CityU establishes Research Center for Authenmole Modern Chinese Medicine Big Health to facilitate disciplinary achievement to serve society
City University of Macau (CityU) has been developing the health discipline from a multidisciplinary and multi-level perspective in response to the demand for talent in the health industry from Macao, the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and across the country. To meet these needs, CityU has established the Research Center for Authenmole Modern Chinese Medicine Big Health, which aims to promote research applications, modernization, and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the Big Health Industry, as well as to cultivate interdisciplinary talents.
The inauguration ceremony for the Research Center was held today (April 18th) at 10 a.m. at the Taipa campus. At the same time, a symposium on modern TCM and Big Health was held, with a focus on the development of the Big Health and modern TCM industry in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. The symposium brought together industry elites and expert scholars to provide advice and suggestions.
The event was attended by notable guests, including Mr. Huang Shengbiao, Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of the Government Education and Youth Development Bureau; Mr. Cheong Chok Man, Director of the Government Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau; Mr. Choi Peng Cheong, Director of the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau; Ms. Van Iat Kio, President of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, and Mr. Zhou Yuesheng, Chairman of Guangdong Authenmole Biotech Inc. and Vice Chairman of Authenmole (Macau) Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Limited. CityU management in attendance included Rector Jun Liu, Council member Cintia Chan, Vice Rectors Kong Fanqing and Ip Kuai Peng. The event was also attended by officials and representatives from the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, faculty members, as well as students.
In his speech, Rector Jun Liu expressed gratitude to Authenmole (Macau) Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Limited and all sectors of society for their support of the Research Center for Authenmole Modern Chinese Medicine Big Health. He announced that CityU is preparing to establish the Faculty of Health, Well and Happiness (FHWH) to serve the development of the Big Health Industry in Macao and the Hengqin In-depth Cooperation Zone, promote the construction of a new highland for the biopharmaceutical and Big Health industry, and facilitate Macao's diversified economy. “FHWH will bring together the disciplinary strengths of Social Work and Applied Psychology to guide the development of areas such as Wellness & Happiness, Sports & Physical Health, and Diet & Nutrition. The new Research Center is a key institution under FHWH and represents a vital step in its disciplinary construction. The Research Center will closely collaborate with the local community to initiate studies and applications, cultivate professionals and talents, promote TCM culture, showcase China's story, popularize the application of modern TCM, and enhance the overall wellbeing of the community.” Rector Liu said.
Vice Chairman Zhou Yuesheng emphasized that Authenmole (Macau) Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Limited uses modern technology to inherit the essence of TCM culture while innovating with the times to promote industrialization. This partnership represents a strategic alliance with milestone significance, as CityU has a strong foundation and broad influence in the field of humanities and social sciences. By joining forces with the cutting-edge R&D resources of 39 mainland Chinese medicine universities, and collaborating with overseas universities to publish leading research results, the two sides aim to translate research achievements into practical applications in the Macao and Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, and promote them in the vast domestic and international markets. This will not only drive the development of modern TCM and the Big Health industry in Macao but also accelerate cooperation and exchange in this field throughout the Greater Bay Area.
“Going forward, the two parties will work together to build the Research Center into an important base and academic exchange center for modern TCM and the Big Health industry in the Greater Bay Area. We will continuously innovate and breakthrough through industry-academia collaboration and transform our research achievements into products to serve society. We will also attract more talent and resources to spur the development of the industry,” Vice Chairman Zhou said.
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The seminar was hosted by Assistant Professor Wang Yiwen of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at CityU. The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Zhou Yuesheng on the theme of “The Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Path to Standardization”. He pointed out that there are two major difficulties in the standardization of TCM: controlling the standard of medicinal components during the planting process and establishing a structural standard for different traditional processes. To achieve standardization, it is necessary to take the path of modernization, which includes using chemical and biological indicators to establish a TCM fingerprint standard that comprehensively reflects the quality characteristics, as well as applying modern scientific and technological approaches to separate, refine, and recognize the effective components and their mechanisms of action in TCM. Professor Zhou then introduced a plant molecular-oriented purification and extraction technology (PLEESIT) that achieves the standardization of TCM. Using this technology, 19 batches of molecular extracts of a special tea made from lotus leaf, mulberry leaf, and chrysanthemum were produced over six years, with a fingerprint-based similarity of 0.926, ensuring the standardized efficacy of the product.
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Prof. Wang Siwang from Chinese medicine studies at Northwest University gave a lecture titled “The Practice and Reflection on the Inheritance and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine”. He discussed the inheritance, current status, and innovation of TCM from three aspects. Prof. Wang pointed out that the current TCM related research on formulas, theory, and the product quality is insufficient, and the quality evaluation and research of TCM materials are the bottlenecks. “Innovating the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves shedding light on the multi-target effects of TCM compound formulas and their scientific contributions, elucidating the mechanisms of TCM and its compound formulas, and creating innovative TCM treatments to ensure their effects are distinctive and precise. Additionally, both theoretical frameworks and practical applications are essential for future TCM development. Utilizing advanced technology can promote TCM innovation, maximize its advantages, improve its scientific and practical applicability, and ensure the inheritance and innovation of TCM.” Prof. Wang said.
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Dr. Yin Yifen, Director of the Centre for Social, Economic and Public Policy Research at Macao Polytechnic University, delivered a speech titled “Big Health: The New Connotation of Macao as a World Centre for Tourism and Leisure”. In his speech, Dr. Yin pointed out that since 2010, the offerings of Macao as a World Centre for Tourism and Leisure have been continuously enriched. The Big Health industry, as a new introduction of this positioning, needs to be integrated into the construction. Currently, Macao is implementing the “1+4” approach for appropriate economic diversification, and the Big Health industry is the leading among the four emerging strategic industries, serving as a vital pillar for promoting the moderate diversification of the local economy. Dr. Yin further noted that “the development of the local Big Health industry is facing challenges such as a small share in GDP, weak talent cultivation, limited local market space, and a lack of large-scale leading enterprises. Therefore, it is necessary to break through the constraints encountered in developing the TCM industry and integrate the medical and tourism industries for combined development. The goal is to stay rooted in the Greater Bay Area while expanding towards the world.”
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Prof. Liu Chengkun, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development at the Macau University of Science and Technology delivered a speech titled “Big Health and Sustainable Development in Macao”. In his speech, he introduced the background and significance of the concept of Big Health, pointing out that it is a broad health concept that centers on people's daily lives and the overall concept of life and death. “Currently, research in the field of Big Health is still focused on disease prevention and treatment, with chemotherapy, surgical treatment, and infectious disease control being the top three most promising technological topics globally. Macao has advantages and conditions for developing Big Health, with a focus on TCM research and development, healthy tourism, health management, and health information in the industrial chain. The city is also committed to developing health tourism that integrates medical and tourism industries,” Prof. Liu stated.
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Prof. Zhao Ye, from the TCM studies at the Northwest University, delivered a speech titled “Efficacy and Material Basis Research Progress of Tonifying Kidney and Activating Blood Formula in Preventing and Treating Ovarian Function Decline”. She pointed out that kidney deficiency and blood stasis are the main causes of aging, and thus, the formula for tonifying the kidney and activating blood circulation can prevent and treat premature ovarian aging, as well as have the effects of preventing atrophy of multi-organ tissues, ovarian and uterine lesions, rejuvenating blood, regulating the hormone system towards a healthy balance, improving immune function, and having anti-inflammatory effects. In her presentation, Prof. Zhao also analyzed the active ingredients of dried herbs, such as eucommia ulmoides (Chinese Pinyin: Duzhong), salvia miltiorrhiza (Chinese Pinyin: Danshen), and szechuan lovage rhizome (Chinese Pinyin: Chuanxiong), in the “Tonifying Kidney and Activating Blood Formula”. She summarized the internal and external improvements in ovarian function decline.
The attendees of the inauguration ceremony and the symposium also included Mr. Zhang Weifeng, a senior official from the Economic Development
Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and head of the Investment Promotion Department; Mr. Lin Yanjie, head of the Cultural Tourism, Exhibition and Trade Department of the mentioned bureau; Mr. Leong Wa Fong, director of the Research and Information Division of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; and Ms. Wong Weng Ian, senior technician of the Science and Technology Development Fund. Representatives from City University of Macau, including Pro-Rector So Kam Hung and Chan Chon Pat, were also in attendance.
Photo Credit: CityU Reporter
