Lei Ma
Principal Investigator / Assistant Professor / Ph.D. Advisor
Director, Digital Life Simulation Lab
Deputy Director, Department of Big Data and Biomedical AI, College of Future Technology, Peking University
Head of Platform IV (Trans-scale Image Data Integration), Multimodal Trans-scale Biomedical Imaging Facility
College of Future Technology, National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC), Peking University
Dr. Lei Ma is a principal investigator at the National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University. His research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and life sciences, with a particular focus on Digital Life , the construction of executable and verifiable computational models of biological systems across scales. Before joining Peking University, Dr. Ma worked at Autodesk Research, where he contributed to the development of core industrial software engines. In 2019, he founded the Life Simulation Research Center at Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, leading efforts in digital organism modeling.
His work has been published in Nature Computational Science (Cover), Cell Research (Cover), Nature Communications, National Science Review, and other leading journals, with more than 90 publications and accepted papers, including 50 as first or corresponding author (as of October 2026). His work aims to advance a shift from predictive AI for biology toward reconstructive models of living systems—systems that can generate, simulate, and explain biological function through structure and interaction. He is a recipient of the Beijing Outstanding Youth Fund, and has been recognized as a BAAI Scholar, Berggruen Fellow, and Bayer Investigator.
Recent highlights include national media coverage by CCTV News Live on the Digital Worm project, a follow-up CCTV-featured story on the Multimodal Trans-scale Biomedical Imaging Facility as core infrastructure for digital life research, and recognition as a 2025 Bayer Investigator. A 2026 international review, The embodied brain (preprint), highlights BAAIWorm as a paper of outstanding interest. The October 2026 Science and Technology Daily feature connects the team’s Digital Worm and digital kidney research with VITAL. More public coverage is collected on the Media page.
Research
| Digital Worm (BAAIWorm) |
Developed BAAIWorm, a pioneering data-driven model coupling biophysically detailed neural dynamics with a muscular body and a three-dimensional fluid environment to reproduce sensorimotor behavior in a closed loop. Nature Computational Science, 2024 (Cover) [Paper] [Learn More] |
| Neural Time Computation |
Revealed system-level time computation and representation mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus through large-scale calcium imaging and machine learning. Cell Research, 2024 (Cover) [Paper] |
| GPU Brain Simulation |
Developed a GPU-accelerated computational framework bridging biophysically detailed neuron simulation and AI training, enabling efficient simulation and optimization of large-scale neural models. Nature Communications, 2023 [Paper] |
| Digital Life Infrastructure |
Leading the development and operation of NBIC Platform IV for trans-scale biomedical data integration. Co-authored the Kidney Imageomics Project initiative and contributes to the PKU-led Panoramic Digital Life international science program (VITAL). National Science Review, 2025 [Paper] [Related Coverage] |
Selected Publications
* Corresponding author, # Co-first author
Y Guo#, W Huang#, T Hu#, G Li*, Y Li, Y Hong, L Hu, X Ling, J Li*, S Chen, T Huang, L Ma*. Splats in Splats++: Robust and Generalizable 3D Gaussian Splatting Steganography. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 2026 (accepted). [Preprint]
Z Li#, Y Guo#, Y Lu, L Hu, H Rao*, S Chen*, L Ma*. LiteTex-GS: Fast and Lightweight Texturing for Gaussian Splatting. Computer Graphics Forum, 45(7): e70637, 2026. [DOI]
Y Ai#, Y Guo#, H Zhang*, L Zhou*, T Huang, W Chen, X He, P Guo, CW Lim*, L Ma*. Accelerating High-fidelity Airfoil Design via Physics-informed Video Diffusion Model. Advanced Science, 2026 (accepted). [Code]
L Hu, Y Li, M Liu, Y Guo, S Xie, W Zu, Z Ding, T Huang, L Ma*. Learn to See the Unseen in Low-Light Spike Streams. ECCV, 2026. [DOI]
M. Zhao, N. Wang, X. Jiang, X. Ma, H. Ma, G. He, K. Du, L. Ma*, T. Huang. An integrative data-driven model simulating C. elegans brain, body, and environment interactions. Nature Computational Science, 4(12): 978–990, 2024. Cover [Link]
Z. Wang, J. Yu, M. Zhai, et al., L. Ma*, W. Hu*, H. Cheng*. System-level time computation and representation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus revealed by large-scale calcium imaging and machine learning. Cell Research, 34(7): 493–503, 2024. Cover [Link]
Y. Zhang#, G. He#, L. Ma#, et al., S. Grillner, K. Du, T. Huang. A GPU-based computational framework that bridges neuron simulation and artificial intelligence. Nature Communications, 14: 5798, 2023. [Link]
F. Zhou, Z. Li, et al., B. Dong*, L. Ma*, L. Yang*. An initiative on digital nephrology: the Kidney Imageomics Project. National Science Review, 2025. [Link]
L. Chen*, L. Ma*, H. Dai, Q. Du, Y. Sun, H. Cheng*. Trans-scale bioimaging and integrative biology: on the debut of China National Biomedical Imaging Center. Science China Life Sciences, 68(12): 3495–3498, 2025. [DOI]
Recent Talks & Activities
Oct 29–30, 2026
Shuangqing–Nan’ao Young Scientists Forum / 465th Shuangqing Forum
Upcoming
Oct 24, 2026 · Wuhan, China
16th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research (CSSCR 2026)
Session talk: “构建数字生命模型之路” (Building Digital Life Models), in the “Virtual Cells and Digital Life” session.
Oct 23, 2026 · Beijing, China
“Mental Health+” Boya Interdisciplinary Innovation Forum
Keynote: “数字生命：从神经活动解码到脑—身体—环境模拟” (Digital Life: From Neural Activity Decoding to Brain–Body–Environment Simulation).
Oct 19–21, 2026 · Bordeaux, France
4th Sino-French Bioimaging Symposium
Talk: OmniEM: A Foundation Model for Unified Electron Microscopy Image
Aug 21, 2026 · Beijing, China
2026 AI for Science Congress · Panoramic Digital Life international science program session
Talk: “从跨尺度生命数据到数字生命模型” (From Multiscale Life Data to Digital Life Models).
Aug 19–21, 2026 · Huairou Science City, Beijing, China
5th Huairou Forum
Invited media interview on facility utilization and the Panoramic Digital Life international science program.
Jun 28–Jul 1, 2026 · Harnack House, Berlin, Germany
Connectomics Conference 2026
Invited talk: From Connectomes to Executable Brains.
Contact & Openings
Email: Address: National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC), Peking University Lab: maleilab.cn
We are actively recruiting postdocs, Ph.D. students, master students, and research assistants. Current focus areas: Scientific Software & Platform Engineering, Scientific Computing & Closed-loop Simulation, Biomedical AI Systems.
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