At the closing ceremony of the second Medical Aesthetics Innovation and Translation Conference, the Academic Committee of APAMA (Asia-Pacific Association of Medical Aesthetics) officially announced the winning projects of the 2026 Travel Grant competition. Two research projects with clear clinical translation pathways were selected. The winning scholars will receive full funding to attend the 45th Annual Conference of the ASLMS (American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery) 2026 in the United States, initiating an in-depth dialogue between Chinese technological innovation and the international academic frontier.
"You stand at the crest of the wave where medicine and technology converge, bearing the mission to advance human health." Professor Yao Min, Chair of the Conference, emphasized in her competition message. This year's competition focused on three core values: "Exploration, Translation, Responsibility," attracting hundreds of young scholars to submit innovative proposals covering cutting-edge fields such as photomedicine, regenerative materials, and intelligent diagnostics and therapeutics. She urged young explorers to directly address clinical pain points—making technology more accessible, treatment more precise, and patients better served—and called on young physicians to engage deeply with hospitals and patients, grounding technology in real needs and orienting research towards the dignity of life.
Professor Yao Min, Conference Chair, pointedly stated in her competition message, "The essence of medical innovation is breaking through cognitive boundaries." She encouraged participants to start from clinical problems and propose solutions combining scientific rigor with practical feasibility. The competition attracted over a hundred research proposals covering photomedicine, regenerative materials, intelligent diagnostics, and other frontier fields. After rigorous selection by an international judging panel chaired by Dr. Wang Ying from Harvard Medical School, two projects emerged as winners:
Dr. Zhang Yiqiu (Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University University): "Transcutaneous 650 nm Red-Light Therapy Protects Against Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Monocyte–Macrophage Reprogramming"
Dr. Wu Xianglei (Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University University): "Microneedle Fractional Radiofrequency-assisted Intralesional Corticosteroid for Hypertrophic Scars: A Novel Approach with Enhanced Efficacy and Reduced Pain".
Professor Yao Min stressed in her conference report: "The core mission of young scholars is to solve unmet clinical needs." Dr. Zhang Yiqiu's research originated from the treatment dilemma of ICU sepsis patients—with antibiotic resistance rates as high as 38.7% (2024 Lancet data), non-pharmacological interventions become key. Its breakthrough lies in using non-invasive phototherapy to overcome antibiotic resistance. "Finding new therapeutic dimensions within traditional diseases is the vitality of medical innovation," Dr. Zhang stated in her award interview. She will present this research at the ASLMS conference in 2026, showcasing China's cutting-edge exploration in the clinical translation of photomedicine. This "clinical-pain-point-driven research" model aligns perfectly with ASLMS's concept of Translational Biomicrophotonics. The research team successfully validated clinical parameters for phototherapy equipment using a human organoid infection model and is currently advancing a multicenter RCT study. Dr. Wu Xianglei's research proposes a novel insulated microneedle fractional radiofrequency (MFR) device with drug-loading capability. It synergistically enhances the efficacy of ablative fractional laser (AFL) and intralesional corticosteroid injection, offering mechanically precise depth control, reduced thermal injury risk, and minimized steroid-related complications.
Additionally, the following received Honorable Mentions:
Dr. Xie Li (West China Hospital, Sichuan University): "Radiofrequency-assisted Lidocaine delivery is an effective treatment for refractory rosacea: A Prospective, Single-center, Evaluator-blind, Randomized, Split-face Controlled Trial"
Dr. Cai Ren (Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University University): "Thermographic Differentiation of Early Arteriovenous Malformations and Port Wine Stains: A Complementary Diagnostic Approach"
Dr. Yu Shanshan (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital): "A Dermatologist's Perspective on Peptides in Skin Aging: A Global Bibliometric Analysis Over the Past 20 Years".
As a co-sponsor of the Travel Grants for 2026 APAMA-ASLMS, Ms. Chen Linyi, Founder of Wild Peony, articulated the initiative's purpose in her declaration: "This is a mission invitation to China's new generation of medical innovators. We call on young innovators to decipher clinical codes with Chinese wisdom and forge connection channels between young scholars and top-tier international academic resources." This logic of industry-academia-research collaboration forms a closed loop with the competition's theme: when clinical needs drive technology R&D and corporate resources empower academic exploration, the innovation ecosystem for medical aesthetic technology will continuously thrive. On the ASLMS 2026 stage, Chinese scholars will directly engage with cutting-edge achievements from Nobel laureate level teams and participate deeply in global dialogues on photomedicine, intelligent skin diagnostics, and other fields.
"The wisdom of youth is the core driving force for change," Professor Yao Min specifically highlighted the importance of technology translation in her message. As the Travel Grant winners embark on their journey to the US, the innovative sparks of China's young scholars will ignite for the first time under the global spotlight of ASLMS. As Professor Yao Min envisions: "Every courageous attempt is an investment in the future of medicine." The launch of this APAMA conference Travel Grant provides a new model for technology companies supporting basic research—safeguarding academic purity with reverence, and paving the path for translation with strategic vision—working together to leave a mark on the global map of medical aesthetic technology.
