Life is the most complex form of material motion. From the very micro to the very macro, life spans 10 scales of time and space. In the eyes of biologists, cells, brains, human bodies, and so on are all comparable to small universes, possibly more complex than the celestial universe in the eyes of astronomers. The exploration of major fundamental issues in life science, such as the origin of life, the origin of humanity, and the nature of consciousness, has always been at the forefront of the discipline.

Life and health are the eternal theme of social progress and development. Birth, aging, illness, and death are closely related to each of us. Major diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, Alzheimer's disease, immune and infectious diseases are constantly threatening people. Life and health are the cornerstone of all social activities, and solving life and health issues is the most fundamental prerequisite for human survival and civilized development.

Since the middle of the 20th century, with the in-depth cross development of life sciences with various basic disciplines, many branches of science have emerged. Emerging disciplines such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have continuously risen and developed rapidly. A series of large-scale scientific research projects have been initiated and implemented internationally, including the Human Genome Project, the Human Proteome Project, the Human Brain Project, the Human Cell Map Project, and the Human Phenotypic Group Project. At the same time, driven by new technologies such as computer technology, information technology, and artificial intelligence, it is possible to observe thousands of variables at a time, see changes in all genes and proteins, and conduct joint analysis in multiple genomics. As a result, systems biology, integrated physiology, and integrated biology have emerged, expanding the breadth and depth of life science research unprecedentedly, triggering a paradigm shift in biomedical research, The research method of life science has also risen from reductionism to holism. This has also entered the "big science" era of life science.

The changes in methodology and research paradigm inevitably require higher research tools and means. The competition in the "big science" era of life science is essentially the competition of research tools and means. Technological breakthroughs and tool innovation have always been the core driving force for the progress of life sciences. Taking imaging technology as an example, over the past 120 years, from X-ray imaging, CT computed tomography, to magnetic resonance and positron emission imaging, to the recent ultra-high resolution imaging and freeze electron microscopy technologies, each major technological revolution has greatly improved the research level of life science and the depth of understanding of the principles of life.

Big science facilities are new research tools that emerged in the era of "big science". With the help of new research tools, it is expected to comprehensively reveal the principles of life and the mechanisms of occurrence, development, and prognosis of diseases at multiple levels, including micro, mesoscopic, and macro levels, and explore the mysteries of life.

The future has come, and the "big science" era of life science has begun. Peking University National Biomedical Imaging Science Center will be committed to conducting "big science" research, cultivating "big science" talents, creating a "technology carrier" for life science, and striving to make contributions to expanding new tools and methods for life science research and solving key core issues in life science.