Qingdao University of Science and Technology has established a biomedical research studio named after Nobel laureate Randy W. Schekman, marking a new step in the city's efforts to advance biomedical innovation.

Schekman, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who shared the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries in cellular transport, attended the signing and unveiling ceremony on Oct 21.

Jointly established by the university, the Qingdao municipal government, and industry partners, the studio aims to translate scientific discoveries into practical applications and promote international research collaboration. Its research will focus on exosome-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, nerve injuries, and autoimmune disorders, as well as exosome-mediated drug delivery and personalized mRNA cancer vaccines.

Schekman, appointed honorary dean of the university's Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technology in 2025, said the studio would provide young researchers and students with opportunities to explore emerging fields in biomedical science.

The initiative builds on existing collaboration between Schekman's team and local researchers, whose exosome-related technologies have reached the pilot production stage.

The studio is expected to enhance Qingdao's biomedical research capabilities, attract international talent, and accelerate the translation of scientific advances into clinical and commercial applications.