Since its foundation, the Institute of Biophysics has won two first and 15 second prizes of the National Natural Science Awards, four second prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Awards, dozens of important awards of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and others at both provincial and ministerial levels.

The institute's prize-winning projects include "Artificial synthesis of yeast alanine transfer RNA", "Quantitative relationship between the modification of protein functional groups and their biological activity", "Crystal structure determination of main light-harvesting complex (LHC-II) in spinach", and "Determination of the crystal structure of pig insulin". They were selected as among the 100 major achievements at the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The research result of "Structure and Function of Eukaryotic Membrane Protein and Protein Complex" was selected as one of the 25 major scientific and technological achievements and landmarks during the 12th Five-Year Plan period of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Discoveries including key steps in human genetic material transmission and insights into the mutation characteristics and immune evasion mechanisms of the SARS-CoV-2 were selected as China's 10 top scientific advances.

The Institute has authorized and applied for more than 200 patents, and the number of published high-level papers and articles as well as their average quotation rate all stand in the forefront of national life science research institutions.

National Natural Science Award

1987 First prize

Quantitative relationship between the modification of protein functional groups and their biological activity

By Zhou Chenglu, Xu Genjun, Sun Yukun, Du Yucang, Zhao Kangyuan, Zhou Haimeng

1987 First prize (collective)

Artificial synthesis of yeast alanine transfer RNA

By Wang Debao, Wang Enbi, Zheng Keqin, Zhu Yingshu, Chen Haibao, Chen Shen, Qiu Mushui, Liang Zhenhe, Shen Qingxiang, Yang Zaixian, Hu Meihao, Wang Guihai, Wu Renlong, Yu Yunhua, Lu Yunhua, Chen Changqing

1982 Second prize

Determination of the crystal structure of pig insulin

By Liang Dongcai, Li Pengfei, Lin Zhengjiong

1987 Second prize (collective)

Chemical study of trichosanthin: primary structure, secondary structure and conformation

By Wang You, Pan Kezhen, Qian Ruiqing, Dong Yicheng, Jin Shanwei, Xia Zongxiang, Gu Ziwei, Wu Shen, Zhang Liqing, Lin yujuan, Qian Weiwei, Ni Chaozhou

1989 Second prize

Crystal structure studies of insulin and despentapeptide(B26-B30) Insulin at high resolution

By Liang Dongcai, Dai Jinbi, Chang Wenrui, Wang Dacheng, Zhang Jiping

1993 Second prize

Kinetics of substrate reaction during irreversible modification of enzyme activity

By Zhou Chenglu, Wang Zhixin, Zhao Kangyuan, Liu Wei, Tian Weixi

1995 Second prize

Formation of native insulin from the scrambled molecule by protein disulphide-isomerase

By Zhou Chenglu, Wang Zhizhen, Tang Jianguo, Hu Chaohong, Yu Xuanchuan

1995 Second prize

Establishment and application of BMI application software system for automatic analysis of biological and medical images

By Hu Kuanghu, Chen Chuanjuan, Yao Shanlin, Li Zixiao, Su Wanfang, Li Yihua, Li Pan

1999 Second prize

Conformational flexibility of enzyme active sites

By Zhou Chenglu, Zhou Junmei, Zhou Haimeng, Yao Qizhi, Fan Yingxin

2002 Second prize

Protein disulfide isomerase as an enzyme and a chaperone in protein folding

By Wang Zhizhen, Zou Chenglu, Cai Hui, Yao Yi, Song Jiuli

2008 Second prize

Molecular mechanism of vesicular exocytosis in blood glucose control

By Xu Tao, Xu Pingyong, Chen Liangyi, Wu Zhengxing, Qu Anlian

2012 Second prize

Discovery and application of the new functions of nanomaterials

By Yan Xiyun, Liang Wei, Wang Erkang, Gu Ning, Yang Dongling

2012 Second prize

Study of the acoustic communication behavior and hearing of the concave-eared torrent frog

By Shen Junxian, Xu Zhimin, Yu Zulin

2014 Second prize

Studies of the structure and function of major light-harvesting compounds in higher plants

By Chang Wenrui, Liu Zhenfeng, Kuang Yanyun, Yan Hanchi, Wang Kefen

2019 Second prize

Research on Novel Mechanisms of Depression Pathogenesis and New Antidepressant Targets

By Gao Tianming, Zhu Dongya, Cao Peng, Zhu Xinhong, Cao Xiong

2019 Second prize

Molecular Mechanisms of Multicellular Organism Cellular Autophagy and Its Relationship with Neurodegenerative Diseases

By Zhang Hong, Zhao Yan, Tian Ye, Zhao Hongyu, Li Sihui

2023 Second prize

Epigenetic Regulation Mechanisms of Cell Fate Stability and Plasticity

By Zhu Bing, Li Yingfeng, Xu Mo, Zhang Zhuqiang, Yuan Wen