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The mini-review stemmed from a recent meeting on national aging research strategies in China discusses the components and challenges of aging research in China. Highlighted are the major efforts of a number of research teams, funding situations and outstanding examples of recent major research achievements. Finally, authors discuss potential targets and strategies of aging research in China.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can have a range of debilitating effects and permanently alter the capabilities and quality of life of survivors. The first specialized centers of care for SCI were established in 1944 and since then an increasing amount of research has been carried out in this area. Despite this, the present treatment and care levels for SCI are not comparable to those in other areas of medicine. In the clinic, the aim of SCI treatment is primarily to limit secondary damage by reducing compression in trauma spots and stabilizing the spinal column. Currently, no effective strategy for functional recovery is offered. In this review, we focus on research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying SCI, and assess the treatment outcomes of SCI in animal models, i.e., neurotrophins and stem cells are discussed as pre-clinical therapies in animal models. We also assess the resources available and national research projects carried out on SCI in China in recent years, as well as making recommendations for the future allocation of funds in this area.

The percentage of elderly people in the world is increasing at an unprecedented pace; so it is in China, which has the world's largest population and a high ratio of the seniors (aged 60 and above) to working-age adults. The growing elderly population is presenting a major social challenge. Accordingly, it is not only imperative as a national strategic demand but also promises great scientific values to understand the biological process of aging, explore the mystery of healthy aging, delay the aging process, and treat the age-related diseases. This Perspective summarizes past and present advances of the basic and translational aging research in China and offers perspectives on future endeavors in this area. Based on a national survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, China's elderly population (aged 60 and above) had reached 249 million by the end of 2018, making up about 17.9% of the total population; those aged 65 and above totaled 167 million, accounting for 11.9% of the total population. The 2013 "China Aging Development Report" pointed out that the severity of the aging problems in China was unprecedented. Population aging is accompanied by increased prevalence of various age-related chronic diseases. The cost of healthcare for the elderlies is imposing a heavy financial burden both on the elderlies and their families as well as on society as a whole. It is of great social significance to achieve healthy aging to reduce medical expenses and increase productive engagement of elderly population. The history of aging research in China can be traced back to early 1980s, Chinese scientists began to decode aging. Prof. Tanjun Tong's team discovered the relationship between P16 and telomeres, unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which P16 regulates cellular senescence, and identified genetic indicators and quantitative indices for estimating the "age" of human cells, including telomere length, cell proliferative capacity, senescence-associated βgalactosidase activity, advanced glycation end products, DNA damage repair ability, DNA methylation degree, mitochondrial DNA deletion, and α-2-macroglobulin protein level

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