On March 25, Elsevier has officially released its 2024 Highly Cited Chinese Researchers list, recognizing three esteemed researchers from BGI Group for their significant contributions to biological sciences. Wang Jian, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BGI Group; Yang Huanming, Co-founder, Member of the Board of Directors, and Director-General of BGI; and Xu Xun, Executive Director of BGI Group and Director of BGI-Research, were named on this prestigious list. This marks the 10th consecutive year that BGI researchers have been selected for this honor.
Elsevier, a leading global academic publisher, compiles the list using data from its Scopus citation and indexing database, applying multiple metrics to systematically evaluate the research contributions and innovative value of Chinese scholars across various disciplines. The 2024 list features 6,388 researchers from 547 universities, enterprises, and research institutions, spanning 83 first-level disciplines across 10 academic fields designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education. This growth highlights the expanding research capabilities and innovative achievements of Chinese scholars.
Beyond this, BGI’s consistent recognition on other prominent platforms, such as Clarivate Analytics’ annual “Highly Cited Researchers” list, underscores the institution’s enduring influence in global scientific research. In November 2024, three BGI researchers were once again named among Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers, marking the 10th consecutive year of BGI’s inclusion on this distinguished list.
Additionally, BGI Group's leadership in the scientific community is reflected in its ranking as the top life sciences industrial organization in the Asia-Pacific region and eighth globally, according to the 2024 Nature Index. This marks the ninth consecutive year BGI has held the number one position in the Asia-Pacific region for life sciences industry institutions.
Over the years, BGI researchers have consistently demonstrated excellence in producing high-impact scientific contributions, underscoring the organization's unwavering commitment to advancing life sciences through groundbreaking discoveries and prolific academic achievements. As of March 28, 2025, BGI researchers had published an impressive total of 5,537 scientific papers, including 674 featured in 'CNNS' publications - representing the leading academic journals Cell, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Science, and their related journals - with 172 published in the flagship journals themselves. Notably, in 2024 alone, BGI Group published 465 scientific papers, 85 of which appeared in 'CNNS' publications, including 14 in the four primary journals.
BGI Group has made significant breakthroughs across multiple disciplines, including brain science, human diseases, plants and animals research evolution, and developmental biology. One of its most notable achievements in 2024 was the publication of the world’s first spatiotemporal atlas of multi-organ aging in male mice in Cell. This study, conducted in collaboration with other institutions, provides a deeper understanding of how aging affects gene expression and cell interactions within the tissue microenvironment, highlighting the potential for interventions for promoting healthy aging. Another groundbreaking research was the publication of the most comprehensive global marine microbiome database to date published in Nature. Led by BGI-Research, an international team of researchers unveiled the immense potential of marine microorganisms for scientific exploration, biotechnological, and biomedical applications.
These accomplishments are a testament to BGI’s cutting-edge technological platforms, collaborative efforts with global partners, and the dedication of its researchers. As a world leader in life sciences, BGI remains committed to driving scientific innovation, advancing collaborative research, and transforming genomic discoveries into actionable solutions that benefit humanity.