Goethe once said, "Conformity is always the highest need of all good-minded people." Collaboration is also one of the principles that iGEM participants follow carefully, and it has deeply influenced the exploration path of successive iGEMers. Collaboration with other iGEM teams can simplify complex problems and enable the development of collective wisdom to find the best solution, which is the embodiment of the efficiency, vitality, and innovation of an iGEM team. This year, we have established a solid collaborative partnership with NMU-China, and the two teams are working hand in hand to create a new chapter in problem solving, innovation and development.

In early April this year, ZJUintl-China initially established the project of Ambrosia-T, aiming to design and assemble CAR-T cells to target and kill organ senescent cells to reverse aging-related phenotypes (represented by liver fibrosis and cardiac fibrosis). During the group chat of iGEM China, we found NMU-China, which is like our project, so the leaders of both teams contacted and had preliminary communication. We established a communication group of both teams, and then carried out a meeting and exchange meeting for all members of both teams to fully present the research content. We are very honored to have NMU-China actively communicate with us, which is one of the reasons why our team was able to successfully complete the IGEM-Ambrosia-T project.

In the process of plasmid construction, we designed the IL-6R gene and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) gene in the negative feedback mechanism into a plasmid and found that the transfected cells basically expressed only IL-6R but not CAR. We have tried many ways to solve this intractable problem, but we have not found the root of the problem. Later, we sought help from the NMU-China. After careful consideration by the NMU-China wet experiment team, we found that the MND activity of the IL-6R gene promoter was much higher than that of the CAR gene promoter SV40. After finding the problem, through the redesign of our wet experiment team and the discussion with NMU-China, we redesigned two schemes: 1. The promoter of the CAR gene was changed to the more active p2A. 2. The promoter of IL-6R gene was changed to CMV to enable the normal expression of CAR. This collaboration provided a lot of help for the normal operation of our experiment, and deepened the tacit understanding and cooperation between the two teams.

Synthetic biology, as a new and vigorous discipline, is growing in constant exploration. Based on the history of synthetic biology over the past 20 years, synthetic biology has its own ideas, basic technological developments, and permeated many different application fields. To make the synthetic biology knowledge map more comprehensive and innovative, we invited NMU-China and five other teams to jointly write the "Co-create Map" on synthetic biology. NMU-China is responsible for the improvement of synthetic biology cross information in "Co-create Atlas" and has achieved good results.

This year, ZJUintl-China and NMU-China partnered to establish a "solid, reliable and mutually beneficial alliance" to encourage both teams to participate in this partnership actively and fully. Our collaboration, to a large extent, has solved the various problems and disputes we have encountered, and made our values converge. We fully practiced the spirit of collaboration advocated by iGEM and paid more attention to and respect for each member in the process of collaboration, which also improved the overall efficiency of our two teams. Our collaboration is making the broader picture of synthetic biology clearer, and we hope that our two teams will achieve satisfactory results this year. Finally, we'd like to give a special thanks to NMU-China, have fun!