Universities eye medical research at key institute

SHANGHAI Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine signed an agreement over the weekend to establish a research institute to promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicines.

Cao Xikang, Party secretary of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said the institute will focus on major clinical problems and develop treatments with traditional Chinese medicine. It will try to explain the treatments with modern medicine theoretical methods.

He said the two parties have set up a foundation to hire each other’s doctoral supervisors to enhance communication and cooperation with the aim of making new achievements and cultivating innovative talent.

Chen Zhu, chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party and the former health minister, hailed the establishment of the new institute in a video speech.

He said promoting traditional Chinese and Western medicines and their coordinated development will benefit China’s health service system. It has been proved effective.

“Chinese leaders have all attached great importance to the integration of Chinese and Western medicines,” said Chen. “Since the COVID-19 outbreak, TCM has been helping improve patients’ immunity and stimulated their own ability to resist the disease and recover, making great contributions to the control of the crisis.”

President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with medical scholars that the combination of Chinese and Western medicines is an obvious feature in the treatment of COVID-19 in China.

“I wish the new institute will serve the need of the nation’s development strategy, focus on the frontiers of scientific research and promote innovation in TCM,” Chen said.