The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) International Clinical Trial Conference was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong, on July 12, inviting global medical experts, journal editors, and academics to explore how cutting-edge research can be rapidly translated into patient care.
Professor Fang Gao Smith, a fellow of the British Academy of Medical Sciences, highlighted the GBA's potential as a global hub for medical innovation during her speech. She believes that the innovative models being developed here would not only address local healthcare needs but also provide the global community with "Chinese wisdom" for effective cross-border collaboration in medical research.
Tu Huan, deputy director of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, stated that under the strategic framework of Guangming Science City, regional medical resources are being integrated to establish a full-cycle innovation ecosystem that spans foundational research, technological breakthroughs, and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of prioritizing patient welfare.
Li Yichong, a professor at the GBA International Clinical Trials Center of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, further noted that cross-border mechanisms for ethical review reciprocity and data sharing are being advanced to foster a new ecosystem for clinical trials across the GBA.
On the same day, participants exchanged insights on advancements in precision oncology and minimally invasive cancer surgeries, optimized emergency protocols for cardiovascular crises such as stroke, explored strategies to expand early-detection programs like low-dose CT lung cancer screenings, and debated lifestyle interventions such as time-restricted eating for managing fatty liver disease.
The conference was hosted by the Guangdong Health Management Association and co-organized by the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and the GBA International Clinical Trials Center of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation.
"Research must originate from clinical challenges, and its outcomes must ultimately benefit patients," emphasized He Yulong, president of the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. "The platform we've built is fundamentally designed to accelerate the transition of laboratory discoveries into bedside innovations, which is a responsibility we take seriously."
In recent years, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University has achieved comprehensive development across medical services, education, and research, prioritizing the integration of clinical practice with scientific innovation. A landmark study on tumor chemotherapy resistance, led by Professor He Yulong, Professor Zhang Changhua, and Professor Chen Hengxing, was published in Nature and selected as one of China's Top 10 Life Science Advances for 2024.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
