium on Laboratory Animal Model Standards & 2025 Annual Meeting of the Working Committee on Identification and Evaluation of Laboratory Animal Models" was successfully held at the Ningbo Academician Center. The event was co-hosted by the China Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (CALAS) and the National Technical Committee on Laboratory Animals of Standardization, and jointly organized by the Committee on Identification and Evaluation of Laboratory Animal Models of CALAS, the Institute of New Drug Technology of Ningbo University, and the Laboratory Animal Center of Ningbo University.

Attendees at the opening ceremony included academician Zhao Yufen of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the Institute of New Drug Technology; Ni Yuezhong, member of the Party Leadership Group and Second-level Inspector of the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology; Wang Xiangdong, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy District Governor of Yinzhou District, Ningbo City; Liu Xinmin, Chairman of the Committee on Identification and Evaluation of Laboratory Animal Models of CALAS, Chief Scientist and Professor of the Institute of New Drug Technology; Liu Jiangning, Secretary-General of the National Technical Committee on Laboratory Animals of Standardization; Xu Menghui, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Division; and Jin Xiaofeng, Academic Deputy Director of the Medical Department. Nearly 200 experts and scholars from fields related to laboratory animal model research participated in the conference.

At the opening ceremony, Liu Xinmin delivered a speech on behalf of the host units. He stated that laboratory animal models are indispensable strategic resources for biomedical research, and the development of their standardization is of great significance for advancing new drug research and development and progress in the field of life sciences in China. He expressed the hope that through this conference, communication and collaboration would be further strengthened, and joint discussions would be held on new ideas, methods, and standards for the identification and evaluation of laboratory animal models, so as to contribute wisdom and efforts to the standardization of laboratory animal models in China.

Zhao Yufen, Wang Xiangdong, Liu Jiangning, Ni Yuezhong, Jin Xiaofeng, and other attendees also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. They all affirmed the conference's role in promoting the development of Ningbo's biomedical industry and expressed expectations that standards would serve as a link to promote in-depth integration of industry, academia, and research, thereby injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of the industry.

During the conference, experts and scholars from various fields conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as the identification and evaluation of laboratory animal models, the construction and application of models, and the formulation of relevant standards. The reports not only showcased the latest progress in China's laboratory animal model research but also provided valuable references for future research directions.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Mei Qibing from Southwest Medical University highly praised the conference. He noted that the conference featured high-level reports, wide coverage, and in-depth exchanges. It not only focused on presenting the latest progress in China's laboratory animal model research but also clarified the priorities for future standard formulation and directions for technological innovation through the collision of ideas.

The successful holding of this conference demonstrates the core role of the China Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (CALAS) and its branches in leading the development of the national laboratory animal discipline and promoting standardization. All parties look forward to taking this conference as a starting point to continuously deepen cooperation and jointly write a brilliant new chapter in China's laboratory animal model cause.