Core Viewpoint - The establishment of the Life Sciences Open Alliance aims to enhance international collaboration in talent cultivation, innovative research, resource sharing, and multi-modal transformation in the life sciences sector [3]. Group 1: Alliance Formation - The Life Sciences Open Alliance was launched on August 12, 2025, involving nine high-level universities and research institutions from mainland China and six universities from Hong Kong and Macau [3]. - The initial focus of the alliance will be on high-level international journals, research data sharing platforms, and biological resource repositories [3]. Group 2: Journal Development - West Lake University has initiated a new journal named "Vita," which will adopt an open access model and aims to become a leading international academic journal in the life sciences [6]. - The journal "Vita" will be led by prominent figures in the field, including the former editor-in-chief of "Cell Research," Li Dangsheng, and the president of West Lake University, Shi Yigong [3][6]. Group 3: Academic Publishing Landscape - China has surpassed the United States in the total number of published papers, ranking second in high-level papers globally [6]. - Despite the increase in domestic publications, many researchers still prefer to publish in internationally recognized journals like Nature, Science, and Cell due to the limited number of influential domestic journals [6]. - "Cell Research," founded in 1990, has evolved significantly, achieving an impact factor of over 20 by 2020, making it one of the most influential life sciences journals in Asia [9].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the leadership transition at the journal Cell Research, highlighting the achievements of former editor Li Dangsheng and the appointment of Li Lin and Xu Chenqi as new editors [2][6]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Li Dangsheng has stepped down as the editor-in-chief of Cell Research and Cell Discovery, with Li Lin taking over as editor-in-chief and Xu Chenqi as executive editor [2]. - Li Dangsheng has been instrumental in the development of Cell Research since 2006, leading to significant increases in its impact factor [6]. Group 2: Impact and Achievements - Cell Research was founded in 1990 and faced challenges in its early years, achieving its first impact factor only 11 years after its inception [6]. - Under Li Dangsheng's leadership, the journal's impact factor rose from 2.161 in 2006 to over 20 in 2020, making it the highest-impact life sciences journal in Asia [6]. - The establishment of a professional editorial team and the introduction of "green" and "fast track" publication channels have enhanced the journal's reputation and attracted submissions from both domestic and international scientists [6][8]. Group 3: Notable Publications - A significant example of the journal's impact is the 2012 publication by Professor Zhang Chenyu, which became one of the most cited papers in China and marked a milestone in the journal's history [7][8]. - Following the success of Cell Research, Li Dangsheng initiated the creation of Cell Discovery, which launched in 2015 [8]. Group 4: Future Directions - After stepping down, Li Dangsheng will serve as the Chief Scientist at the Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences, focusing on identifying suitable candidates for research positions in life sciences [9]. - The Shanghai Academy aims to support high-risk, high-value basic research and foster a culture of scientific exploration [9].