Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

BGI Group unveiled a multimodal brain-on-chip system for brain science research, its first product dedicated to research into the origins of consciousness, at its 2026 Global New Product Launch Event on Wednesday, held at the BGI Center in Shenzhen to mark the firm’s 27th anniversary.

BGI said the system is also the world’s first multimodal product in this field, filling an important gap in the industry.

For the first time, the system integrates on-chip in situ cultivation of neuronal cells, neural tissues, and brain organoids, together with electrophysiological functional interaction and optical functional interaction on a single platform. By enabling the full process of “cultivation-recording-modulation” on one chip, it allows researchers to conduct long-term, continuous, precise, and multimodal observation and regulation of the same sample.

The system provides a new technological platform for research in areas such as brain organoid development, neurological disease modeling, neuropharmacological screening, and frontier biological intelligence.

From the microscopic activity of brain organoids to the dynamic changes in an individual’s physical condition, BGI’s exploration of life signals also extends to personal health.

At the event, Wang Jian, co-founder and chairman of the board of BGI Group, said that looking to the future, BGI will continue to prioritize health, supported by more advanced and accessible life science tools and genomic foundation models, while promoting the deep integration of life sciences and clinical medicine. He noted that BGI will continue to leverage cutting-edge technologies to contribute to global life and health.

In addition to brain science, the event, under the theme “Intelligent Life · Infinite Health,” presented a series of new technologies across medical testing, active health management, companion animal health, and agricultural ecology.

Built on BGI’s 133111i active health technology platform, digital health tools presented at the event are designed to move health assessment from one-time testing toward continuous management. A key starting point is understanding inherited biological information. BGI introduced technologies that combine long-read and short-read genome sequencing to build long-term biological profiles for families, covering inherited disease risks, cancer-related risks, complex disease susceptibility, pharmacogenomics, ancestry, and physical traits.

BGI also presented a skin health management system that combines genetic, metabolic, and optical testing. By analyzing 56 key genetic sites and 243 skin classification indicators, the system is designed to better understand the inherited tendencies and acquired changes behind common skin concerns such as pigmentation, wrinkles, dryness, sensitivity, and dullness.

For companion animals, BGI presented a pet precision health management solution that brings genetic analysis and pathogen screening into everyday pet care. The solution includes a pet DNA test with more than 20 analysis modules, covering breed and lineage analysis, nutritional-requirement, comprehensive genetic disease screening, and breeding guidance.

During an interview with Shenzhen Daily, Li Bin, vice president of BGI Group, said that BGI is a life science organization committed to using genomics technologies to benefit humanity and is built on a foundation of self-developed, controllable tools and platforms.

From brain organoids to biological age, and from cloud-based research tools to nutrition, skincare, pet health, and soil ecology, the technologies presented at BGI Group’s 2026 Global New Product Launch Event demonstrate how life science is opening new possibilities for understanding life and managing health.