The next day.

9 AM.

Zhao Heng arrived once again at the research institute of Professor Li Hongwei in the Yanjing University School of Life Sciences.

Standing inside the laboratory, Zhao Heng looked at the electronic screen in front of him. The images displayed there were the latest research achievement from Professor Li Hongwei's team: using chemical small molecules to establish in vitro stem cells with pluripotency characteristics (EPS cells) for the first time. These cells have a stronger developmental potential and will provide a better source for the in vitro preparation of various mature functional cell types.

"Professor, are these the latest EPS cells with pluripotency characteristics? It's truly astonishing."

Looking at the electronic screen, Zhao Heng couldn't help but praise. The thought that this was a product independently developed by Chinese scientists filled him with pride.

He wondered when he would be able to independently develop such scientific achievements as well.

At this moment, Zhao Heng couldn't help but think.

"Yes, it's been twenty years, and the EPS cells are finally developed."

Professor Li Hongwei also remarked with great emotion.

He is now fifty years old. This achievement started when he was thirty, working alongside his mentor. After two generations of effort, this result finally came to fruition. Scientific research is incredibly challenging.

"Currently, these are just first-generation cells. Xiao Zhao, this project needs talents like you to join. If we exert more effort, we can research second- or even third-generation cells, which will soon be ready for clinical application. In the future, we will use these pluripotent EPS cells to differentiate and prepare functional blood cells, islet cells, liver cells, and combine them with gene editing technology to create new anti-tumor CAR-T cells."

After a pause, Professor Li Hongwei spoke again with great ambition.

Upon hearing his enthusiastic words, Zhao Heng was also inspired and deeply moved.

"Professor, it's my honor to be a part of this kind of project. I will give it my all."

Zhao Heng said earnestly.

He was genuinely speaking from the heart, for participating in such a project, which could be considered great, was in itself a very honorable credential.

Furthermore, up till now, Zhao Heng had only picked up the skill of "Cell Fate Regulation" from Professor Li Hongwei. For a professor like Li Hongwei, he obviously had more than just this skill.

Nonetheless, this situation made Zhao Heng's time even tighter.

"Great, Xiao Zhao, I have high hopes for you. In the future, this field might be handed over to you."

Professor Li Hongwei had an extremely high regard for Zhao Heng, almost seeing him as a future successor.

Such high praise was something Professor Li Hongwei had never bestowed upon any young scientist before. Considering that Yanjing University is one of the nation's top universities, filled with countless geniuses, none had received such an acclaim from Professor Li Hongwei. It shows just how high his expectations and standards are.

"Thank you, Professor, I will work hard."

Feeling particularly proud on one hand for being valued so highly by Professor Li Hongwei, Zhao Heng also felt the pressure on the other.

Regarding this, just looking at the eyes of other doctoral students working under Professor Li Hongwei in the laboratory can tell you.

Being a doctoral student under Professor Li Hongwei typically meant being among the elites, yet none received such a high appraisal.

With the advent of EPS cells, the matter of Professor Li Hongwei becoming an academician was practically guaranteed.

In the future, within the field of life sciences in the country, Professor Li Hongwei would become an absolute authority. To receive such attention from Professor Li Hongwei at this time was akin to reaching the pinnacle instantly.

No wonder other doctoral students were looking at Zhao Heng with eyes full of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"Professor, now that the first generation EPS cells have been developed, the next research direction is to integrate EPS cells into early embryos, allowing them to participate in the development of all cell lineages of the embryo, right?"

After a moment of thought, Zhao Heng expressed his idea.

"Yes, Xiao Zhao, you are correct. But currently, the developmental potential of first-generation EPS cells is limited to intraembryonic tissues, making it difficult to develop into extraembryonic tissues like the placenta or yolk sac. In the future, our primary focus will be on how to establish and maintain a stem cell line with both intraembryonic and extraembryonic developmental potential in vitro, which is one of the most challenging problems in the current global stem cell research field."

Professor Li Hongwei admired Zhao Heng's idea and slowly responded.

"So it's a long journey ahead."

Zhao Heng nodded in agreement.

Scientific research is an endless pursuit, especially in the current scientific community where developing an entirely new result is exceedingly difficult.

"Indeed, up till now, we have successfully injected human EPS cells into early-stage mouse embryos, allowing them to stably integrate into mouse intraembryonic tissues. The efficiency of intraembryonic integration has improved by about twenty times compared to before, but to apply this to humans or even clinically, there's still a long way to go."

Professor Li Hongwei slowly stated.

Afterward, Zhao Heng, as an assistant to Professor Li Hongwei, continued participating in the development of first-generation EPS cells.

By eleven-thirty, their session for that morning had concluded.

Zhao Heng had only spent the morning at Professor Li Hongwei's; in the afternoon, he needed to hurry back to the hospital to work.

Before leaving, Professor Li Hongwei said to Zhao Heng, "Xiao Zhao, running back and forth like this is really exhausting. Why don't I talk to your dean about having you stationed here permanently?"

Professor Li Hongwei truly admired Zhao Heng. On one hand, Zhao Heng's capabilities were surprisingly beyond what his age should encompass. On the other hand, Zhao Heng's attitude was also extremely upright; in work, Zhao Heng was extremely serious and responsible, which made Professor Li Hongwei very reluctant to part with such a good assistant.

"Professor, I really can't abandon my work at the hospital right now."

In response to Professor Li Hongwei's undeniable admiration and invitation, Zhao Heng could only politely refuse.

It was impossible for him to give up his work at the hospital; treating and saving lives was the reason he studied medicine.

"You young people have your own ideas, and that's good."

Seeing Zhao Heng's insistence, Professor Li Hongwei didn't push further, though there was a sense of regret. If Zhao Heng were to be permanently stationed there, his research efficiency would be at least doubled.

"Professor, I have a question."

About to leave, Zhao Heng finally posed his inquiry to Professor Li Hongwei.

This time, the achievements that Professor Li Hongwei brought out had greatly shocked Zhao Heng, prompting him to finally remember to ask about the expert in targeted gene therapy.

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