How the body converts food into energy and its impact on conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes is the focus of a new joint laboratory between the University of Aberdeen and The Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The new International Joint Laboratory for Energy Metabolism based in China’s third most populous city,will serve as a collaborative hub for cutting‑edge research in this important area.
Energy metabolism research explores how the body converts food and oxygen into the energy needed for every essential function, from movement to brain activity, and why these processes sometimes go wrong.
By uncovering the mechanisms that drive metabolic efficiency and imbalance, scientists can better understand widespread conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and age‑related decline.
This work underpins the development of improved treatments, more effective prevention strategies, and evidence‑based public‑health guidance.
The Lab will draw on the complementary expertise of both institutions to advance joint scientific inquiry, develop talent, and strengthen academic exchange.
The Joint Laboratory, co-established by SIAT’s Center for Energy Metabolism and Reproduction under the Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology (IBB) and the University of Aberdeen, is directed by Professor John Roger Speakman, an internationally renowned expert in energy metabolism. Professor Xueying Zhang and Dr Catherine Hambly serve as Deputy Directors.
The project is supported by a grant provided by SIAT to the sum of around £65,000 (600,000 CNY) from April 2026 to April 2028.
In his welcome address, Prof. Dong Liang, Vice President of SIAT, noted that the establishment of the Joint Laboratory marks a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between SIAT and the University of Aberdeen, providing a robust platform for deepened collaboration in energy metabolism research with the potential to generate findings of international impact.
Professor Ben Tatler, Dean for Research, University of Aberdeen, said: “The establishment of this international joint laboratory, led by Professor John Speakman, demonstrates the University of Aberdeen’s long-standing commitment to world‑class, collaborative research and global partnerships.
“Working in collaboration with the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, we are creating new opportunities to advance understanding of energy metabolism, and we look forward to the scientific and societal impact this will deliver over the coming years.”
Sarah Mann, British Consul General in Guangzhou, attended the unveiling and plaque-presentation ceremony. She spoke highly of the scientific collaboration between China and the United Kingdom, and expressed recognition of the joint laboratory’s positive role in promoting international scientific and technological exchange.