Cambridge-Nanjing Forum 2025 Highlights Global Advances in Sleep Health and Innovation
The Cambridge Nanjing Forum 2025, 'Sleep Health and Clinical Monitoring and Treatment'was successfully held in Nanjing, spotlighting the pressing global public health issue of sleep disorders under this year’s World Sleep Day theme: “Healthy Sleep, A Priority for All.”
Jointly hosted by the Cambridge University, Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation (CUNJC) and Nanjing Brain Hospital, the event gathered over 80 in-person attendees and 500 online participants. Leading scholars, clinicians, and policymakers from top Sino-British institutions, including the University of Cambridge, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Fudan University, and Nanjing Medical University, explored the latest innovations in sleep monitoring, intervention, and treatment.
The forum featured site visits to Nanjing Brain Hospital and in-depth seminars on wearable technologies, AI-powered diagnostics, and the neurological underpinnings of sleep disorders. Notable speakers included Ryan Burtonwood, British Consul in Shanghai; Prof. Daping Chu, Tenured Chair Professor at Cambridge and CEO of the CUNJC; and Prof Li. Zhang, Deputy Dean of Nanjing Brain Hospital.
Key research presented included:
Smart wearable garments for sleep apnea detection, integrating bio-inspired nanotech and AI, presented by Prof. Luigi G. Occhipinti (University of Cambridge).
A one-stop Sleep Medicine Centre and AI-enabled early screening for neurodegenerative risks, introduced by Prof Li. Zhang (Nanjing Brain Hospital).
AI algorithms for automatic sleep staging without manual input, developed by Prof. Yina Wei (Fudan University).
Efficient, home-based sleep apnea diagnostics shared by Dr. Ian Smith (Royal Papworth Hospital).
Insights into the glymphatic system’s role in clearing brain waste during sleep, shared by Dr. Ming Xiao (Nanjing Medical University).
Machine learning models for single-channel EEG analysis, advancing accessible sleep support, presented by Haochen Liu (University of Cambridge).
Officials from both countries highlighted the importance of UK-China cooperation in science and innovation. Jie Yin, Deputy Director-General of Nanjing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, emphasized the forum as a successful case of deep international collaboration.
In closing, Prof. Daping Chu stated, “This convergence of medicine, engineering, and AI offers powerful tools to tackle complex health issues like sleep disorders. This forum exemplifies our shared commitment to building solutions for global well-being.”
As Nanjing positions itself as a leading hub for biotech and health innovation, the forum marked a significant step in translating scientific research into practical, scalable healthcare solutions.
You can access the full article here: 活动回顾｜智启健康未来，“剑桥南京论坛2025——睡眠健康与临床监测和治疗”成功举办