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The University of Hong Kong (HKU) welcomes the HKSAR Government's announcement today (23 September) on designating its LKS Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed) as the operator of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (the GBAICTI). Located in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen–Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, the GBAICTI is scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year, with the aim of becoming an innovative clinical research platform with global influence to attract mainland and multinational pharmaceutical institutions.

One-stop clinical trial support platform
Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, expressed  appreciation for the Government’s decision to appoint HKUMed as the operator of the GBAICTI through an open tender selection.  "HKU has always been committed to fostering innovation while remaining steadfast in pursuing academic excellence and knowledge creation. It was announced in “The Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2023” last October that the Government will establish the GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen–Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone by the end of this year to provide a one-stop clinical trial support platform for medical research institutions. It is an honour for HKUMed to be selected as the operator of the GBAICTI. With its high-end medical expertise and innovative medical research, HKUMed will contribute to Hong Kong’s efforts in becoming an international hub for innovation and technology, thereby better integrating into the overall national development. This will also fully align with the University’s mission of delivering impactful contributions benefiting Hong Kong, the nation, and the world," said Professor Zhang.

Professor Chak-sing Lau, Dean of Medicine, HKU, said he was excited that HKUMed has been entrusted with this important mission. "Hong Kong's strengths in upstream basic scientific research and medical biotechnology are evident," he said. "It is the aspiration of HKUMed and society to promote the transformation of local research outcomes into applicable medical solutions. Having worked in healthcare education and medical research in the city over the past 30 years, I am very pleased to witness this new milestone in Hong Kong's clinical research system. We will do our best to work with the Government, academia, industry, global research institutions and the people of Hong Kong to make the most of the strategic development of the Institute. We will coordinate and integrate Hong Kong's public and private clinical trial resources to promote the establishment of a one-stop clinical trial support platform. Our efforts will focus on enhancing the capacity, efficiency, scale and recognition of clinical trials and on promoting the research, development and innovative application of advanced biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, Chinese medicine, medical devices, diagnostic techniques and various therapies for the benefit of patients. By doing so, we aim to position Hong Kong as a leading international hub for health and medical innovation."

Professor Eric Tse, Associate Dean (Research) at HKUMed, added: "HKUMed has long-standing commitment in clinical trials. Our appointment by the Government to operate the Institute, following a rigorous tendering process, is a recognition of, and trust in, our clinical trial work over the years, and we are deeply honoured. Hong Kong is well-positioned to become a world-leading medical innovation platform. We will spare no effort in strengthening talent training, and scientific research collaboration and transformation in related fields to make a greater contribution to the medical development and long-term planning of Hong Kong and the Country."

Aligning with the national development vision
Professor Chak-sing Lau pointed out that the National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre, and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasises deepening reform and promoting Chinese modernisation. The establishment of the GBAICTI presents a unique opportunity to foster collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, thus accelerating the implementation of research outcomes and medical advances. This collaboration will help Hong Kong integrate into the overall development of the Country and continue to shine.

Professor Lau said that the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen–Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone offers an ideal environment for medical development, combining Hong Kong's high-quality international clinical research expertise with the extensive clinical networks of Shenzhen and the rest of the GBA. It will promote cross-border collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and establish a clinical trial platform that meets national and international standards, potentially attracting multinational pharmaceutical companies to the GBA, which boasts a huge population of over 80 million.

Leveraging Hong Kong’s medical strengths for economic transformation
Professor Leung Wai-keung, Chief Director of HKUMed’s Clinical Trials Centre, pointed out that Hong Kong's biomedical development relies on government-led long-term development plans. One recent initiative was the establishment of the Preparatory Office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation in June this year, whose aim is to make recommendations for establishing a regulatory centre for drugs and medical devices and to advance the ‘primary evaluation’ approach for these products. Another initiative was the new ‘1+’ mechanism for drug registrations, launched in November last year, which is pivotal for advancing the region’s medical landscape. Yet another initiative, enacted in 2020, allows designated healthcare institutions in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao GBA to use drugs and medical devices registered in Hong Kong following approval by the authorities in Guangdong province. These efforts will benefit patients not only in Hong Kong but also across the rest of the GBA and beyond.

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Pioneering Clinical Research Excellence at HKUMed
HKUMed stands at the forefront of high-quality and innovative medical research, seamlessly translating groundbreaking research findings into essential clinical services. Established in 1998, the HKU Clinical Trials Centre (HKU-CTC) has emerged as one of the premier academic clinical research institutions in Asia and worldwide, boasting a comprehensive structure and offering one-stop professional services. Its focus on driving process innovation and research strategies sets it apart in the global landscape.

Over the past 26 years, the HKU-CTC has facilitated more than 2,000 research projects, yielding significant breakthroughs in critical areas such as cancer treatment, neuroscience, cardiovascular diseases, hepatitis B treatment, and clinical immunology. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HKUMed collaborated with institutions in Mainland China to rapidly develop an intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, which received emergency use approval from the Chinese authorities.

In 2021, HKUMed secured government funding to establish five InnoHK Research Clusters: the Centre for Immunology and Infection (C2i), the Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics (CVVT), the Centre for Oncology and Immunology (COI), the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology (CTSCB), and the Laboratory for Data Discovery for Health (D²4H). These platforms utilise big data and artificial intelligence technologies to create innovative therapies and propel clinical medical developments.