A tripartite cooperation agreement was signed today, July 15th, between The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the People's Government of Nansha District, Guangzhou, and Guangzhou First People's Hospital. The agreement establishes the 'CUHK Greater Bay Area Clinical Research Centre (Guangzhou Nansha)', aiming to advance cross-border clinical research collaboration and medical innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This initiative seeks to enhance the region's clinical research capabilities and healthcare service quality, accelerate the development and application of innovative drugs and medical technologies, and ultimately benefit more patients. CUHK will continue to align with national development strategies and the Greater Bay Area's construction, leveraging its strengths in research, clinical practice, and education to foster regional medical synergy, innovation, and high-quality development, contributing to the Bay Area's goal of becoming an international hub for medical innovation.
The cooperation agreement was signed by Ms. Ma Jiehong, Deputy District Governor of the People's Government of Nansha District, Guangzhou; Professor Zhao Weiren, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK; and Professor Fu Yongshui, Party Committee Secretary of Guangzhou First People's Hospital. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Professor Chiu Yat-hung, Chairman of the CUHK Council; Professor Chan Tak-cheung, Vice-President of CUHK; Ms. Tsang Kwok-ping, Associate Vice-President of CUHK; Mr. Liu Wei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Nansha District Committee; Mr. Peng Chun, Full-time Deputy Director of the Science, Education, Health and Sports Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPPCC; and Mr. Li Tiegang, Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission.
Professor Fu Yongshui stated in his address that the simultaneous establishment of the 'CUHK Greater Bay Area Clinical Research Centre (Guangzhou Nansha)' and the 'Greater Bay Area Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre' represents a key strategic move for the hospital in implementing the Nansha Plan and actively integrating into the Greater Bay Area's development. He described it as a significant milestone in the hospital's journey towards becoming a high-level research-oriented institution. Leveraging Nansha's pilot policies, CUHK's world-class research system, and Guangzhou First People's Hospital's comprehensive clinical resources and national clinical trial platform advantages, the three parties will focus on creating a highland for cross-border clinical research cooperation between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The launch of the Greater Bay Area Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, in particular, will utilize the joint Guangzhou-Hong Kong research platform to focus on three key technological areas: exoskeleton robotics, 3D-printed personalized orthotics, and precision regenerative therapy for musculoskeletal conditions, aiming to establish a leading brand for precision rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment in the Bay Area.
Professor Chan Tak-cheung extended sincere gratitude to the People's Government of Nansha District and Guangzhou First People's Hospital. He expressed that through the joint efforts of all three parties, the Centre will serve as a crucial vehicle for driving regional clinical research innovation. It will conduct research on drugs and medical devices that comply with national regulations and international standards, promote multi-center, cross-border, and cross-regional research collaborations, and provide a systematic platform for talent development and academic exchange. He looked forward to the accelerated translation of project outcomes into practical applications, contributing to national high-quality development and safeguarding public health.
Mr. Liu Wei noted that Nansha, closely following the 'Healthy Bay Area' deployment outlined in the Greater Bay Area Development Plan, continues to deepen Guangzhou-Hong Kong medical collaboration by leveraging national platform policy advantages. Initiatives like the 'Elderly Healthcare Voucher' and 'Hong Kong and Macao Drug and Medical Device Access' have been implemented for public convenience. The inauguration of the two centres represents a significant achievement in Guangzhou-Hong Kong medical integration. Looking ahead, Nansha will implement the 'Five-Port Linkage' strategy and build 'Five Highlands'. Efforts will focus on three areas: deepening clinical science and innovation collaboration, utilizing pilot policies to promote the mutual recognition of medical rules and standards, and facilitating the cross-border transformation of medical research outcomes. Building upon the foundation of over 540 biomedical enterprises in the district, Nansha will continue to deepen cooperation with top Hong Kong universities and medical institutions, striving to create a pioneering demonstration zone for deep integration of Guangzhou-Hong Kong healthcare.
Mr. Leung Chun-ying stated that the construction of the Greater Bay Area is a major national strategy, and Guangzhou-Hong Kong medical collaboration is a vital measure for improving people's livelihoods. The establishment of the Centre is an important outcome of complementary advantages between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, providing a mainland platform for the transformation of Hong Kong's scientific research and injecting new momentum into Nansha's medical sector. He expressed hope that the three parties would deepen cross-border cooperation, enhance international standards, create a model for medical innovation in the Greater Bay Area, and contribute to the high-quality development of the nation's medical and health sector.
Initial Key Research Projects: AI Scoliosis Screening and Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
The Centre's inaugural research project will validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven screening technology for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), developed by CUHK. This technology combines portable, radiation-free three-dimensional surface imaging with AI algorithms. By automatically analyzing images of the back surface, it quantifies spinal deformity, offering a safer and more widely accessible alternative to traditional X-ray examinations. The research team will conduct validation in real clinical settings in Nansha, with the goal of establishing a radiation-free screening model that is easy to popularize and cost-effective, promoting early detection and intervention for scoliosis to improve spinal health in adolescents.
CUHK will collaborate with Guangzhou First People's Hospital Nansha Hospital to conduct a Phase I clinical trial on allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for knee osteoarthritis. This trial will explore the potential application of regenerative medicine in treating this common degenerative joint disease among middle-aged and elderly individuals. MSC therapy involves injecting donor-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the joint cavity to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and potentially repair damaged cartilage.
Establishing a Top-Tier Comprehensive Clinical Research Centre Meeting International Standards
The 'CUHK Greater Bay Area Clinical Research Centre (Guangzhou Nansha)' is located within Guangzhou First People's Hospital Nansha Hospital. It will focus on impactful areas of medical innovation, striving to become an important strategic platform for clinical research collaboration and innovation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. The Centre will promote cross-border scientific research cooperation, medical innovation, talent cultivation, and clinical trial development. It will facilitate the mutual recognition of clinical data, referral collaboration, and the transformation of scientific research outcomes between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Additionally, it aims to attract domestic and international medical technology enterprises to establish a presence in Nansha, promoting the bidirectional transformation and industrial development of medical technology achievements between Hong Kong and Nansha.
The three parties will also establish a systematic mechanism for talent training and professional development. This includes promoting modern qualification frameworks such as clinical research certification and micro-credential systems to enhance professional capabilities and facilitate the flow of talent within the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the Centre will establish a rigorous quality management and governance structure. All collaborative clinical research must adhere to quality assurance requirements meeting international standards to ensure patient safety and data integrity.
Simultaneous Inauguration of the Greater Bay Area Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre
Coinciding with the establishment of the Clinical Research Centre, the 'Greater Bay Area Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre', jointly developed by Guangzhou First People's Hospital, the Nansha District Health Bureau, and the CUHK Faculty of Medicine, was also inaugurated on the same day. This centre focuses on areas such as musculoskeletal diseases, sports injuries, and scoliosis. It will introduce Hong Kong's evidence-based rehabilitation management models and international clinical pathways to advance precision rehabilitation services, innovative research, and professional talent training. In the future, it will also collaborate synergistically with the 'CUHK Greater Bay Area Clinical Research Centre (Guangzhou Nansha)' to promote clinical research related to musculoskeletal diseases and the translation of research outcomes, thereby enhancing the level of rehabilitation medical services in the Greater Bay Area.
Advancing a New Chapter in Guangzhou-Hong Kong Medical Collaboration
The establishment of the Clinical Research Centre marks a significant milestone in Guangzhou-Hong Kong medical cooperation, signifying a new stage of collaboration between the three parties in areas such as clinical research, medical innovation, and talent cultivation. By integrating Hong Kong's research strengths with Nansha's policy and industrial resources, the Centre will further promote the synergistic development of medical resources within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.