Molecular Diagnostics Center

The Center for Molecular Diagnostics focuses on applying high-throughput sequencing and molecular diagnostic technologies to provide clinical tumor genetic testing services and support decision-making related to tumor molecular subtyping, treatment, and prognostic assessment. Since its establishment in November 2015, the Center has undergone multiple stages, including its initial establishment, the pilot operation and expansion of testing programs, the planning and construction of a new laboratory, and standardized departmental operations; it has now entered a mature and stable phase of operation. The Center is under the overall direction of Academician Ji Jiafu and has one executive deputy director and three part-time deputy directors, all holding senior professional titles. The Center currently has 13 full-time employees, including 2 with senior professional titles, 4 with intermediate professional titles, and 7 with junior professional titles; among them are 4 doctoral degree holders, 1 master's degree holder, and 8 bachelor's degree holders. Professor Jia Shuqin, the executive deputy director, oversees the Center's work comprehensively. Two full-time staff members report to her and are respectively responsible for scientific research and teaching, and clinical testing. The research team consists of members specializing in medicine, oncology, molecular biology, and cell biology, all of whom hold postgraduate degrees; the clinical testing team covers medicine, oncology, clinical laboratory science, clinical pathology, pharmacy, nursing, and other specialties, and all members hold bachelor's degrees or higher. With high-throughput gene sequencing technology as its core, the Center's services cover the entire tumor management continuum, including etiological prevention, early diagnosis and screening, molecular subtyping and differential diagnosis, individualized medication guidance, treatment efficacy monitoring, and prognostic assessment. Key testing programs include genetic testing related to targeted therapy; genetic testing related to chemotherapy drug sensitivity and toxic side effects; predictive indicators of immunotherapy efficacy, such as microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB); molecular residual disease testing; and genetic testing for hereditary tumor susceptibility, among others. The Center also provides professional interpretation of high-throughput sequencing results and tumor genetic counseling services. The molecular diagnostics laboratory covers approximately 350 m2 and implements strict zoning management to ensure that the extraction and library preparation of plasma and tissue samples are performed independently, eliminating cross-contamination. The laboratory is equipped with technology platforms including PCR, first-generation sequencing, and second-generation sequencing (NGS), comprehensively meeting clinical needs. Leveraging the high-throughput advantages of its second-generation sequencing platform, it also supports sequencing of research specimens within the hospital. In 2024, it successfully passed the on-site review of clinical gene amplification testing laboratories conducted by Beijing medical institutions and became a laboratory in Beijing capable of conducting in-hospital high-throughput tumor genetic testing. The Center undertakes multiple national- and provincial/ministerial-level scientific research projects, including the National Key Research and Development Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. From 2021 to 2025, its published SCI articles achieved a cumulative impact factor of 117. In addition, through participation in the compilation of monographs and consensus documents, including Clinical Genetics, Chinese Guidelines for the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors, Integrated Oncology, Chinese Guidelines for the Integrated Diagnosis and Treatment of Tumors (CACA)—Genetic Counseling, Chinese Expert Consensus on the Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Familial Hereditary Tumors, and Beijing Expert Consensus on the Standardized Clinical Application of High-Throughput Sequencing Technologies, as well as by taking the lead in organizing academic events such as the Chinese Familial Hereditary Tumor Congress, the Center has significantly enhanced its academic influence in the fields of genetic testing and molecular diagnostics.